5 days post-op & ?s about leaking from incision site

Hi all. I had my RNY done on Monday (9-15) and came home Thursday night. There wasn't alot of discussion on the aftercare of the cut site. The surgeon was more focused on watching out for fevers and making sure I walked. I understand both of those. I just wish I felt more comfortable with cleaning and care of the incision site.
When I took a shower yesterday I saw that there was some blood and some clear liquid oozing, but mostly dry, on my band I had taken off. They gave me extra bands and stockings, but not bandages or pads. (I assumed this means I shouldn't be wearing one. Plus no one had shown me how to put on a new dressing.) Today there is more blood and drainage. I feel worried...like I missed a step or should be calling someone.

IS THIS NORMAL? Should I call the office and double check? Should I be putting a dressing on?
I really need an answer. Any experience with this would be great to hear about.

Ramona

What you have is a seroma.  When the body is healing, it sends fluid to a wound site to help it heal.  Sometimes it overdoes it.  I had one.  Keep an eye on it.  If it becomes red and hot or you develop a fever, let your surgeon know.  Mine put me on antibiotics as a precaution.

I would pat the area dry after showering and then would take a thick gauze pad and tape it on  I had to change it twice a day some days.  Dont be alarmed if all of a sudden you get a huge gush of fluids.  That too is possible.  I never had that but was warned of that. 

If the fluid gets ***** also let your surgeon know.  Good luck. 

Did you have open or laproscoptic RNY?  I had lap.  And I can tell you from my experience, that I was still leaking at my 6 week post-op appointment.  I was sure something was wrong, but the surgeon explained that it is normal.  With this kind of surgery, there is a lot of stomach fat to cut through so it sometimes take a while for the leak to get to the surface.  And he was right.  Within a week or so of that appointment, the leaking stopped.  (and yes it included a little bit of blood, but not a lot).  Hope this helps!

Amy

 Hi there.  I will try to help.  It's not unusual to have some pink tinged drainage from the puncture wounds the first week or so after surgery.  Usually just a little bit of antibiotic ointment and some gauze is enough for a dressing on the puncture wounds.  It sounds like its looking normal to me. But things to be concerned about would be a lot of redness around the puncture wounds, accompanied by heat, or a fever.  The drainage you are experiencing is normal.  It's called serro-sanguenous. Means a little bit of blood mixed with a blister like fluid.  Very normal this early on.  As long as its not yellow or ***** you are ok. They probably should have given you some instruction on putting some dressings, on.  But sometimes they think the dressings are strong enough to make it to the primary post op appt.  For you that was not the case.  I think it all sounds ok, though.  You can clean off the areas with soap and water in the shower, then apply a dab of antibiotic ointment and a piece of gauze to the sites and they will be fine in a few days.  I hope this helps----Sandy RN recovery room
nurse since 1993

If you don't have heat, swelling, redness, or foul smelling discharge around the incision site, and if you don't have a fever or bad pain, chances are you are fine. Generally what oozes from the incision is called serous fluid. It will be clear, pink, red, maybe a little yellow. It can also be opaque and even kind of thick and still be fine.

It is far better to have this looked at and make CERTAIN it is normal, though. If I could see it, I could give you a better idea about whether it should be seen right away or whether it could wait till Monday.

In the meantime, one good way of protecting your clothing and stuff from this ooze is to put a sanitary pad over the area. Adhere the back of the pad to your underwear, shirt, or stockinette. Change it regularly.

If I were in your shoes and wasn't certain of what I was seeing, I would call the office and see what your surgeon wants you to do. You're very likely just fine from what you describe here, but you should never make medical decisions based on Internet advice.

 About the seroma comment---yes this can happen, but i think it;s to early for it to be a seroma.  A seroma is a just blister fluid collection under the skin.  I had one with my tummy tuck (i took my drains out too soon, just like a nurse).  I think you are just having normal post op oozing of serro-sanguenous fluid from your puncture wounds.  Don't fret...it'snormal..--Sandy

I am a week and half out and have the same.  I called the surgeon's office when it started and was told that it was normal as long it was not pus, no fever, etc.  I find that I drain more the more active I am.

As for care of the wound:  The nurse told me to use anti-bacterial soap to clean the wound area.  Pat dry and put on antibiotic ointment and then use gauze and tape to cover it up when it is weeping.  If possible, try to leave the wound open - it will heal quicker.

Nancy is right.  You have a seroma, and I think you should call the office and get in there and be seen.

My surgeon was in NYC, and I developed mine a few days afer I got back home to IL.  He arranged for me to see a colleague in Chicago, and they had to open and drain an area of the incision, clean it, pack it, and teach me how to do all that.  It took a couple of weeks to close properly. 

My surgeon is among the finest working today, and when I told him I had pinkish/bloody fluid, he said I needed to be seen ASAP and arranged it.  I hope your is as cautious.  Infections such as staph can be life threatening.  Better safe than sorry.

Get on the phone.  If you don't get a call back within an hour, get to the ER.  Please.

Totally normal..my surgery was Open and I had some leakage which after that got itchy. Later on when you get better use Mederma to help with the inicision healing.

please don't wait on having your doctor look at it. my husband had some drainage when I brought him home 4 days out. at 3 am it gushed alot of bloody drainage and i rushed him back to hospital. he was transferred to orginal hospital where RNY was done. His wound had dehissed. and they rushed him back into surgery. he had a serious infection. please have this checked just to be sure. i almost lost my husband to this. he spent 4 days in surgical ICU. he spent a total of 2 weeks in the hospital. was released 4 1/2 days later he was back in hospital and spent 4 weeks in there. He is now home and is 100% better. he is now drinking and eating and his wound is healing. 
            becky