drainage tube?

I have read some people are having drainage tubes removed. I don't remember anyone saying anything about tubes. Anyone know anything about this? Also, I hear people talking about binders......what is this? Did I just totally leave my mind during the talks on this? Thanks! cathy 21 days til I rock my world!

I am having a G tube. It is a drainage tube from the unused part of my stomach to the outside. It will stay in for 3-4 weeks. My doctor uses them routinely for patients that are on CPAP (forced air machine) for sleep apnea. It is rare, but occasionally a CPAP patient will get air down their stomach. If it is very much, it follows to the intestines and then up the Y to the unused stomach, inflating it. The G tube is an emergency escape hatch for trapped air. He said to avoid even one case in 100 of this is worth it. I know I will be VERY glad to be rid of it! Everyone has an ng tube from the pouch up the esophagus and out the nose or mouth to drain the pouch during surgery. Usually this is removed before you really wake up, so you won't remember anything about it except maybe a scratchy throat. A binder is a support girdle of sorts that is worn post op to give some abdomal support to make those early walks easier. From what I hear, if they don't offer you one quickly, DEMAND it! They seem to really help. Hope that helps. I was confused for a long time too. Joy (3/1)

Heya, Cathy!! I think I'll be having a Penrose Drain...just a drainage tube that leads out of my peritoneal cavity. It'll be removed the day after my surgery (to my understanding...). It's not painful to remove, just an odd sensation (again, to my understanding...). Heck, I plan on hitting my PCA just before they remove it, so I doubt I'll feel TOO bad when that morphine hits my system... Joy explained binders very well...they're like a corsette. If you have an Open WLS, you DEFINITELY want one ASAP...not only does it make you feel much more secure (you won't feel like your guts are falling out...!!!), but it goes a long way to avoid hernias, which are pretty common following any open WLS. I broke ribs many years ago, and wanted a binder so badly...I couldn't breathe, couldn't twist, couldn't stand up, couldn't roll...it was just miserable. But I couldn't use a binder 'cuz I'm too 'chesty'. THAT really annoyed me. I got thru it, but it was NOT a fun time. The abdominal binders are much different. As Joy said, ask for one immediately if you don't wake up IN one! Kimmer Queen of the Niners, Instigator to all Marchers, High Priestess of Giggles Zero-minus-20 days and counting!

Hope they have those binders for Chesty women..I am gonna need one. I will have the tube also to the lower stomach. I was told it could also be used should you not be able to hold down food to feed you. I was also told mine would stay in longer. I will also have an IV hookup someone in the neck area for the PCP line and any other meds that can be given that way. As you can tell, I am not in the medical field so I do not know all the terminology.

Cathy - I will have a tube that won't come out right after surgery. I am not positive what it's attached to or for, but I guess it will be in for several days after I leave the hospital. From what I understand this one will be held in with only 1 stitch and will slip right out. As was already indicated, I've heard it's a freaky feeling, but doesn't hurt. Some of Dr. Aguirre's patients have actually removed the stitch and the drain themselves, as well as the staples. Not something I want to do, that's for sure! But that is what some people are relegated to because of their financial cir****tances. I do know that since I'm going to Mexico, they may have different ways of dealing with things than here in the US. Dr. Aguirre has a stellar reputation and I suspect he has refined his methods for how he works, so I'm cool with that. We can't be around for weeks and weeks (unless we feel like "vacationing" in Ensenada for that long, so I will be there for a week after my surgery before I return home. Hopefully I'll at least have the drain removed by then. Dina