How Bad are the Drains?

[J.T.]

'cause my mom isn't gonna come if she has to do them... she doesn't want to do the drains and says i should hire a nurse.  i've got to let my backup know by tomorrow night if i need her or not.

so the guys who've had surgery, how bad are the drains?  how often did you have to get them cleaned in the first couple of days and were you able to do them yourself without jeopardizing recovery?

[GnomeKid]

They wern't bad at all.
The worst part about them was the fact that the bandages are on there pretty tight and they're a lil uncomfortable as they're jabbing into your skin.  Its mildly irritating at worst.  As far as emptying them goes my mom helped me with that, but I'm sure you could do it yourself without any trouble.  Your surgeon will give you instructions on how often you have to empty them.  I was given a chart to fill in as far as how much was drained out each day(they give you what looks like a piss cup with measure lines on it.)  I was told to empty them twice a day once when I got up and once before bed.  It wasn't nearly as gross as I thought it would be.

[J.T.]

thanks for the quick response.  i thought it was every few hours, not twice a day... so that makes me feel a bit better.

[Camden]

You could probably do it yourself depending on how that stuff bothers you. My g/f said she wouldn't do it then the nurse explained it and I think she felt like she had so then she was OK with it.

[Mister]

they're uncomfortable and sorta gross.  someone needs to be instructed how to drain them as soon as you wake up, but after the first twelve hours or so i did them on my own.

[Dennis]

I did them on my own no problem at all. And how often depends on how fast they fill. It was only once or twice a day for me too.

Dennis

[sneakersjay]

I was able to do them myself no problem also.  My brother was greatly relieved; he hates medical stuff.

Jay

[J.T.]

thanks guys, a lot.  i have no problem with "gross" stuff i just wasn't sure if i would be physically able to do it and it sounds like i will be.

[sneakersjay]

thanks guys, a lot.  i have no problem with "gross" stuff i just wasn't sure if i would be physically able to do it and it sounds like i will be.

That was my concern also but they hung down low enough from the surgical binder that I could reach them.

Oh, and where are you having your surgery?  I think I missed that post!

Jay

[christov]

i've been wondering the same thing!
i don't have a surgery date yet but i have been thinking about the drains....
my partner had a drain when she had breast cancer & she'd do it for me....still, i get a little queasy just thinking about it all.....clunk!

[Mister]

Queasiness happens.  I almost lost it the first time I saw a clump of who knows what come through the tube.  It's much less disgusting than changing a bloody tampon, IMHO.

[J.T.]

I'm going to Brownstein.  Woot, two weeks from today i'll be down there in SF.

Thanks for all the responses, i shared them with my mom and she said that she'll "survive" now.

[tekla]

Dress warm, its been cold and wet in SF for over a month now.

[J.T.]

thanks for the tip

[sneakersjay]

You'll like him. He's cool.  I drove his office staff batty by always being early.  Oops.

Jay

P.S.  That's because he doesn't have a 'normal' doctor's office.   

[Mister]

You'll like him. He's cool.  I drove his office staff batty by always being early.  Oops.

Jay

P.S.  That's because he doesn't have a 'normal' doctor's office.   

It's almost annoying how much they hate that.  Especially since the buses in Potrero Hill suck so badly. 

[tekla]

Yeah, that is kind of an odd place for a doctors office.

[sneakersjay]

Yeah, that is kind of an odd place for a doctors office.

I was lucky; it was only 4 blocks from where I was staying.  So I walked.

Jay

[sneakersjay]

It's almost annoying how much they hate that.  Especially since the buses in Potrero Hill suck so badly.

Good to know it wasn't only me!!


Jay

[Mister]

Not at all, Jay.  I live here and have gone for a bunch of follow ups (he's curious and most of his work flies away!).  Kathy is cranky EVERY TIME.  I've managed to now time it to where I get to his office about 5 minutes early.