I've seen the term "On-Q" mentioned around here but I have no idea what this is. Help please?

it is a system where a cue-ball sized rubber bladder holds an anesthetic (like lidocaine, but not sure what exactly is in it) and it is attached to a very thin hose (called a catheter, but not like the one they use for your urinary tract) with holes in it. That THIN hose threads through an opening the surgeon makes in your abdomen (again...it is small and thin) and lies across the area the surgeon wants to target with pain killer. In our case it would be near where the band is placed, the port, etc.

Over the course of time (I think a day or two, not sure)

that anesthetic slowly drips out (kind of like osmosis) and keeps the internal organ(s) and site bathed in the anesthetic ...effectively numbing it and reducing/stopping pain.

I had my husband pull mine out the minute I got home.

However, many people find it helpful.

Thanks RM! I can always count on you to help me bumble my way through all of this knowledge! Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in all of this info. lol

It's a lot of info! And the on-Q thing...neither my husband (who's been an rn for 25 years) nor I (who was enrolled in a BSN program) ever even HEARD of it!

The nurse at the hospital sent the directions home with us so my husband would know how to remove it! :sneaky:

It does help a lot of recovering surgical patients...but I just couldn't stand it!

Great explanation, RM, easy to picture and understand.

Mimi

Thanks Mimi...and it's good to see you "out and about"! :sneaky:

Does everyone get one of those?

Does everyone get one of those?

No; it depends on your surgeon. However if you are worried about pain and think you'd like one, discuss it with your surgeon! :wink:

Hah, I'm the opposite. The idea of going home hooked up to anything freaks me out and I think I would take the pain over that. Who knows though because I am not in pain yet :wink:

Well like I said, I had my husband remove it the minute I got home, but some really like and want it. So in your case, tell your surgeon you DON'T! :wink: Or you can just wait and see if you think you need it. I could've had it removed at the hospital but they would've had to get orders from my doc and it would've generated more paperwork for them; so for me it was easier to just tolerate it until I got home.