Take your own underwear. Tell the nurses you don’t need help to put them on. Good luck!

Thank you! Yes I think that might be the easiest way to go about it. They'll probably ask about everything in preadmission so might just tell them then :)

If it's back surgery, are you going to be mobile enough to change yourself? They might opt to leave the cath in, since they have to put one in anyway.

When I had surgery last summer I requested to not have a foley catheter. They were fine with me wearing a super absorbent overnight type diaper. Just talk to your surgeon. Sometimes there is a medical reason for needing a catheter. For the overnight stay you definitely will want to bring whatever products work for you. If you do not know about NorthShore Care check out their site. They will send you free samples for you to try. Here is a link: https://www.northshorecare.com/adult-diapers/overnight-diapers-for-adults

Let us know how it goes for you.

@Danny'swife: That'd probably good to clarify actually. They said they'd try get me on my feet for a small amount of time shortly after the op. May just have to ask a nurse to get one out of my bag for me and see if I'm able to but will see :)

@Alphagb: Firstly, I hope the surgery went well! I probably won't be able to wear one on the table as they're operating on my lumbar spine and those style seem to sit quite high. Checked out that site, Betterdry are actually my preferred choice and have tried the crinklez once as a free sample. Ended up getting Molicare Premium Maxi Slip Plus as what was available. Have you tried the North shore own brand? Their claim of a 6000ml+ absorbancy if true would be perfect for overnight use! Thanks :)

So the surgery was a success! Am writing this in the recovery ward. They did end up keeping the cath in for most of the first night however a nurse did have it removed at 1am so ended up in Molicare's anyway haha... On the plus side, I've been told in the next month or so once swelling around the nerves eases, the bedwetting and urgency should slow down and hopefully stop! Thanks for all the support guys

I’m glad everything went well with surgery and I wish all the best for your recovery.

Wow, that's really good news!

Great news on the surgery. Keep us updated on whether or not the bedwetting does in fact subside.

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the late reply. Recovery is going surprisingly well :) Was a little concerned at first, while still in hospital, had to call a nurse in to change my sheets one morning and did have another accident the day after discharge.

But! Since then many factors have improved, better nerve response, less narcotic meds, bladder function/urinary retention settling down. In fact it's been almost a week of consecutive dry nights, been a long time since the last dry week! Even braved sleeping without wearable protection the last couple nights. Was so happy actually waking up to go last night!

Hope I haven't spoken too soon, still on the road to recovery and still happy to join discussions here, maybe even as an ex-bedwetter haha. Thanks for the kind support guys! :)

That's great news.

If you don't mind my asking, exactly what was won't with your back? Herniated disk? Spina stenosis? Just wondering what was the diagnosis to begin with.

good luck

So a few things went wrong, 2 herniated discs, 1 fractured disc, sciatica, onset of cauda equina syndrome (probably the most serious of all). Not to mention the side effects of medications; constipation, dulled nerve response, fatigue, constant thirst with urinary retention all contributed to night time bladder control issues. Hope that gives a better insight :)

Still occasionally wetting the bed but much less, 0-2 times a week at worst. Thanks for the support!

I have had three lots of pretty major spinal surgery and half a dozen other procedures all requiring hospital stays. I have always taken and worn my own protection - TENA Slip Maxi - as I tend to get a urinary infection every time I am catheterised. I am lucky to have private health insurance and the nurses have always been very happy to help me change or if it is too soon after the procedures when I have not got the feeling back to change me themselves. My only NHS experience could not have been more different. They did not understand why I would want to wear 'nappies', did not have the time to check how I was or help me change and as a result I had hours each day in a wet nappy and a wet bed, causing even more work for overstretched staff.

Hi adfw61, that's really bad luck getting an infection with a catheter, I think they did mention a risk of that happening but didn't really have a choice... I was in the public system in Australia and I remember the nurses being fairly overwhelmed, if I pressed the call button they would respond quickly but they didn't do regular check ups which resulted in my catheter bag overflowing twice. I felt really sorry for them! I'm guessing you're from the UK? It's pretty disgusting they left you in that state! I Was never questioned or condescended like that, I told them before the surgery that I'd been wetting the bed often and when I mentioned it to the post-op nurses they said it was common and helped me out with them before I was able to put them on myself. Good luck amd I hope you have better treatment if you need it in tue future :)