Question re: gastric bypass surgery

Hi everyone.

I met someone today at work that had the bypass surgery from a different doctor than I have.  She is 5 weeks post op and is doing great.  She has lost 43 pounds so far, which is awesome.

She was telling me about her surgical experience and she said that after the surgery she had a tube that went into her nose down into her stomach for a few days which was very very uncomfortable.

She also said she was catherized and had a drain.

I was wondering the following;

Did everyone who have the bypass surgery have that tube that went from your nose down into your stomach and how painful was it?  It kind of scares me.

Also, Did everyone have a drainage tube and was everyone catherized?

I appreciate the info.

Thanks.
Geoff

NO NG tube! (that's the one down your nose) THANK GOD! Nothing to eat/drin****il the following day though (Depending on your surgeon - I forget where you are going)

I did have a drain tube - it was taken out before I went home. Catheter - yep. They put it in during surgery and remove it the following morning - I know it sounds horrible - you really don't feel it and the last thing you want to do is get up and pee! lol At Barix they make you walk 4 hours after getting back to your room and then every 2 hours all night long the first night - the second night they let you go 4 hours.

You are going to be pretty doped up the day of surgery - you'll probably have a pain pump - USE IT, it is easier to keep pain away (manage it) then to stop it once it has started.

Ask ask ask away!

Thank goodness, Liz thank you so much, you have made me feel so much better.  That NG tube was freakin me out....lol  I have a very low tolernace for pain, so rest assured, I will be using the pain button they told me that I will have.  I can deal with the rest.

The Dr I am using is Dr. Gritsus and was recommended to me by my family doctor and someone at work his wife and daughter went to Dr. Gritsus, so I do have a lot of confidence in him.

Out of curiousity, the day after surgery, I would imagine your throat is dry as can be from the anesthesia and pain killers.  If you can't drink anything what did you do?  Can you suck on an ice cube, or take a wet paper towel and squeeze it?  Or what?

Thanks so much Liz.

the day after surgery they'll let you drink (some do the day of! mine wasn't one of them) The day of surgery they'll give you a wet sponge thingy on a stick (think sponge toothbrush) and that's it.

You'll do fine - I promise they won't let you suffer! I would ask for a liquid pain med for when you go home - it was a god send for me, I couldn't swallow anything. I only took it twice and that was to sleep, not because of pain.

Liz

I should add that they did a "leak test" the morning after surgery. I had to drink a tiny cup of something that tasted like cough syrup and they did an x-ray to see if my new pouch had any leaks - then I got liquids and a shower - it was heavenly! lol

Hi Geoff,

Seems like all surgeons do things differently, so tubes and drains depend on your surgeon.  My surgery was a month ago, at Barix, and I didn't have any tubes, drains or catheters.  I did have a pain pump and used it.  It wasn't too bad getting up to use the bathroom.  And I made sure I walked the halls every time I got up. 

Don't be scared of the tubes and stuff.  They're there for your benefit, and the nurses keep checking them.

Julia

I didn't have a drain or NG tube, only a catheter.. and thank goodness I had that cause I sure didn't want to get out of bed to pee.  I actually did NOT have it going into surgery.  I had to pee when I came out and couldn't go on the bed pan and they wouldn't let me get up to go, so they put the catheter in.  It stayed in until the next morning when I was more up to getting up to go pee.  It didn't hurt, wasn't uncomfortable.  I had morphine in my IV the first night and it made me nauseous, so they switched me over to percoset which was small enough for me to swallow.  I was able to eat SF italian ice and drink small bits of crystal light the first night.  I remember having to wait so many hours until I could have anything, but I don't remember how long it was.

Thank you all so very much for your input.  I was obviously freakin a little bit earlier but feel so much better.  I have my 2nd weigh in tomorrow and will ask some of these questions.  I am very anxious to hear what they say.  I never heard of a liquid pain killer before but will be sure to ask about that as well.

thanks again
Geoff

NO NG tube for me.......I was awake from surgery after about one hour, but had to lay int he recovery room for another hour  (total of 2 hours post op).   I may have been catheterized durign the surgery (don't know as I was out like a light).. When I woke up, no catheter and I was expected to get up and walk around (especially to visit the toilet) within 4 hours of surgery.

I did have a drain at surgery site which was removed 48 hours after surgery. It was uncomfortable, but I was on pain meds in hospital.

The staples on my left side were uncomfortable, but bearable.  All staples came out on my 7 day check up.

I had my surgery in Nj at St. Clare's in Dover (Dr. Abkin).

Great information Jayne,

Thank you