Can anyone give me any insight on the drain that some doctors use? That's the only thing that is scaring me. Will I have to empty it? Was it uncomfortable?

Can anyone give me any insight on the drain that some doctors use? That's the only thing that is scaring me. Will I have to empty it? Was it uncomfortable?

I read about those too but I didn't get one. I only got that obnoxious medicine ball - I felt like a St. Bernard wearing that thing around my neck.

I am with you Lavender!!! My surgeon is over cautious and uses a cath, drains FOR 2 weeks!!!!!!! and we have to give ourselves shots for 2 weeks.. she also insists on liquid diet for 2 weeks pre-op. PLEASE. I am insisting they remove the drains before I leave that hospital... everyone who has those nasty drains has incresed pain and infections!!!

I had a drain, they took care of it in the hospital by dressing the site with gauze pads. My only complaint was I kept having to ask the nurses to re-dress it due to leaking issues. Just kinda gross feeling it drip through the gauze.

Drain was removed the day I left the hospital which was 4 days post op (I went to Mexico, by myself). I wouldn't say it hurt as it was coming out, just felt weird and there was some pulling. Ugh. So gross to think about now.

I freaked out a bit when I realized I had a hole under the new dressing. Luckily, people on here saved me from having a nervous breakdown. The remaining hole begins to close up pretty quickly.

Overall, I'd say having tape ripped off the skin hurts way more than drain removal.

I hear the best results seem to be the patients that have the drains removed in the hospital and then their surgeons close them up with some sort of liquid glue. That sounds much better! I am not having those dig dag drains hanging out of me for 2 weeks! I'll lose my mind. (What little is left!!)

Thank you for some insight. I see the doctor tomorrow and that will be one of my top questions. I really don't want to go home with one.

June 12th at 9:00 am is my big day and I'm so excited.

The drain has a little squishy balloon at the end that will hold your drainage. It has a little valve on it that you open to dump the drainage out then you squeeze all the air out and close the valve to make it "suck" the fluid threw the drain. It's pretty gross. I had one from another surgery.. Not looking forward to it again..

I read about those too but I didn't get one. I only got that obnoxious medicine ball - I felt like a St. Bernard wearing that thing around my neck.

What's the "medicine ball"?

Haven't heard of that yet.

I had a drain' date=' they took care of it in the hospital by dressing the site with gauze pads. My only complaint was I kept having to ask the nurses to re-dress it due to leaking issues. Just kinda gross feeling it drip through the gauze.

Drain was removed the day I left the hospital which was 4 days post op (I went to Mexico, by myself). I wouldn't say it hurt as it was coming out, just felt weird and there was some pulling. Ugh. So gross to think about now.

I freaked out a bit when I realized I had a hole under the new dressing. Luckily, people on here saved me from having a nervous breakdown. The remaining hole begins to close up pretty quickly.

Overall, I'd say having tape ripped off the skin hurts way more than drain removal.[/quote']

How long did it take for your hole to close?

I had mine removed today and had to change the bandaid three times so far. Thankfully I immediately went to the drug store to get bigger band aids which traps all the dripping but the runoff is, um, nasty. With such a hole I'm so afraid of infection.

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How long did it take for your hole to close?

I had mine removed today and had to change the bandaid three times so far. Thankfully I immediately went to the drug store to get bigger band aids which traps all the dripping but the runoff is' date=' um, nasty. With such a hole I'm so afraid of infection.

Sent from my iPhone using VST[/quote']

My drain hole closed within 2 days. It's perfectly fine now and no infection.