Another TWH Question Set : )

This question is for post-ops or if you're having your surgery soon and the doctor already told you!

Did you have drains in your abdomen when you woke up from surgery?

Did you get discharged on blood thinners for a period of time?

Thank you in advance : )

Hello,

I didnt have any drains coming out of surgery.  When i woke up by incisions were covered
with steri strips and clear bangages.  I only received blood thinner injections in hospital
and nothing after I was discharged. 

Good luck on your journey

Amy
 

I went through TWH but my actual surgery was done at TEGH, it was a year ago, and things DO change.  I did NOT have drains; did have steristrips; had blood thinners in hospital, but none at home.  I had no bruising from the surgery itself but the blood thinners (both upper arms) gave me bruises as big as the palm of my hand! and the IVs also left big honkin' bruises on my forearms.  I looked like I'd been through a war, but I felt fantastic!

mo

 agree with both, i didnt have a drain tube, and they gave me two blood thinner shots per day, after discharge they didnt give me any

Same as above, no drains and only blood thinners while in the hospital.

TWH surgery for me four months ago, and I woke up with 1 drain because I had a lot of bleeding during the surgery.  Had a blood thinner shot day 1, but then began to bleed/leak from a second surgical site so they postponed  the second shot and decided to keep me an extra day.  Had the second shot on day 3.  Drain also removed on day 3 before I was discharged.  The second site continued to ooze for a few days, and I changed the bandages myself at home.  I had a fair amount of bruising on my abdomen, but it has of course faded now.  Hope this helps.  Claire

I didn't have any drains and I only had the blood thinners while I was in hospital 

I will be going to St. Joe's in Hamilton.  Drains are put in place when they think that you will be oozing or bleeding too much for your body to absorb.  It helps with post-op swelling and healing.  It is different with each person. 

At St. Joe's, you get a script for injectable blood thinners (they are pre-measured single use syringes) and take them for ten days post-op.  You can give them to yourself (it's actually okay after the first few times...I give myself B12 shots and the needle is ten times longer and thicker than the blood thinner) or you can have a family member do it.  They teach you how to do it while in you are in hospital.


These are great questions for the last education class before surgery to know what your hospital does.