Please explain this

Hello all: I have been reading alot about people who have had the RNY and they talk about drains & staples. The staples are for laproscopic surgery, but what are the drains for... Can someone please help me understand this. Thank you PS.. I go for my initial consult with Dr. Bilof on Tuesday Sept 12th and I want to be fully prepared.... I thank everyone for their help in understanding.... charlene

Hey Charlene - not all surgeons leave in drains - some do, some don't -- it is definately a question to ask Dr Bilof so you know what to expect. The "drain" is a Jackson Pratt bulb that is inserted into your budy by tube to be able to drain out any excess fluids caused by surgery. My surgeon left only one in my after my RNY and it was removed at 10 days post op -- A nuisance to "work around" while it was in, but no pain associated with it or its removal at all. Hope this info helps. Hugs, Nannette

Thanks Nanette, i will definatley ask dr. bilof when i see him... hope to see you for the october meeting... Charlene

Hi, Charlene. I had Dr. Nusbaum on August 1st, and had no drains, no staples. The incisions are closed with kind of an adhesive that gradually just wore off. Good luck with your appointment! Anna

Anna: How is your progres going so far? Have you had any complications. I can't wait to meet my doc. Charlene

I have to say, Charlene, so far, this is the best thing I've done for myself in my entire life. I had surgery on Tuesday (Aug. 1st). Dr. Nusbaum went on vacation that evening, so Dr. Bilof came in to see me the next day. I discontinued my pain meds Wednesday afternoon, and on Thursday, Dr. Bilof said if I could get in 4 ounces of water an hour, he would let me go home. By 4 PM Thursday, I was on my way home! I've had no real complications. I had two incisions that didn't close well, but they are right where the waistband of my pants falls, so they have been constantly irritated since I left the hospital. They are much better now. I am down 48 pounds as of this morning, and I could not be happier about that. It's still a learning process with the food. I am finally getting in a couple of protein shakes each day, and that is a big help. Some days, everything I try seems to go down and stay down; and other days, I'll try something that just doesn't work. I think you've found wonderful doctors, and that's half the battle. Keep me posted on how you do!

Hi Charlene, Dr Bilof is my surgeon and I didn't have any drains. The staples were dissolving ones so that went away on their own. Carla

Hello Charlene: I went home with the drain still attached ... I didn't know how I felt about it ... it seemed to be bad ... BUT ... I continued to drain out a lot of fluid for the 1st week and the doctor took it out when he removed the staples during the one week post surgical exam. My feelings about this was that it was better to still have the drain and remove the fluids rather than have them "stuck inside me". It was easy to deal with and not at all bad (no pain no strain) just a minor inconvenience, but was just unexpected. Michael

Charlene~ I think each doctor goes by how he thinks things are going during surgery to make the deicision at that time whether or not we need a drain. I didn't get one, at least one that was still in when I woke up anyway Lot's of people on my unit in the hospital did have them? So, Dr. Trivedi told me before surgery that he wouldn't know if I would wake up with a drain, he had to see how I looked inside, I guess it looked good, no drain! I also have only 5 incisions (papercuts I call them, they are so small and so clean) some people have 6? It all depends on how many the surgeon needs to open during surgery, to get around in there. Good luck on Tuesday Michelle

Charlene: Dr. Bilof's partner, Dr. Nusbaum, was my surgeon. I had neither staples nor drains. P~