Yet another DRAIN question, color change

   Had a TT/flank lipo with a BR on Monday June 29th. The drainage (2) seemed fine, clear colored, left side more than right but not that bad, left 6occ daily,right 40cc daily.
    This morning the right drain started to drain a burgundy color. Its not thick nor smelly, and I have no fever. That side is still not draining as much as the left, but I'm concerned about the color. I don't want to disturb my surgeon on this long weekend, hopefully you guys will chime in soon with similar experiences.

Mine was koolaid colored in the beginning and got lighter and lighter as time went on.  Right before they got pulled out they were a clear yellow brownish liquid.  Maybe someone else will having an experience similar to yours to share.

Yep, that happened to me.  I was draining a pinkish color out of my right hip and then all of a sudden one day it became thick and dark and I swear it was blood!  I freaked out and called my surgeon at 11:00 at night!  I'm sure he was laughing at me...anyway, he said it was completely normal for it to change colors like that and if I were really worried that I might be losing blood then I should go to the ER and let them do a blood count on me.  I didn't go to the ER - it was just reassuring to hear him say it was normal.  So anyway, I'll tell you what I tell everyone - I'm not a doctor and if you have any doubts or fears AT ALL, you need to call your surgeon.  But just know that the same thing happened to me and all was fine.  That drain came out a few days later and it never did turn a light color - it stayed a burgandy color until it came out.  Hope this helps...

Thanks so much for your reply . Makes sense, as long as there is no fever I will not worry. Today it drained lighter, very little, like 10cc. Maybe its getting ready to come out soon. My surgeon won't take them out until the second post op visit. I have my first post op on Tuesday, hopefully they'll remove this useless OnQ pump!!-Jessie

Yep, I had this happen.  One morning I woke up and the output from one of the drains was dark red and when we stripped the tubing, it felt thicker like blood.  I called my dr and he said that as long as I did not have a fever and there was no blood coming out of the actual site where the drain comes out of my body, not to worry, that the fluid changes colors sometimes. 

April

Just a lil' old blood. Normal!