Question:
LAP RNY patient & tubes
I am scheduled for a lap RNY next Tuesday (the ninth) and was wondering what others in this group had to wake up to in regards to tubes. I know I'll have the drains for a while but anything else that I might need to prepare my daughter for? I don't want her to be scared when she walks in to see me immediately following surgery. Thanks for the help. — Lisa J. (posted on April 1, 2002)
March 31, 2002
If your surgery is "routine and uncomplicated", then it will
largely depend on your surgeon and his preferred treatment plan. Also,
every patient reacts differently to surgery and general anesthesia. The
four of us in our family who have had lap RNY had no tubes, no drains, no
external sutures or staples. A catheter was placed in the bladder during
surgery, but removed in the Recovery Room. We each had IV fluids for the
first 24 hours, but were sitting up in the chair and walking in the hall
the evening of surgery. If you are planning to have your daughter visit
immediately after surgery, it would be important to tell her about the IV,
possible oxygen, and the fact that you will probably appear very pale, and
may be extremely groggy/sleepy due to the anesthesia and pain medications.
If all goes well, she will be able to see a marked improvement by the next
day (and each day after that). Best wishes!
— Diana T.
March 31, 2002
When I woke up, I had a cathedar, NG tube, JP drain tube on the right side
of my abdomen, and a G-tube on the left side. The cath and NG came out the
first day, the JP at 1 week, and the G-tube at 1 month (my surgeon likes
his patients to keep the G-tube for that long to prevent disruption from
gas buildup).
— lily1968
March 31, 2002
HI I had a lap RNY 18 mon. ago. I had the NG tube,catheter,and the oxygen.
I had no drain tubes, They all came out the second day. I really wanted the
catheter out but they said if I could'nt urinate in a couple of hours they
would put it back in. What an incentive to suck on my ice chips and take
sips of water.:) Best of luck Tish
— Tisha W.
March 31, 2002
When I woke up, I had a cathedar, NG tube, JP drain tube on the right side
of my abdomen, and a G-tube on the left side. The cath and NG came out the
first day, the JP at 1 week, and the G-tube at 1 month (my surgeon likes
his patients to keep the G-tube for that long to prevent disruption from
gas buildup).
— lily1968
March 31, 2002
Ask your doctor. As you can see from other answers, some woke up with no
tubes or drains while others had tubes and drains. Each doctor has his own
preferences for all of that. You could also just let your daughter know
that you might have some tubes sticking out of you and whatever you have,
it's all OK.
— garw
March 31, 2002
I had open rny, but I thought I'd reply. I had an NG tube down my
nose/throat which came out at the end of the next day, a catheter which
came out that night, and a JP tube to the left of my bellybutton which came
out two days later. None of those things hurt going in since they were put
in after I was out. Actually none of them hurt coming out either. The NG
tube wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't in long. I also woke up and was on
oxygen for three days. It's not going to be pretty. I have a few pictures
of me RIGHT out of recovery and you can see all my tubes very plainly if
you'd like a copy.
— Paula Prichard
March 31, 2002
I had LAP RNY 4 weeks ago. When I came out of recovery all I had was my IV.
No drain, no oxygen, no catheter. My doctor gets his patients up and
moving as fast as possible. Check with your doctor as everyone is
different.
— Lynn R.
April 1, 2002
My date is also 4/9! I was told that I would wake up with IV, cath, pulse
ox on finger, oxygen and a drain. The tube is out before we wake up. The
IV and cath are usually taken out the next am. The drain is left in for
10-14 days.
— L. F.
April 1, 2002
I had a drainage tube from one of the incisions and my IV in when I woke up
from surgery. That was it.
— Patty H.
April 2, 2002
My NG tube was taken out as I was regaining consciousness, before I was
sent to ICU. When I woke in ICU, I had an IV, a catheter (which you can't
see, of course), one drain in one of my lap incisions, and the compression
leggings on. You couldn't see the drain because it was connected to a
small external plastic pouch and the whole thing was hidden under my gown.
My husband said the biggest shock during the hospital stay was how swollen
my face became from all the fluids they pumped into me from the IV. I
actually gained 16 pounds from fluids within my 3 night stay!
— Kathy J.
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