Had my gastric sleeve surgery on July 30th early in the am. Through my preop classes and all for six months I have been told this stupid JP Drain would be removed seven days from my surgery date in the docs office if all looked good. I have had no complications with anything do far and the drain has not drained in 2 days. What I am angry about is that my doc office will not allow me to come in for an apptm until Friday which will have made 9 freaking days that iv'e had this thing in. Im ready to pull it out myself and not go back! I feel perfectly fine other than this drain hanging off me and it is now getting really sore around the stitches and it hurts to bend forward. The doc receptionist told me that my doc is busy and will not see patients who had surgery on the previous wednesday until the following friday. Im so uncomfortable and upset, feel like they are extremely dishonest now and have heard of no one being required to have this stupid drain in this long unless there was a problem of some kind. Im being told it is this docs standard practice to leave it in a minimum of 7 days for every patient. Thoughts?

@@unbesleevable1, I don't believe anyone said pulling JPdrains was a difficult thing to do. The issue was that her surgeon put in the device and it should've been removed by that practice or they should've given her permission and instructions to do so on her own.

As a nurse you know full well that you can't assume the liability of caring for somebody's post surgical care and should be mindful about saying you would've done the same thing under the circumstances. There are people on this board who may listen to that advice, follow it, and end up with terrible consequences. That's not ok and you know better. If you don't know any better, I'd hate to be a patient of yours.

thank you. i've changed my opinion based on your self-righteous response. reading the nurse practice act right now and repenting my sins. oh yeah, i dont really give a fugggg.

I would expect exactly that kind of response from you. Instead of reading the nurse practice act (like you even know what that is), why don't you refer to your notes from your online nursing degree program, because there is no way you went to an accredited nursing school and have such a wreckless disregard for other people's lives. You didn't have to say you don't give a "fugggg" because that is more than obvious.

For those of you who may read this, there are plenty of reasons why a medical device should be removed by the individual who placed it, or their designated staff (RNs, PA, or NP) who are part of your medical team. Bleeding can occur; the drain may become lodged; drains can break and it's possible to retain a part of it in your body......just to name a few.

JP drains are customized. A person who is 400 lbs will have a drain that is much longer than a 200 lb person. The surgeon measures and cuts the drain to fit the patient. The drains have a length guide imprinted on them and that measurement is documented in a patient's chart. When the drain is pulled in the office at follow-up, that measuring guide and the appearance of the drain is assessed to make sure no parts were retained.

There is no way an average person would know that by pulling their own drain, nor would they be prepared to handle the situation if something went wrong. But why bother, you're a nurse and you didn't know that either - otherwise you wouldn't have chimed in your worthless two cents.

Nothing self-righteous about my reply. You should not give out or support wreckless advice as a medical professional because others may just do what you've suggested. You do know better and your lack of compassion for the harm that could come to someone following that type of advice, is disturbing to say the least.

glad to have disturbed you.