What is the drain?

I still doing all my research on RNY and I haven't seen much about the drain but I've seen it mentioned on here a few times... what is the drain for?  does everyone get one?  do you have a big scar from it?  does it hurt when gets removed?

No not everybody gets one, I didn't

I had a drain while in the hospital (2 days).  It's a little tube that comes out of your abdomen attached to a little clear tennis ball type thing.  They squeeze the ball before attaching it to the tube, so it keeps a small amount of constant suction.  It clears the liquids out that can accumulate.  Pulling it out feels "weird" but doesn't really hurt.  The Man thought it would be amuzing to make a chainsaw sound when the doc yanked it out....vrmmmmvrmmmvrmmmm.....smartass.

I've heard some people go home with it for a few days, but it's not that big a deal.  Just make sure you don't sit on it or yank it out, because you tend to forget it's there sometimes.

I had one for six weeks when I had my gall bladder out.  Still no biggie.  They show you how to empty it and keep it clean.  I had to measure the liquid that came out of it because of an infection I ended up with, but this is the exception, not the rule.

There's a name for it....the something-something drain.  Let me see if I can remember, and I'll repost, unless someone can help me out with that!!!

It's called a JP drain

I had a drain it is a little bulb that collects fluids that seep out. Mine was in there for 2 days in the hospital, my mom had a different doctor and had hers in for three weeks. The scar that was left behind has almost disappeared, it is by far the smallest of my RNY scars but they are all really small. It didn't hurt at all getting it removed.

its a small tube that sticks out with a little plastic ball it collects the excess liquid and blood afetr surgery they remove it before you leave hospital its standard

I have 3 drains- but I also had an open RNY with 3 hernia repairs.  I had 4, but they removed one at the hospital.  It didn't hurt, but it sure felt... weird.  The incision is about the size of my pinky fingernail.  In comparison to my 10" stapled incision, it is weak in comparison :)

 Hi Amanda how was your surgery? Any issues with your hernia repairs?  I have the same buldge and 2 little ones.  He said it will add 45 min to the surgery and should be able to do lap still.

There weren't any complications, per se, but the hernias were pretty extensive, and I had part of my bowel entering one, so it took a lot more time than originally planned.  I also had scar tissue the surgeon had to cut through.  Hopefully if you get it done lap, you won't need the mesh like I did.  Surgery was rough, recovery is rough, but it's getting better every day. :)

 I had two drains one came out before I left the hosptial the 2nd came out about a week after my surgery.  The way my doctor explained to me was that its put in place to drain out fluid...the amount that comes out determins if they need to put a person on antibotics.  I think  that is what he said....mind you I was on pain meds lol.