Out, Out Damn Drain!

Dear Post Op Friends: I guess I need to vent. My doctor is very conservative (a good thing) and so he leave a drain in place for 2 weeks. I am 12 days out and have 2 more days until this tube and drain (ball and chain) comes out. This drain is driving me nuts!!! Thanks for letting me vent. Cindy

Cindy, I understand about the drain. I had mine in for 8 days, got it out today. It drove me nuts as well, hard to do anything with it I think. Hope the days go quickly for you!! Melissa S

WOW I never would have left the hospital!! My drain caused me alot of pain and actually had to spend an extra day in the hospital because he couldn't figure out where my pain was coming from. 2 hours after he pulled it out, I was ready to do cartwheels in the halls of the hospital, all my pain was gone!!! Guess my body doesn't like strange things in it, even my I.V.'s only lasted about 12 hours before they would have to pull it out and restart it in another spot!! I still have bruises. I feel for you, I would not have lasted this long. It is almost over and you will feel great when he takes it out. Good Luck and Hugs Wendy

I totally empathize with you Cindy! I hated that rotten nasty disgusting thing! I was so thrilled when it came out! (I couldn't feel a thing by the way)

Cindy, I am 3 weeks and 1 day post-op and my doc says I have to keep my drain and feeding tube in for at least 3 more weeks. He thinks I have a leak and that is why it is still draining. He told me it could be 6 weeks, 6 months or even a year before I could get them out. Can you believe that? I can't!! When I came out of surgery if had; IV in my neck, NG tube down my nose, foley catheter in my urethra, JP drain and feeding tube. I later got another JP drain, but he took the first one out after 3 weeks. I never heard anyone mention that I would have to go home with any drains. And I read this site for weeks prior to surgery. I think what happens is that people are so glad to be losing weight that they forget to tell you about all the bad things that might happen after surgery. Well, good luck and hope you do well...debbie