JP Drain - Did You Go Home With One??

Like most pre-ops I have things I worry about.

Did you have to go home with a JP Drain? If so, were you lap or open?

Also, I don't know the name of the drain or tube or whatever it is, but my program manager said something about it is extremely rare, but that they had one patient a long time ago who had to go home with a tube that they put their liquids and nutrients in and would not be able to eat or drink anything for like 6 weeks if they had that.

Anyone know what I am talking about? If so, did you have to have it and how did it go? It sounds dreadful!

Wynter

I didn't have a drain at all, not even in the hospital.

I think the tube you are thinking of that they put liquids and nutrients in is a G-tube.  It's a tube that goes into your stomach.  You can put fluids and liquid "meals" like Ensure in it.  Having a G-tube does not prevent you from eating or drinking, though.  Often someone that can't eat or drink very much will have one to make up for the nutrition they don't get by mouth, but they can still eat and drink.  Now, if there was some reason you couldn't eat or drink, you'd need a G-tube, it's just that the G-tube itself doesn't prevent you from eating or drinking.

Thanks Kelly. It might have been a G-tube but she had said you would not be able to drink a single drop and I was thinking that 6 weeks of not drinking anything would drive someone insane!!! lol

Wynter

I wonder if what she meant was that the patient had some sort of problem (I don't know what it would be, though) that would prevent her from eating or drinking, so that is why she needed the G-tube?  Instead of the tube, whatever it was, preventing her from eating or drinking.

The only tube I can think of that would prevent you from eating or drinking would be a respirator, like if you could not breathe on your own.  But it doesn't sound like that's what she was talking about.  Plus you should don't put liquids in there!

The other tube you would be nutrients in is an NG-tube, or nasagastric tube.  It goes up your nose, down the back of your throat, and into your stomach.  However, you can still eat and drink with one of those, too.

In the case of having a gtube and not being able to eat, would be because of some extreme complication during surgery. I would think it would be pretty rare for that to happen. I'm a nurse and I have had patients(not WLS patients), that have had surgery where they can't eat at all for weeks. That is usually surgery that involves the esophagus, and it's pretty indepth. I didn't have a jp drain or an NG tube. I have been complication free as well. I'm sure your surgery will go just fine. Good luck to you.   

I went home on a JP drain for two weeks. My surgeons reasoning was that after he tested it during surgery he found small bubbles comeing from the staple area. He also stated he didnt know if I needed it but he is overly careful. I drained quite a bit of blood,80-100cc a day for 12 days. Then it just stopped. It was removed after 14 days. I found it very uncomfortable and had a lot of pain in the site area. My dr thought it was painful from the irritation of the drain in my abdomen. It might have been miserable having it in..but I have already forgotten the pain and am happy with my results so far. Hope this helps.

I had lap ryn last Wednesday and I had the drain in for the two nights I was in the hospital, and did not have to go home with it in.

 
I came home with a JP drain, my doc says it is for me~the other surgon in his office takes it out before you go home.  So I think it is different with each doctor. I cannot wait to have it removed, however it is not as bad as I thought it would be.

I had my surgery Tuesday and I  Lap did have a JP drain  it came out the day I came home hope this helps and good luck just walk and sip

I had surgery on the 17th and had no drain at all.