A quick Deb Survey....

I have another friend checking into WLS, and she asked me about drainage tubes....how many of you had them after WLS? Also who had epidurals? Lastly, how long was your hospital stay? THanks Deb Paul

Well i dindt have an epidural it was totally general. I didn't have any drainage tubes but from what i hear a lot of people have had them as for my hospital say it was longer then normal 8 days. After the 4th i should have went home. I was so board walking the hallways at the hospital that the nurses stopped checking on me. They just walked by during there 12hr shift change to see if I needed anything. *lol*

Hi Deb, I had a drainage tube the 5 days I was in the hospital and I was completely out for the surgery , I think the lenght of stay depends on your Dr and how well your doing and if there were any complications . Best suggestion is when your friend does consult with a surgeon those should be some of the questions she ask them. Bye Sheila M

I didn't have a epidural. I was in the hospital three days(had it Lap) I had a drainage tube. I hope this helps

Hi Deb As you know, I have not had my surgery yet so I cannot "personally" answer your ??'s, but~ My Aunt just had her open RNY on August 22nd in Ames with Dr. Hardy. While in the hospital there, she had no drain tubes, but she did have an epidural. She was SHOCKED that I would not be having one when I get to have my surgery...LOL~ Just the differences in Dr's I suppose. I hope you and your hubby are doing well!! Take care

When I had my emergency surgery for appendicitis(sp?) in 1986, I had a drainage tube. My appy was seeping when they took it out and burst as he set it in the tray. The Dr. explained it to me as not only a way to drain any bad stuff, but also to be able to watch for leaks. For me, the worst part was when he pulled it. He didn't warn me, just yanked. Now besides my "zipper" I have two little round scars from where the tubes were. I have wondered if the epidurals weren't mainly for people that have had problems with anesthesia before or smaller throats to put the tube down. ONLY my thought on the subject. My hospital is supposed to be 3-5 days barring any problems. I'll let ya know for sure next week. Elizabeth PS, thanks for the info you sent my via e-mail.

I had a drainage tube the first 24 hours after surgery. I didn't have an epidural, but was on a morphine pump for 2 days which I controlled. I had my surgery on a Friday monring and was discharged the following Monday morning. - Janine 5/16/03 -70lbs

I had a Lap, drain tube 6 days didn't have much drainage, does hurt when they take it out but just for about 5 min, hosp supposed to be 3-5 days I was in 7 days Hope this helps

I think most major abdominal surgeries have at least one drain to drain fluid caused by trauma to the cells caused by surgery. If a surgeon does not use a drain, then the body has to work harder to absorb the fluids. I had one for about a week. It became infected a little and they removed it. I had surgery on Friday and was home the following Tuesday. Jeri H.

I had surgery on a Wednesday, went home on Saturday. So that's.... 4 days total in the hospital. My drain came out right before I left the hospital that Saturday. I had no epidural, but I did have this 'bag' that was a direct line (kinda?) into my incision area... they tell me it was morphine or something of the sort. I didn't even know it was there until the first time I stood up and then I accidentally pulled it out. Hope this helps!! (Oh, and I had open RNY) Julie