Surgery is one week from tomorrow! I can't get over the fear of the drain! The whole idea of it sticking out where I can see it and the thought of it being painful when in and when being pulled out scares the crap out of me! I know I stay two days in hospital and it will come out day 2.

I had my surgery two weeks ago today. I also had a drain but had to keep it in for five days. I was terrified of it! However, I found that it was not painful at all when it was in and I didn't even feel it when they were pulling it out!

I have had drains for surgery twice before. I didn't have any issues the first time (had two drains then), but this time around, for the sleeve, my drain seemed to be the cause of this menstrual cramp-type pain. The cramps went away as soon as the drain was removed. As for pain when they remove it, there isn't any at all. It feels a littler weird, but not painful. Also, they tape up the area where the drain comes out of your skin really well, so it's not like you have it just hanging out of you, pulling on your skin or anything.

No pain with the drain in and just a slight uncomfortable feeling when they were removing it.

I didn't have any drains ????

I didnt have any drains either! ????

I had one drain and while it was in I didn't feel it. I did consciously not move much while in bed because I was afraid to mess it up some how. I had my PCA pump still going when they pulled it out so I pushed my WONDERFUL pain button right before they pulled it and it didn't really hurt. I agree that it was just an uncomfortable feeling but not painful.

Oh yea, the NUT, nurses and Dr's all prepared us by reminding us to breath when they're taking it out cause holding your breath would make it more unbearable. It worked!

Good Luck!

No drain for me.

Not everyone gets a drain... You may be one of the lucky ones.

I had three drains and while they were in it wasn't painful. I was just very paranoid they would get hung on something and the little bulbs on the end of them were cumbersome. When they pulled them out, 2 of them didn't hurt, the last one (was so glad it was last) hurt, but it was more of an odd feeling as I guess it was really deep. Hardly any pain after. This was the first time I had drains in any surgery.

Having a catheriter in was more bothersome. Hopefully you won't have them in long.

For me, the drain was the worst part. But, like you, I had a real fear about it before I went in and was really hoping I wouldn't have one. I was mortified when I found I'd got one.

It didn't hurt while it was in. But taking it out was vile. I had surgery Friday pm and the drain was taken out Saturday pm, so 24 hours.

No drain either.

I had a drain. I didn't feel it at all while it was in. Mine was pulled the day I was discharged from the hospital and it didn't hurt, but it was an odd feeling having it pulled. I also had one years ago when I had my hysterectomy. That one didn't hurt either and I felt nothing when it was pulled.

It's nothing to be afraid of.

I did not have a drain for the sleeve. I had one in my knee for my ACL reconstruction. No big deal. Well taped in place and no pain when they pulled it.

I was worried about the drains that I read about before my surgery. I asked my surgeon and he said I wouldn't be having any drains and I didn't. I also didn't have a pre-op diet. I wonder why the doctors are all SO different