Please tell me this is normal

[Guest guest]

My surgical incision has not oozed one bit since being discharged from

the hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. When I had my drains pulled, they

oozed a tiny bit for a day. My incision appeared to be healing great,

but this morning, I woke with my abdominal binder soaked in serous

(yellow) drainage. I found as I lightly rubbed the area around it,

that the drainage would actually squirt out a bit. I rubbed the area

until no more drainage would come out and took a shower. I placed

several gauze 4x4s over it and had my abdominal binder washed. There

is no smell to the drainage and I have no fever, so I'm not thinking

there is an infection going on. I was told that " some drainage is

normal " , but I find it strange that it would appear 2 weeks later,

from a wound that appeared to be healing properly. Anyone else

experience this?

[Guest guest]

Ron, my " fountain " didn't appear for 3 weeks, and then it was a squirty

fountain. It sounds as if you are normal, but you might want to call Dee and

tell her what's going on.

_____

From: bigronwebb [mailto:RonRN18@...]

Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 8:30 AM

Subject: Please tell me this is normal

* My surgical incision has not oozed one bit since being discharged

from

the hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. When I had my drains pulled, they

oozed a tiny bit for a day. My incision appeared to be healing great,

but this morning, I woke with my abdominal binder soaked in serous

(yellow) drainage. I found as I lightly rubbed the area around it,

that the drainage would actually squirt out a bit. I rubbed the area

until no more drainage would come out and took a shower. I placed

several gauze 4x4s over it and had my abdominal binder washed. There

is no smell to the drainage and I have no fever, so I'm not thinking

there is an infection going on. I was told that " some drainage is

normal " , but I find it strange that it would appear 2 weeks later,

from a wound that appeared to be healing properly. Anyone else

experience this?

[Guest guest]

Ron, my " fountain " didn't appear for 3 weeks, and then it was a squirty

fountain. It sounds as if you are normal, but you might want to call Dee and

tell her what's going on.

_____

From: bigronwebb [mailto:RonRN18@...]

Sent: Saturday, March 27, 2004 8:30 AM

Subject: Please tell me this is normal

* My surgical incision has not oozed one bit since being discharged

from

the hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. When I had my drains pulled, they

oozed a tiny bit for a day. My incision appeared to be healing great,

but this morning, I woke with my abdominal binder soaked in serous

(yellow) drainage. I found as I lightly rubbed the area around it,

that the drainage would actually squirt out a bit. I rubbed the area

until no more drainage would come out and took a shower. I placed

several gauze 4x4s over it and had my abdominal binder washed. There

is no smell to the drainage and I have no fever, so I'm not thinking

there is an infection going on. I was told that " some drainage is

normal " , but I find it strange that it would appear 2 weeks later,

from a wound that appeared to be healing properly. Anyone else

experience this?

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 16:29:52 -0000, bigronwebb wrote:

>My surgical incision has not oozed one bit since being discharged from

>the hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. When I had my drains pulled, they

>oozed a tiny bit for a day. My incision appeared to be healing great,

>but this morning, I woke with my abdominal binder soaked in serous

>(yellow) drainage. I found as I lightly rubbed the area around it,

>that the drainage would actually squirt out a bit. I rubbed the area

>until no more drainage would come out and took a shower. I placed

>several gauze 4x4s over it and had my abdominal binder washed. There

>is no smell to the drainage and I have no fever, so I'm not thinking

>there is an infection going on. I was told that " some drainage is

>normal " , but I find it strange that it would appear 2 weeks later,

>from a wound that appeared to be healing properly. Anyone else

>experience this?

>

>

Ron,

Sounds like you are on about the same timeline that I was. I went about

three weeks before my incision started draining, but then it kept on going

for the better part of six weeks. Entirely normal, from what I understand.

The only way the incision heals is good tissue to good tissue. The fat

tissue cannot mend so it breaks down. In smaller cuts, that excess is

absorbed and eliminated normally. With the big incisions, there is too

much fat to be eliminated through normal bodily functions, so it builds up

and drains.

As long as there is no odor, not warmth, and no unusual color to the

drainage, things are fine. Just be ready to start using larger pads and a

whole lot of tape. We ended up using Maxi-pads during the periods of

heavier discharge.

One other thing to watch for.. If you start getting fiberous chunks in the

discharge, be very careful handling some of them. I had some that actually

blocked the drainage site and had to be gently pulled out. If there is any

resistance, STOP PULLING. The clot may be wrapped around the internal

stitches. Pull those and you're guaranteed to get a hernia. If in doubt,

call Dee for advice.

Jerry

[Guest guest]

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 16:29:52 -0000, bigronwebb wrote:

>My surgical incision has not oozed one bit since being discharged from

>the hospital nearly 2 weeks ago. When I had my drains pulled, they

>oozed a tiny bit for a day. My incision appeared to be healing great,

>but this morning, I woke with my abdominal binder soaked in serous

>(yellow) drainage. I found as I lightly rubbed the area around it,

>that the drainage would actually squirt out a bit. I rubbed the area

>until no more drainage would come out and took a shower. I placed

>several gauze 4x4s over it and had my abdominal binder washed. There

>is no smell to the drainage and I have no fever, so I'm not thinking

>there is an infection going on. I was told that " some drainage is

>normal " , but I find it strange that it would appear 2 weeks later,

>from a wound that appeared to be healing properly. Anyone else

>experience this?

>

>

Ron,

Sounds like you are on about the same timeline that I was. I went about

three weeks before my incision started draining, but then it kept on going

for the better part of six weeks. Entirely normal, from what I understand.

The only way the incision heals is good tissue to good tissue. The fat

tissue cannot mend so it breaks down. In smaller cuts, that excess is

absorbed and eliminated normally. With the big incisions, there is too

much fat to be eliminated through normal bodily functions, so it builds up

and drains.

As long as there is no odor, not warmth, and no unusual color to the

drainage, things are fine. Just be ready to start using larger pads and a

whole lot of tape. We ended up using Maxi-pads during the periods of

heavier discharge.

One other thing to watch for.. If you start getting fiberous chunks in the

discharge, be very careful handling some of them. I had some that actually

blocked the drainage site and had to be gently pulled out. If there is any

resistance, STOP PULLING. The clot may be wrapped around the internal

stitches. Pull those and you're guaranteed to get a hernia. If in doubt,

call Dee for advice.

Jerry