Question:
WHAT IS THE DRAIN TUBE?

I AM RESEARCHING TO HAVE OPEN RNY. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS A DRAIN TUBE AND DOES IT HURT. HOW IS IT TAKEN OUT? IS THERE A BIG SCAR FROM OPEN RNY? I HAVE HAD 2 C-SECTIONS, BUT I HAD A BIKINI. THEREFORE, THE INCISION IS NOT VISIBLE. PLEASE HELP ME WITH ALL THE INFO YOU HAVE ON THE ABOVE. THANKS ALOT. BY THE WAY I AM PLANNING ON GOING TO MEXICO (SELF PAY) TO HAVE THE SURGERY ALSO. ANY PROS OR CONS WILL GREATLY APPRECIATED.    — PATRICE T. (posted on August 21, 2003)


August 20, 2003
The open RNY incision will run approximately from you breast bone to your belly button. Some surgeons may have a longer or shorter incision line. My drain tube came out just below the belly button on the right side. It's relatively small - slightly smaller than a regular pencil - and they just pull it out to remove it. It runs pretty much the length of the incision. The removal is painless. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

August 20, 2003
The drain tube that was on me was to indicate whether or not I had a "leak" on the inside. It was just a nuisance more than painful... although it was a REAL nuisance right before it came out. The doctor said it might hurt coming out but it did not... although I was HAPPY to get rid of that nuisance. God Bless You in your Journey.... God has been GOOD to me in mine!
   — Eleanore Davis

August 20, 2003
The drain tube is an essential part of the healing process after your surgery, it allows the fluid to drain from your incision. If the fluids didn't drain then you would most likely get an infection. The removal of your drain tube will depend on your surgeon, mine was taken out 2 weeks after my surgery. Some surgeons remove them before you leave the hospital, and as far as the removal all they do is cut the stitch that holds it in place and pull it out of you slowly. I think my tube was about a foot long or more. It didn't hurt when they took it out just felt strange. As far as the scar from the surgery its self, my scar goes from right below my sternum to just past my belly button and is ten and a half inches long. Your incision WILL be noticeable after open RNY. But the scar is well worth the benefits of this awesome TOOL. If you have any other question Email me and Ill try to help.
   — Kevin M.

August 21, 2003
It's worth noting that not all surgeons use drains. Your are not most likely to get an infection without one as the previous poster stated. That's just not true. My surgeon doesnt use drains. So, you would be best off asking if your surgeon plans to use one. My open scar is not that bad. I could wear some tummy bearing things (though I would never!) It's about 6 inches long, starting below my bra line and stopping well before my belly button. Again, it's another good thing to ask you doctor about, each one is different. Good luck to you!
   — LMCLILLY

August 21, 2003
My drain tube was about 3 inches to the left of the top of my incision...RIGHT it is a nuisance but my doc uses it for his surgery. I did wonder what it would feel like when they took it out & how in the heck it stayed in me since I thought I could see the end of it in my "guts" LOL. When they pull it out they deflate it first so there is no danger of it coming out at home...It is a weird feeling because it is pretty long on the inside but it did not hurt.
   — BLSLIM77

August 21, 2003
I had open RNY, and my scar is about 3 inches long and goes from just above my bra line down. It's not big at all. Goes nowhere near my belly button. I had a drain tube just to the left of it, but no stitches were used to hold it in. Just a balloon. I had it for 3 weeks. He even let my partner remove the tube when it came out. It didnt' hurt, it was just startling because I could feel it moving around on the inside as it was coming out. It did get uncomfortable for the last few days before it was removed, but nothing too bad. Good luck!
   — Becky K.

August 21, 2003
My incision was from the breast bone to the belly button. It probably depends on the surgeon you have. The drain tube was to the left of my incision, the drs used it to drain excess stuff out of my incision for only the amount of time I was in the hospital...it was removed the day I went home with no complications, but I have to disagree with others on the pain. I thought it was very uncomfortable to have taken out and wouldn't want to do it again.
   — Leslie G.

August 22, 2003
I had an open RNY on July 3rd. My incision is about 8" from my sternum to just above my umbilicis. I had 35 small staples and my drain was to the right of my incision about a quarter way down from the top. I had half my staples and the drain removed at one week. The rest of the staples were taken out at 2 weeks. The most uncomfortable part of the entire operation and recovery was the removal of the drain. The scar will be of no significance in comparison to the quality of life I will have with the weight loss I obtain.
   — Charlotte G.

August 22, 2003
My drain was on the lower right abdomen, below my belly button. I thought having the tubes pulled from my nose was more annoying than the drain being removed! My lungs collapsed during surgery though, so nothing compared in pain to that--I wouldn't worry at all about the drain--it was a relief not to have to drag it around with me once it was removed (especially since I was dragging one of those wheeled oxygen tanks behind me in the hospital...)good luck
   — Carla C.




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