Hi happybuns,
My bro's gf just have the surgery 2 weeks ago. Her condition was pretty stable all along, but she doesn't want to be on medication for life. Similarly, her doctor in mt. e is neutral on whether to go for surgery, she was the one who insist on having the surgery.
She was admitted early in the morning 8am and hospitalise for 2 nights. After the operation, there are 2 tubes sticking out of the lower area of the neck. Look kinda painful to me, as these 2 tubes are used to drain off those 'excess' blood from the operation. The tubes lead to a small bottle where you can hold on your hands. Those blood are still in liquid form in the bottle. I can shake and hold them also.
She had 1 tube off after the 1st night and the remaining tube was taken off on the day she was discharged. She told me that its very painful to take them out.
After discharge, there's a follow up and a blood test to test if everything is cleared off.