MAJOR drainage increase!

I have one JP drain still in for a few more days. They told me that being more active would probably increase the drainage...but this seems excessive. Yesterday it was nasty and raining so we went to the mall so I could walk around. I had been averaging 40mL a day (20 in the morning and 20 at night). Last night before bed I emptied it and there was 40mL! So I figured that was ust from teh extra exercise. But then this morning I woke up and had to empty it about 3 hours earlier than I have been because it was almost full! I had another 80mL! That's 120mL in 24hrs. I have a call in to my nurse since i have to follow up with her today anyway...but has anyone else had this happen?

Leann, I had my drain in for 21 days, in fact it was just removed today. I was averaging 60 ml a day since the surgery. I never had as much as you did. It started to slow down last Thursday (22 ml/day) but then on Friday it was back up to 70 ml. Then it slowed down to less than 30 ml/per day so they were able to remove it this morning. It feels strange not to have it dangling there now, after having it for 21 days. Jeanne

Egads! You're a stronger woman than I am! 21 days with the thing? Mine's only been there 7days and I'm ready to remove it myself! It should come out tomorrow. I don't think my doc bases removal on the amount of drainage....I think he leaves it there more so we can see teh drainage in case of a leak. I know the one they removed in the hospital was draining more than 30ml a day and they took that one out. How painful was your removal after 3 weeks? Gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

Actually the removal wasn't painful at all. I didn't even think that she that she had it out. I just took a deep breath. I was told that if they took it out when it was draining more that 30 ml that it could cause a seroma that would have to be drained or surgically removed. I did have to have a second course of antibiotics, which of course caused a yeast infection. Three days of over the counter treatment seems to have fixed that problem. Although I think that I'm going to get the script filled for the pills to cure the yeast even more. Jeanne

Blah! Glad the yeast infection problem is resolved and you are now tube free! Also good to know it wasn't too painful.

Though I'd reply to myself in case anyone else does have this problem. I talked to my nurse today and she said, as I expected, it was just due to increased activity and as long as it didn't change colors or anything then it was fine.

I had my JP drain removed after two weeks. It left a nasty hole in my stomach that drains. Did you have the same thing after having yours removed?