I had the JP drain, but they removed it before I was discharged from the hospital. My husband, on the other hand, had a JP drain AND a gastrostomy tube. They removed the JP before discharge, but he had to keep the G-tube in for 5 weeks. He just had it removed last week. It wasn't extremely painful, but more of an inconvenience. I wouldn't let the fear of a drain stop me from having surgery. The surgery is major and it's just one of the things that can go along with it.
As far as dumping is concerned, I've never experienced it, but from what I understand, it's horrible.
Because of the major changes in your system, it's like learning all over again how and what to eat. It took me 6 months before I could eat chicken, but my husband has no problem with it at just over 1 month.
I always told my friends and family that the surgery is the easy part and maybe accounts for 10% of the changes....the biggie is the emotional changes we go through. Once the surgery is done, there's no turning back, and it's hard because as a society, we celebrate with food. Most everything is centered around food and we have no choice but to say "no."
My first difficult time (emotionally) was about 2 weeks post-op. We went to a family reunion where there were tables and tables of home-cooked food. I took a small cup of yogurt with me. I wanted so bad to just have a taste. Anyway, I ate my yogurt, went and sat in my van and cried for about 10 minutes. After that and a long talk with myself, I was fine.
Some people can get away with, or have just a bite of junk food, but I can't. I don't have that kind of self control. I have a very addictive personality and I would be the first one to take one bite, then another, then another and slide right back into those old habits, so I totally avoid junk food.
Anyway, you'll find a wealth of information here and probably answers to any question you have. These ladies and gentlemen have helped me through so much.
Tabitha
Open 5/26/04
321/207/180-ish
|