I am getting sleeved on March 31st. I've read a bunch of post on here about drainage tubes. What is that? How long did it stay in? Does everyone get one ?

Not everyone gets one. It depends on the surgeon. I had one in for five days. It is just a tube that drains into a little receptacle. It does not hurt at all.

No drains for me ????

I did have a catheter, though LOL

I had a drain tube for a week. It's annoying. My husband would drain it out, write down the time and how much stuff came out to show the Dr. at my one week post-op appointment.

I had mine for two weeks.

Hope all go well

Edited March 13, 201511 yr by sduggins

No drains for me ????

I did have a catheter, though LOL

So- did they at least put your catheter in after you were already under? Lol.

No drains for me ????

I did have a catheter, though LOL

So- did they at least put your catheter in after you were already under? Lol.

Yes, they put it in after I was under and removed it early the next morning ???? I counted my blessings for sure!

Don't know which is worse, drain or catheter. Sure wouldn't have wanted both! ????

I had a drain for a day. It wasn't a big deal.

I asked the surgeon about the drain and catheter before surgery. He said I would wake up with a catheter, but he hardly ever used a drain. I woke up after surgery with both. Turns out, I had tons of scar tissue from previous surgeries that he had to break up to even do my sleeve. My surgery was only supposed to take about an hour and ended up being in the O.R. For almost 4 hours. The catheter came out about 24 hours after surgery. I never felt the catheter not did I feel it being removed. The drain got in my way and was annoying while it was in, but it was not a huge problem. The drain was removed an hour before I was discharged. The removal was not very pleasant. I know most people don't feel them when they come out, but mine stung like no tomorrow. The stinging stopped once the drain was out , but it was definitely a painful minute.

Just remember anything your surgeon does is for your benefit and to make your surgery a success while limiting your risk of complications. Good luck!

I had a similar experience with the drainage tube as @Luvin_Life125 did. Mine was in for 3 days - they removed it right before I was discharged and it was definitely unpleasant but over within seconds. The nurses emptied the tube and measured the drainage while I was in the hospital. I also woke up with a catheter in after surgery. They took it out about 24 hours later. No pain from that - just relief!

I was sleeved on March 9th and had my drainage tube for two days. My surgeon was checking the drainage once a day for levels of a certain something (I forget the name), that would indicate a leak. Thankfully everything came back fine. He took my drain out the day I was discharged.

No drain for me

I was sleeved 3/5 and had mine removed at 2 days, they told me the more I walked the more would drain, which was good. It didn't hurt having it removed just a minute of discomfort.

Thanks guys. My friend had her surgery in December and didn't have a tube. So I was wondering what they were like.

My surgeon said he doesn't use drains (or catheters) as he wants us up and about straight after surgery.