2.5 weeks post op LBL - drains out!!!

Wow - this is what freedom feels like! Some of you who have read my posts these past few weeks know the struggles I've had with my drain (excessive drainage, leakage, etc). Well, it slowed suddenly - went from 105cc one day then the next day it was 35cc and went between 20-30cc for the next 4 days so the surgeon removed it yesterday. I was worried about if it would hurt or feel gross so I took 2 Tylenol 45 mins before the appointment and honestly it was nothing. The surgeon strategically pushing on my bladder which really distracted me and as he was doing it he pulled it out. I actually didn't even feel it or if I did I mistook it for the discomfort of him pushing on my bladder lol (I had a mons / groin area drain).

I've slept in my bed for the past 3 nights and its more comfortable now than the recliner.

Incision is healing really well. There are 2 areas that are still leaking a little so I keep them covered with clean gauze and a thin layer of polysporin as per PS orders.

I'm back to work full time. I work in an office environment so no lifting required. I have about an hour drive to and from work each way and I'm finding it ok.

Other than the Tylenol for drain removal I haven't taken any meds in a week at least.

I was very worried about this surgery and the pain associated with it and the lack of mobility etc but my experience has been the opposite of what I thought. I did have muscle repair too but the pain isn't bad. I honestly had way more trouble with my RNY surgery and found that to be a way worse surgery than this - odd I know. With RNY I was quite nauseous and got dehydrated etc so really wasn't functional and ended up being off work for 10 weeks and back in the hospital twice.

Anyway, just updating folks and offering hope to the pre-ops. Now I'm crossing my fingers things continue with the smooth sailing - I'm worried about infection, seroma and openings in my incision.

Thanks for reading, cheers!

I won't lie, I'm nervous about my drains staying in that long. I just read through the 46 pages of consent and after care forms and it appears my surgeon is anti-shower until the drains come out. There aren't enough baby wipes in the world to make up for no showering for 2.5 weeks!

It's funny how different surgeons are. My surgeon said "don't be afraid of water" and I showered 24 hrs after surgery (that one kinda sucked not gunna lie - hurt and felt sick) but then I showered every single day since then too. I didn't wash the area with soap necessarily but washed above and just let the soapy water run over it and then rinsed well.

My PS also only does one drain - I've read some do up to 4. My drain certainly did it's job and as much as I hated it I didn't push to get it out because it was oddly satisfying emptying the bulb and knowing that the fluid is out of my body and not just sitting there. I worry now about seroma.

Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!

They can be as different as bariatric surgeons! The two things where he seems to go contrary to what I've seen others recommend is the drain=no shower issue and getting up to walk. He doesn't want patients moving at all and leaves a catheter in so you don't even have to get up for the bathroom. Others seem to be of the mind that moving is important to prevent blood clots.

I hope you'll at least be on lovenox?

Good point. For several weeks apparently!

Yeah they are all different. I had a catheter in but they removed it about 3-4hrs after surgery. Once I was out of recovery and in my room for the night. Almost immediately I felt I had to pee and wanted to get up. One nurse said no "you don't have to pee it's just because we took out the catheter" but the other nurse said "c'mon we'll go try". I walked to the washroom about 4hrs post op and boy did I pee lol (sorry TMI) and did every few hrs after that for the night.

My PS also had some things on my legs that hugged them from the knee down - like electric filled with air and contracted and released. I had those on my legs overnight but when home the next morning with needles/blood thinners for 5 days.

Ill be interested to hear how your recovery goes - keep us posted