My surgery is planned for Feb. 9th and tomorrow is all my pre-op testing - EKG, bloodwork, chest x-ray so fingers crossed!

Anyway, what is this about a drain? I've been reading people's posts and blogs and they're all talking about a drain. In none of my doctor's visits has a drain been mentioned and I haven't read anything about it. Am I missing something? Can someone explain this to me? Haha I feel kinda silly but I want to be completely prepared and thought I was! Oops!

Also, I might have posted this in the wrong spot, but I figured those post-op would know most. Sorry if this is in the wrong place!

Thanks!

Not all Drs use them for the sleeve. Ask your Dr what his policy is. My Dr says he only uses them if needed- usually for revisional surgery.

Hey hon I asked my doctor about a drain because for some reason having a drain scares me the most, more than the surgery lol! A drain is placed to collect any excess fluid and essentially "drains" it out. I think fluid and or blood but I'm not a medical practitioner so its best to ask your doctor. My doctor said he doesn't do drains unless there are clots or if its not properly healing that he's worried about but he doesn't ever do it. Whew!

Well thank you both! I'll check in with my doc and see what he says!

No probs Just had my pre op on Thursday: talked to surgeon, ekg, blood work and insurance. Got my results back and taking vitamins before surgery really does wonders! I am anemic and it's gotton tremendously better so I'm really happy about that. I wish you a great pre op day!

My doctor does insert a drain. It collects all the fluids and, via suction action, the fluids are collected in a plastic bulb that is outside your body. When the drain is emptied, the Fluid quantity is measured.

I had two drains when I had my breast reduction, and I think those were in over a week and I had to measure and empty them myself at home. It was not uncomfortable, but a small pain to deal with.

My surgeon does insert a drain, but if there is no problem it is removed before leaving the hospital. I wouldn't worry about it if your surgeon does insert a drain.

My surgeon uses a drain on all sleeve patients. I had heard a horror story from a friend and was so worried. It ended up being NOTHING to worry about!!! It wasn't uncomfortable at all and the nurses would empty it every few hours or so and measure the amounts. When my doc came in to release me, she pulled it out (which I hardly felt) and threw some dressing over it, which I had to change twice a day for 3 days and then it closed up. If you do end up with one, don't worry...it's no big deal!!!

Good Luck!!!!

Didn't have a drain. I was glad about that although it seems pretty common from the posts here.

I had a drain. As others have said, it was no big deal. I actually had mine for 8 days. The worst part about it was having to tuck it into my bra when I went outside to walk. When it was removed, it felt like the tummy drop sensation you get on a roller coaster. Took half a second.

A little more about my drain:

When they removed it on day three before I left the hospital, they left the hole to heal by itself. No sutures, surgical glue, etc. It heals from the inside out, I guess is the way it was explained. If there is any infection, it will drain there. I was able to shower, wash it, etc. and I was instructed not to put anything like Neosporin on it. Just let it be. It was really easy.

So, it was the last wound to close up all the way. I think my little scab fell off just over a week ago (I am almost five weeks post-surgery).

Don't fear the "JP Drain" if its used on you during your sleeve surgery. You don't even know its there and its easily pulled out before they discharge you. On the list of worries of the surgery, the JP drain should be down at the bottom. I had one, no big deal...

I made my doctor insert a drain. His arguement was he rarely ever has leaks. My arguement was I wanted to be sure, and put in the drain. Something else about the drain. I drained the first day about 3 bulbs worth of liguid, about 2 the next few days, and at least 1 a day after that. That is Fluid tha I would have had to pass another way, and would have been that much more bloated.

If you get the drain, opt for purple colored jellos and clears so that if you do leak, you can see it in the drain. The liquids draining will be deep red, then lighter red.

My surgery is planned for Feb. 9th and tomorrow is all my pre-op testing - EKG, bloodwork, chest x-ray so fingers crossed!

Anyway, what is this about a drain? I've been reading people's posts and blogs and they're all talking about a drain. In none of my doctor's visits has a drain been mentioned and I haven't read anything about it. Am I missing something? Can someone explain this to me? Haha I feel kinda silly but I want to be completely prepared and thought I was! Oops!

Also, I might have posted this in the wrong spot, but I figured those post-op would know most. Sorry if this is in the wrong place!

Thanks!

Thanks for the post, I was just getting ready to ask about that. I have had abdominal surgeries before and never had a drain tube. I was wondering why with this one. I sure hope if my doc does it, he takes them out before you go home. I just don't want something else to have to deal with.

WOW! Thank you all for your help, support, comments and advice! You're all so fantastic. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this board when I did!

I spoke to my doc today when I went to do my pre-op tests and he said that I'll have a drain in the hospital and it varies on each patient if I go home with it or not. So thank you all, so much, again!

I went home with it and it was a little annoying but overall I am glad I did - I had the opportunity to have a conversation with a nurse who has had the surgery and she says - unofficially no study or anything - that she thinks people are in less pain if they have the drain and take care of it. Her educated guess was it drains (duh, lol) and eliminates alot of pressure.

Just be very sure to take care of it - and remember the bulb is drained and then left partially "squeezed" then capped again - it creates the negative pressure to help the drain work.