Hello and Help

Hello!  I don't normally post on this board (I initially started in the Dr. Sauceda group and have pretty much stayed there)...I don't even normally read this one, but I am finding good information available on most boards, and am exploring more!

I posted this on the Dr. S boards, but figured I may get some more information here with a greater number of people...so excuse me for the crosspost...I am sorry in advance for those of you who may read it twice...


Post Date: 3/8/10 5:57 am
I know that post-op patients to through buyers remorse sometimes, and get depressed as your body heals, it's normal....but I don't think that's what I am going through.  I am in LOVE with my results so far...I have a couple of hematoma's I believe (the belly one seems to be going down and I found another small hard lump in my arm, but no heat or pain so I think it will be fine)....I still have some incision points that are open, some have scabs and things, and I am almost 6 weeks out....I know it has taken me longer to heal than a lot of others, but I am still wonderfully happy with the results and how that's going....except for this drain.

My drain went down to 145cc on Friday, 120cc on Saturday (I was excited!!) and then back up to 150cc yesterday.  I wore a long skirt and boots to work today, and by the time I got to work it had leaked on my entire leg (only 19 miles to work btw) and half my boot.  We have a nurses station here at work so I went down there and changed the bandaging...but I am just so frusterated with this drain.  I actually want to cry and I am not a cryer!!

I start my new job on Monday staying in a hotel until we settle on our house.  It's only 1.5 hours away from where we are now, and my new boss and his wife are fully aware of what has been going on...but I don't want to start a new job with a drain!!  How limiting!  Also, the stitch broke free from the drain twisting when I sleep, it's not falling out yet, but I know that at some point it may try to!  I will keep wearing the compression garments even after the 6 week mark to help hold the drain in but I am just so frusterated and sad!!

I have googled everything I can think of to try to make a drain stop draining, but I find nothing!  I stop the suction every night to try to force my body to start absorbing the fluid...but it's not doing much!  I am wondering if I should stop the suction during the day...but I know that will force it to leak...but will it force it to start absorbing some of the liquid?  Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Dr. S and my PCP doctor just say leave it in until it's down to 20-30...but it's not GOING DOWN!  Sorry, getting angry there, ugh...

Any advice or anything would be much appreciated.

 

SO sorry to hear that you are having issues. Isn't 6 weeks out a long time to have a drain in?

My PS stated he would pull most of them out by the 2nd week. If I had to fly home with one - he said it should be pulled by week 3. He bases pulling drains on time in - not so much on how many cc's are in it.

I know that isn't much help. I'm sure you will get a lot of replies.

 

 

It's a long time to have a drain, but not unheard of.  I have read on these boards of someone having one for 8 weeks...ugh!  I know I will go longer than 6 because I am still draining so much.

All of my other drains (I  had 7 total) were gone within 3 weeks I believe, this one is just being persistant!  I have never heard of doctors pulling it based on time, even my PCP said to wait until it was less than 20-25....Dr. S said wait til it was less than 30.  I have googled it too and all the information I read said it's based on amount draining.

Interesting. There is a Dr. who posts here & he also pulls them out after a certain amount of time ~ not based on the amount of drainage.

I guess it depends on the provider.

How wonderfully interesting to know.  Another good reason to venture from my own little group on these boards!

I sympathize that you are frustrated and even sad about having a drain in for so long.  They are annoying.
HOWEVER
The drain serves an important function.  You body cannot absorb that much fluid.  Not only will you suffer much more from extreme swelling but you could cause fluid build ups and/or infections and then you'll be in a worse spot.

I know it's a drag to have the drain in but I would keep it there and let it do it's job.  Also, keep the compression garment on.  It will help you keep selling down.

The hardest part about plastic surgery is that we want to be healed and "back to normal" fast, fast, fast.  We put our body thru major trauma with each procedure...they more we do the more it stresses the body.  We have to be extra patient and give the body time to recover.  

Hang in there!!!
Best wishes!

I know exactly what you're saying, and I agree 100%...and I would never do anything to put my healing or well being in jeopardy...it's just so much easier to say when it's not you, yanno?  Ha ha!  I am just so frustrated, just wanted to make sure I'm not the only one this has happened to!

Please ask your primary to refer you to a plastic surgeon to examine you.  You are having a complication and when you are draining that much, the pocket may not heal.  Have an ultrasound and let a surgeon determine if you have formed a pseudobursa lining in that pocket that will prevent it from healing and sticking down.  I had that, and those type of drainage numbers are not normal after this many weeks - they are way too high.  It is likely that you will have to have the incision opened, the pocket scraped and be quilted, then reclosed and redrained.  I had to do that a few times.  Not fun, but seriously, it is unlikely at this point that the drainage will stop, and you need intervention.  They drain track can get infected or have a hard time sealing down forming a tunnel.  Get another plastic surgeon to give you an opinion. Usually if you are having complications, your insurance will cover the complications.

Ok, so now I am getting worried.  I am also relocating this weekend and starting a new job on Monday!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

i'm sorry. I know that the stress of life's issues make the healing even harder.  I learned that when trying to go to school right after my thigh lift. I had those drains for 5 weeks and had a lot to deal with post surgery on that procedure.

See if you can get someone to check it out that is familiar with these type of procedures. A family practice or general practice or even internal medicine doctor doesn't have much experience with this stuff.  See if you can get someone to see you and give you a more knowledgeable evaluation.  This comment is nothing against Dr. S - so please don't take it that way.  i know from other's posts that he has tons of experience in the OR and gives great results.  Since many of his patients do travel to have surgery with him, and his short term follow up is great - I realize this, but he may not have as much experience with the crazy longer term, longer healing complications that can beset some of us.  So, while he might be telling you to wait it out, he isn't able to look at you, touch your skin and get a feel for what it is doing right now.  Please have a plastic surgeon look at you and give you an evaluation.

I'm not trying to scare you or say anything bad about your choices - please understand that - but take some steps to see if you have a problem going on that needs more care.

I know the position you are in - I've been in similar - my thoughts are with you!