Forum Discussion
Drain & drain bag after surgery
its been 8 days since surgery & I am still getting 200/250ml output into the drain bag. Is this normal? I change it everyday like I was shown. Most days I'm just sitting at my desk or laying in bed....
Give them a ring and ask for more bags, you should be able to get one of the district/hospital in the home nurses (or what ever they are called where you are) to drop them off.
Drains can be a trial. I've had them go on for weeks, it seems some of us are more 'irritable' than others. After about 2 weeks the surgeon will usually want them out. Apart from the risk of infection, the drains have little slots in them and you can start to adhere to them and/or lose suction if they are in too long.
There isn't much you can do except wait and see. If the drains fail before you stop leaking you may have to have a couple of needle aspirations to get rid of any fluid that collects. Don't freak about that, it sounds worse than it is and it is really common. If you do find yourself in that situation, remember to take some sort of pain relief an hour or so before and you will be fine. We all hate the wretched creepy things. Marg
Drains can be a trial. I've had them go on for weeks, it seems some of us are more 'irritable' than others. After about 2 weeks the surgeon will usually want them out. Apart from the risk of infection, the drains have little slots in them and you can start to adhere to them and/or lose suction if they are in too long.
There isn't much you can do except wait and see. If the drains fail before you stop leaking you may have to have a couple of needle aspirations to get rid of any fluid that collects. Don't freak about that, it sounds worse than it is and it is really common. If you do find yourself in that situation, remember to take some sort of pain relief an hour or so before and you will be fine. We all hate the wretched creepy things. Marg