Question:
When does the drain tube come out?

Hi everyone! I am in the process of having the lap RNY. I have the seminar January 10, 2003 and the consultation in March. Can some of you tell me about the drain tube? So far that seems to be the only thing that I'm not looking forward to. Does everyone have one? How is it attached? Any odors? How often is it emptied?...and any other info you have.    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on January 3, 2003)

January 3, 2003
Hi :) I had my surgery on 12/18 and the drain was pulled 12/27. It didn't hurt really, it's just a discomfort type of thing. It's not supposed to smell, that's a bad thing. I had to empty mine twice a day and measure.
   — cprzybysz

January 3, 2003
i had open rny and didn't have a drain at all. best of luck to you.
   — kimberly T.

January 3, 2003
i had a drain tube with my lap RNY and had it removed 9 days after surgery. it did not hurt me at all - i hardly felt a thing.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 3, 2003
I have mine still (9 days post op)...it's no big deal, it doesn't get in the way, and since I can put my liquid pain med in it, I don't have to taste that nasty stuff! I don't yet know how it feels to have it taken out, although I hear it causes your stomach to do a flip-flop, like driving over a hill, but doesn't actually hurt.
   — thekatinthehat

January 3, 2003
My drains were pulled before I came home from the hospital. I do not know of anyone who used the same surgeon who came home with a drain, every surgeon is different though. Good luck to you.
   — April A.

January 4, 2003
My surgery was 12/12, the drain was removed 12/19. No pain was felt when they removed it at the doctors office for my one week post op visit. You must change the bandages daily and keep the drain area clean. The biggest problem I had was that the tape to keep the bandages on started ripping my skin off. Ouch!
   — Michael S.

January 4, 2003
I had lap RNY 10/15/02 and had a drain tube. I don't understand how it was attached to me other than a long tube inserted into my abdomen and then I used a safety pin to attach it to my clothes so it wouldn't hang. No odors. If it does, call the doctor. It is emptied when it gets to be about 1/3 full. If it gets too full, it can't do what it's supposed to do. Since I was allowed to shower with it, I would empty it into the toilet before I got my shower each day in case I got any fluid on myself (hard to do, but I'm a clutz). Of all the help my husband gave me, this is the only thing he was uncomfortable with but it's no big deal to take care of yourself. I got mine out about 6 days post op and it felt weird - like a menstrual cramp but up higher. Once it's done, it's done. There's no residual discomfort or anything. Good luck!
   — Yolanda J.

January 4, 2003
I had a JP tube, and it was removed before I left the hospital. It was inserted about 3 inches higher than my belly button, and to the left about an inch. It was held in place by external stitches around it. It didn't hurt, it was just annoying. I didn't have to do anything with it, besides make sure it was attached to clothing and didn't hang free. When I took a shower, the nurses taped it close to my skin so it didn't hang. Go read my profile to see what it was like to have it removed. ;) It didn't exactly hurt, but it wasn't pleasant either. But it only felt strange for a few seconds, then it was over. I was worried about having this whole in my stomach, but it healed over really fast. Don't worry yourself about it. You'll be thinking of other things, and won't be bothered by it too much. Take care, Diana
   — Diana L.