drain?

I keep reading about a drain being taken out. what is this exactly?

Most of us won't need a drain. For some abdominal surgeries, usually the type they've done more work, a piece of narrow tubing is left in, it comes out from the belly to a bulb shaped collection thing that gets emptied when it fills up, or every so often to measure it. When the drainage slows down in a couple days or so, it gets pulled out. Generally if you will have the type surgery that requires a drain they will warn you in advance.

Thanks for the info! =)

I had one with my gallbladder surgery. It really was no big deal. Yes, its creepy to realize it's actually going through your skin but they just snipped the stitch and pulled it out and put a bandaid over the spot. It didn't hurt at all. If I remember right (its been about 12 years) they took it out the day after the surgery.

Vicki
LAVH 7/13/10
Endometriosis, heavy periods all my life.