Question:
Is it painful when you finally have staples and tube removed?

   — Liz S. (posted on February 1, 2001)

February 1, 2001
I must admit that the drain tube really hurt when I had it removed. I had to go home with it in, so I had it in longer than most (about 10 days). As soon as he started pulling on it, it felt like my muscles started spasming and I couldn't catch my breath--it really took me by surprise. However, in the hospital, my roommate had hers removed and she just said it was a little uncomfortable. The staples were really nothing--maybe a tiny pinch here and there. I had open RNY 12/4/00.
   — Susan S.

February 1, 2001
I suggest you take a pain pill about a half hour before you go to get your staples out. I didn't and wish I had. The nurse told me the longer they are in the more they hurt coming out. It was not horrible but there were twinges. Good luck
   — marlene R.

February 1, 2001
The staples were a piece of cake for me. The drain on the other hand is a differant story, I had to keep my drain in for five weeks and it was slightly uncomforatable to say the least when they finally did pull it. It might not be so bad if they pull it right away.
   — [Anonymous]

February 1, 2001
I had my drain pulled the day I left the hospital (5 days post-op) I didn't even hardly feel it. There was just a sucking sound when the doc pulled it out and it kinda tickled a little. The drain tube was about 10 inches long. I didn't realize it was that long inside me and my incision was about 12 inches long and I had 39 staples. I just had them removed this past Wednesday and there was only one or two that I felt them pull and that was down by my belly button very sensitive area. I feel so much better with them out and the scar is healing very well and I think it will look good after a year or so. I also had a central line IV in my chest, It didn't hurt at all to have removed the tube on it was about 4 inches long and they had sewed it in with 3 stitches, now getting the stitches removed hurt a little.
   — Vicki V.

February 2, 2001
Not everone has a tube - I didn't. The staples were a breeze. It felt great to get them OUT! They were getting itchy!
   — Lisa B.

February 2, 2001
i had my surgery done 2 hrs from where i live so the thought of returning for staple removal didnt appeal to me. my sister is a nurse so she removed my staples at home all 40 of them and it was not painful at all. i had an iv in my neck, not to fun, with 3 stitches and it didnt hurt to be removed either. the ng tube was the worst it didnt hurt to be removed but it was a pain to just have it . i was scared of all the things that were going to happen but after it all comes you dont worry so much. now after losing 120lbs and being able to do all the things i couldnt do for years i am so happy that those fears didnt stop me from the surgery.
   — [Anonymous]

February 2, 2001
What type of tube are you referring to? If it's the NG tube, mine hurt a lot coming out. In fact it surprised the Dr that I had cried due to the pain. Later though we found that I had a thrush infection in my mouth so my throat was probably raw due to that. The staples were a breeze. I didn't feel any pain at all, in fact my surgeon did staples and stiches alternately and neither hurt coming out.
   — Kim F.

February 3, 2001
The only tube I had was a penrose next to my belly button. I didn't feel a thing when it came out. The whole area was numb. Don't know if that was from the surgery or all the morphine I had on board. Didn't have staples, just stitches that melted on their own. One day they just seemed to be gone.
   — Tina H.