My drain is finally OUT after my 12/9/08 RNY

Thank you for posting this! I had a leak also. Just got my drain out last Thursday and had it in for 16 weeks. When it was trying to come out, they restiched it to me ...I got a bad infection in my abdomen after the drain came out, it was like pulling raw chicken apart. It was in there good!

Hugs Donna

PS... Did you have deferred pain in your left shoulder?

Oh my!  What was the infection from? Did you still have alot of draining before they pulled it out? I noticed on my just yesterday that I had a little bit of blood in the tube area. I don't know if maybe its because its really healing up and every little movement I make pulls on the stitch. Or if maybe something else is happening. Sheesh how long do these darn leaks take to heal? What happens if they remove the drain before the leak heals. Or would they even remove the drain if there is still a leak and how the heck do they even know? I am going to my doctor tomorrow to see if they'll remove the dang thing. Its really starting to jab my side and the area around the tube is starting to heal and scab. I'm not due to actually go back till the 24th but I called him up and told him its been bothering me so they want the doctor to look at it and determine whether or not its possible. I hope they'll remove it. I don't think i can handle this thing another day!  The deferred pain was that after they removed your drain?

Hi , I had my surgery 8-25-08 I had a leak and ended up in ICU for 45 days in a coma on a ventilator. I spent 4 months in the hospital total. I still have 3 drains that are hooked to suction machines and am feed through a feeding tube.  Were you able to eat anything while you waited for the leak to heal? I can have an occasional ice chip but that's it. How did you know when the leak stopped? I know how you felt with the drain, my family calls me "smelly" and we have stock in scented candles.