question?
This is not the medical explanation, just my understanding. When you have surgery, your body naturally produces fluids as your body heals. The drain gives the fluid somewhere to go so that excess fluid does not build up internally. I had one drain post op, that was removed at my 1 week post-op appointment. In my case the drain did not hurt at all. Neither did the removal hurt. Everyone is different. I have heard of some folks having some discomfort. I had to change the dressing around the drain several times a day. It was only supposed to be necessary twice a day, but my drain was leaking and I got soaked easily. The drain has a bulb at the end of it to catch the fluids. At each changing, I had to measure how much fluid there was. The fluid changes with each day after surgery, eventually becoming less volume and more clear just as my MD told me it would. For me I could not wait to get rid of it because I was tired of tending to it.
I have Dr. Averbach as my doctor and the day I left the hospital to come home is the day they took the drain out. I did not have to come home with it. Do ask about the ON-Q. When you have your last pre op class with kathy, she will explain it to you. Its for pain management and that you can come home with. It was great!!!!!! Talk to them about it. Good luck..
I haven't had my RNY yet but when I had Breast Reduction surgery 11 years ago I had drains on each side. They weren't painful but when the doctor took the drains out the following day it took my breath away. It wasn't the pain but rather the fact that the tubing was soooo long and the feeling was very strange. I hope I will be able to have mine out from this before I go home, just one less thing to worry about.
I'll echo what Deb and Darla said, it was not painful at all. You are aware of it, but it doesn't hurt. Getting it removed for me was great, because it meant no more emptying the bulb, and no more pinning it to my clothes. Some doctors do take them out a day or two post-op, but I think that depends on the patient, and their needs.
With or without a drain, you'll want to keep your dog from jumping on you. You will be fine, don't get me wrong. But, you'll have 4-5 small incisions that will need to heal, and you will be TIRED and your body will have to adjust.
With or without a drain, you'll want to keep your dog from jumping on you. You will be fine, don't get me wrong. But, you'll have 4-5 small incisions that will need to heal, and you will be TIRED and your body will have to adjust.
Hugs!
Kathy
Kathy
(deactivated member)
on 7/24/08 2:56 pm - Millersville, MD
on 7/24/08 2:56 pm - Millersville, MD
okay, i will be the debbie downer on this thread, but if you're like me.. you like hearing the good with the bad.
my drain got clogged late in the day after my surgery, when i typically would have been going home. it started out as pain that i thought was just gas pain moving toward my side. dr. von rueden thought enough to keep me in the hospital one more night. that night was hell. my pain meds were scheduled for every four hours. about every three hours, they would wear off and the pain would hit and it was excruciating. they would pump me full of meds again. at around 4 a.m., i woke up again had to pee. when i stepped out of bed, bloody mess dripped everywhere. first, i thought i had urinated on the floor.. then i thought maybe the cap was open on the drain. i went to the bathroom, screamed for my meds and went back to sleep after they kicked in. by then, the nurse felt so sorry for me, she doubled my pain dosage that time. dr. von rueden came in very early the next morning to check on me and when he heard about the night i had had, he knew it was likely the drain. he removed it and it was like god flipped a switch and the pain stopped. good riddence drain! when it left the hospital that day, i was a little worried because i felt like i should have a drain for medical reason, but i am a week and two days post-op and doing just fine.
my drain got clogged late in the day after my surgery, when i typically would have been going home. it started out as pain that i thought was just gas pain moving toward my side. dr. von rueden thought enough to keep me in the hospital one more night. that night was hell. my pain meds were scheduled for every four hours. about every three hours, they would wear off and the pain would hit and it was excruciating. they would pump me full of meds again. at around 4 a.m., i woke up again had to pee. when i stepped out of bed, bloody mess dripped everywhere. first, i thought i had urinated on the floor.. then i thought maybe the cap was open on the drain. i went to the bathroom, screamed for my meds and went back to sleep after they kicked in. by then, the nurse felt so sorry for me, she doubled my pain dosage that time. dr. von rueden came in very early the next morning to check on me and when he heard about the night i had had, he knew it was likely the drain. he removed it and it was like god flipped a switch and the pain stopped. good riddence drain! when it left the hospital that day, i was a little worried because i felt like i should have a drain for medical reason, but i am a week and two days post-op and doing just fine.
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