drain bulb

im alittle over a wk out with panni/hernia and noticed that my right drain bulb wont hold suction. Is there a problem with my drain???

I haven't had surgery yet, so Im not able to answer that - but that seems important to me enough - that I would call my surgeon and ask! So call - and then come back and let us know!

it sounds like there is a leak somewhere in the tubing or bulb...you need to contact your physician asap so that you can get it checked out...

kim

Hi,  the way the drain system is designed, it has a tube that once it enters your body it has small holes that suction the fluid out. If the portion that has holes comes out of your skin the bulb that creates the suction will take air in and won't hold suction. I had this issue happen when I yanked on the drain tube as I was pulling my pants up. I noticed that right at the point where the tube exits the skin,  there was about one inch of white tubing which looked different than the silicone tube I was used to seeing. I called the doctors office  and they asked me to come in right away since there is danger of infection etc.  They told me that they would most likely have to pull the drain out. My daughter (who is a nurse)was home and after putting gloves on she reinserted the tube into the skin and taped it. The suction came back. The suture that holds the tube broke when I had this issues and the tube inside came out about one inch. I am sure that your doctor would not recommend that you do this yourself. It worked for me but I had some nursing help at home. Best thing to do is to go see your PS and let them decide.
The drain most likely will have to be pulled out. There are ways of reinserting drains and your PS will decide if you need to do this.

Good luck
 

 I just ahad a facelift today and I am having the same problem with 1 of my drains. now this  is not my first surgery with drains, so I know how to strip them & how they should work this one as soon as I close it off in about 5 minutes the bulb is all round again. when I hold it closed I can hear  a noise in my ear it is weird

called my PS and he just said he put a lot of compression under it and it should be ok till I see him tomorrow

call your DR.

good luck Susan

Please contact your surgeon ASAP! The risk of infection is high when this is not working. Mine was not working correctly and I ended up with an infection. Set me back a couple of weeks on healing. Don't want to scare you but, wouldn't want you to deal with anything that can be avoided.

Hugs
Barbara

thanks everyone for the advice, I had a FU with the dr yesterday and they looked at the drain and tubing and all is well. said that sometimes air can get inside the tubing. Other than that, I thought I would get to have freedom but it looks like another week with those darn things still attached.