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I went to see my surgeon yesterday for the last time before my surgery. I forgot to ask one question so maybe you guys can help me. Will I get the drain tube removed before I leave the hospital or do I have to come home with it?

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I think it depends on how long you are in the hospital. I was in for 2 days after the surgery and removing the tube was the last thing that happened before I left. I think I have read a couple of posts where people had the drain for up to a week after.

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drain tube? This is the first i have heard of a drain tube... Can someone give me a briex explanation, please???? :huh:

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drain tube? This is the first i have heard of a drain tube... Can someone give me a briex explanation, please???? :huh:

My surgery "Bible" calls it a Jackson Pratt Drain. It is a clear tube with an egg shaped bulb on the end. It is placed in the belly during surgery to drain excess blood and fluids from the surgical area.

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Different surgeons use different drains. Some don't have them at all. I think those that don't have them are rare, though. It is one way to do a leak test after surgery, too. And it didn't hurt to have mine removed. I barely even felt it. Just an odd feeling, no pain. Although it was very annoying while in.

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I had a drain and it sucked. No pun intended. I was originally supposed to have it in for two weeks but they removed it after one week.

On day two post-op I started having severe pains on my right side and thought my appendix was bursting. The pain would subside and come back. Was worse when I was sitting or lying down.

After I developed an allergic reaction to the prep-scrub I went to see the surgeon (7th day post-op). I told her about the pain I was having and she said it was deferred pain from the drain. The drain was actually threaded to the left but all the pain I felt was on the right. Since the drain was pretty much empty and the Fluid in the tube was clear she went ahead and removed it. I didn't fee any pain from the actual site the drain was placed or threaded but I felt it all on the right side (where it wasn't even touching). The surgeon said it was fairly common to feel some deferred pain. Literally as soon as the drain was removed ALL the pain went away.

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I was only in the hospital overnight and my drain (a Jackson-Pratt) was removed before I left the hospital. It didn't hurt...just felt funny coming out.

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I asked my experienced Dr. to not use a drain and he was fine with that decision. I had no leaks, cousre my Dr. sutures close the entire sleeve after removal. He rolls the sleeve edge over and sutures it all closed for extra leak protection.

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I have my surgery on Monday the 6th. I was told I'll have a drain tube for 10 days and I'll have to measure any Fluid that comes out of it. I guess it varies from doctor to doctor. I'm not excited about it, trust me.

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my drain tube was removed morning after surgery while in the hospital

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I never had a drain! I had no leaks or complication whatsoever, its weird how so many surgeons are different, but I'm happy with my surgeons, they did my entire surgery through my belly button, which is completely amazing to me and if some day I wanna wear that bikini I can and you'll never even know I had surgery!!

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Now I am wondering about the drain tube too! I guess I assumed it would be removed BEFORE I went home. I can only imagine trying to keep my 1 year olds fingers waya from it!

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I was only in the hospital overnight and my drain (a Jackson-Pratt) was removed before I left the hospital. It didn't hurt...just felt funny coming out.

My experience was exactly like yours... !

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I did not need a drain.My surgeon doesn't like to use them unless absolutely necessary.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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