Question:
Does everyone getting open RNY have drainage tubes when they go home?

I am scheduled for open RNY 9/24/02, and of course I'm getting the gitters. A bit nervous the whole 9-yards! But I know this is what I need to do. However, I am even more nervous about hearing about the tubes and stuff you go home with and have your skin grow around so that it's painful when they are removed at the 2 week post-op visit. Does every surgeon use these on their patients? If so I'm sure it's necessary. What exactly is it used for???    — wemax2 (posted on September 15, 2002)

September 15, 2002
I don't know the circumstances but not everyone does. I had no outside stitches except in my neck. I had a drain of some kind in my arm, and one in my neck till I went home. They took them out the day before. None in my sides or stomach..and I was "super glued" not stitched. Each hospital and each surgeon is different. Call the office and ask them, but I have to tell you I did just that and they told me yes I would be stapled. But the surgeon had just gone to a seminar on the "super glue" and I reaped the benefits!!!! Good Luck God Bless.
   — Jackiis

September 15, 2002
My JP drain wasnt a problem till our poodle mistook it for a ball and tried to run off with it:( I SCREAMED LOUD! It got inflammed and removed early. They are inconvenient but draining the area makes healing easier since our body doesnt have to deal with the excess fluid. Not all surgeons use them. Its no big deal...
   — bob-haller

September 15, 2002
Hi Wendolyn! I came home from my open RNY (8/5/02) with nary a drain in sight! My doctor said that they just don't have a need for them. I had heard as well that everyone came home with them and it made me very nervous about my surgery but was relieved when my surgeon told me they don't use them. The only thing I had was a tube in my nose when I woke up but they took that out 1st thing the next morning. Boy was that a relief!! Good Luck and don't worry about the surgery, its the best!!!
   — Jean T.

September 15, 2002
The only tube I had in the hospital was the NG tube in my nose. It stayed until 4 days post op when I had the leak test. It was removed after that, as were all my IV's. I had my 12 staples removed at the first post op visit...12 days post surgery. The NG tube was more of a nuisance than anything, and not at all painful!
   — MaryBeth R.

September 15, 2002
I had a drainage tube for about 6 weeks due to complications. One morning I woke up and it just stopped working - the bulb had expanded and stayed that way. I called the on-call surgeon and he said either my mom could take it out at home or I could come to the ER. My mom ended up taking it out at home, with my eyes shut (with the nurse on the phone). At one point I could tell she stopped pulling and I screamed "keep pulling, keep pulling" - I opened my eyes only to find the tube was it out. No pain, no discomfort.
   — Carrie B.

September 15, 2002
OPEN RNY 3-20-2002- no drain tubes!~No staples- No pain :)
   — ~~Stacie~~

September 15, 2002
Like lisa, I had a drainage tube for the four days i was in the hospital. It's a bulb slightly smaller than a tennis ball. Mine was inserted right next to my belly button. It stung a little when the nurse pulled it out, but not that bad. I don't think you find it a problem at all.
   — John P.

September 15, 2002
I had the JP drain but it was removed the day before I left the hospital. It is there to drain secretions from the unused part of the stomach. The only time I knew I had it was when it needed to be emptied - I would get a little nauseated and when they emptied it, I would feel better immediately. Mine was a little painful when they took it out because a blood clot had formed on the tip of it but the pain was gone almost instantly. My advice is don't worry about this - it is a minor inconvenience.
   — Patty_Butler

September 15, 2002
TRY NOT TO WORRY. I HAD OPEN RNY ON AUG 1 2002. I HAD A DRAIN TO THE LEFT OF MY BELLY BUTTON BUT IT CAME OUT IN 2 DAYS. I FELT NOTHING. HONEST. DIDN'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS OUT. ALSO HAD A G TUBE. THIS GOES TO YOUR OLD STOMACH. IT STAYED IN 4 WEEKS. SOME GET IT OUT SOONER. YOU COULD OPEN IT UP AND PUT MEDICINE, PROTEIN DRINKS, EXTRA WATER ETC INTO IT SINCE IT WENT TO THE OLD STOMACH. JUST INCASE THE NEW TINY POUCH GOT A LITTLE TOUCHY HA. I WENT TO THE DOCTORS OFC AND HE PULLED IT OUT AFTER SNIPPING A LITTLE STITCH THAT WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. NO PAIN AGAIN. IT DIDN'T STICK TO MY SKIN JUST CAME RIGHT OUT. I HAD TO ASK HIM IF IT WAS ALL OUT. I COULDN'T TELL. NONE OF THIS IS FUN BUT REALLY THEY ALL DO IT DIFFERENTLY AND IF YOUR DOCTOR IS GOOD IT SHOULDN'T HURT. I HAD NO STAPLES. STITCHED INSIDE AND STERI STRIPS ON THE OUTSIDE LIKE TAPE. YOU WILL BE FINE.
   — Sandy B.

September 15, 2002
I had an open RNY july 10, 2002, and had no drains.
   — Penny D.

September 15, 2002
I had my open rny on Aug. 19, 2002. I was a little concerned beforehand about the drainage tube and also the tube I heard they put down my nose. My Doctor told me the tube in my nose went in after I was asleep and was out before I woke up. The tube next to my navel was about the size of a piece of spagetti with a small bulb on the end that they emptied a couple times a day. They took it out before I left the hospital and it didn't hurt at all coming out
   — Carol H.

September 15, 2002
I had open RNY on June 12th and they took my drainage tube out before I left the hospital. I was there for 4 days. No problems and no tubes to go home with.
   — emilyfink

September 15, 2002
I had 2 tubes hanging out of me when I woke from surgery. The tube on my right side was the drainage tube with the bulb on the end. It came out 2 days after surgery. The other tube was on my left side. It was called a "feeding tube". It stayed in til 2 weeks post op when I got my staples out. My doc puts that tube in to prevent dehydration. If you aren't getting your fluids in by mouth, you could put water into this tube. It was a bit of an annoyance, but I felt safer with it in knowing that I could prevent a return trip to the hospital for rehydration.
   — Colleen S.

September 15, 2002
I HAD A JP (JACKSON PRATT)TUBE. IT WAS TAKEN OUT PRIOR TO ME LEAVING THE HOSPTIAL (DAY 3). IT WAS A LITTLE PAINFUL WHEN THEY PULLED IT BUT AFTER THE FIRST TIME GETTING OUT OF BED, YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!! GOOD LUCK!
   — JOY C.

September 15, 2002
Open RNY, 8/21/02; No drains, staples and no pain. HUGS,
   — Christina J

September 16, 2002
Open RNY 10-10-01. No drain tubes but I did have staples that came out my first check up. Starting weight 296 currently 177lbs.
   — Bethany F.

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