Drainage after a panniculectomy?

Hello everyone.

I got a panniculectomy on October 3rd, 2011 and still have my drainage balls in.  I'm not sure what the technical name for them are, but I originally started out with 3 drains.  Ten days after my surgery the first drain was taken out.  It has been 3 weeks today and I'm still draining anywhere between 30-50ccs of fluid and/or blood. 
Several days ago I noticed that when I went to empty them there is a fowl smell. The fluid in my number 3 drain is a light brown/reddish color, and the fluid in my number 2 drain is a dark red color.  I've tried to search this site as well as others but haven't found a post or information for anyone who has had this problem.  These drains are uncomfortable and painful, and I would like them out. However, I know that they have to be in since I'm still draining so much.  I have noticed that if I just lay around all day and do absolutely nothing, then the drains stay at a "normal" rate.  If I do so much as cook dinner or move around at all, the fluid starts to build up.
So, I guess my question is- has anyone had the problem with this smell from the drainage?  Also, how long can these drains be in? Even if it's a hypothetical, I would like to have some kind of idea.  I have an appointment with the doctor's nurse tomorrow but I'm worried sick about all of this so I was hoping someone could help me.  
Thank you so much for your help. 

I had a tube in for over 3 weeks as well.  I noticed that the drain I had for over 2 weeks and the one that was in over 3 weeks smelled.  I later found out the smell was just "old" blood.  The one that stayed in so long was similar in that if I did nothing it was low drainage, but if I did anything the drainage increased.  It did eventually slow down to a normal rate.  ALthough a pain in the butt, I was appreciative thinking all of that fluid would be inside if I didn't have the drain!

I had a TT and gynecomastia with hernia repair 8 weeks ago. I had drains in for six weeks so I can sympathize. I had one that drained reddish kinda for 2 weeks but some blood loss is expected with this type of procedure. If the fluid is brownish and kind of cloudy with foul smell that could be a sign of infection, sorry to say. Obviously I'm no doctor but good you go to nurse's office tomorrow you may want to insist upon some sort of antibiotic incase you do have an infection. The more I moved around the more I drained b ut that is what you want to get rid of fluid build up. I kept track of my drain output pretty close and had 1.32 gallons over 6 weeks to put in perspective for you. If the drains have to stay in it's for your benefit you do not want a seroma or swelling of fluid in body.

Good luck let us know how you do tomorrow,
Bubba

Sadly, Bubba and I are in a contest to see who is the reigning champ of having a drain in longer than any human should have to. I had my lower body lift 5 weeks ago Friday. They took two out after three weeks, a third one tore out of my leg (well tore out part way then I pulled it out myself--what fun!) a week or so ago. The fourth is still in and draining about 150cc per day, but it has been the straw colored with no odor for a while now. I will say that at 3 weeks my fluid was more the brown/reddish color. I know the doc said that if the fluid changed color and got darker blood colored that I should call. Has it been the same color the whole time? If so, I don't know that I'd panic, but if the odor isn't the old blood smell that was discussed, I'd be concerned about infection too. I was told mine could come out at 30cc per day, so I don't think yours is draining an inordinately large amount. And as Bubba said, the more you move, the more will drain. My doctor said he doesn't like to leave them in past a month, but that I had so much work he would go until 6 weeks. I'm not sure he'll even pull them then,  One of the well-respected surgeons that post on this site said that sometimes the drains can sit near a lymphatic vessel and will not stop draining, so I'll be bringing that up this week.

Keep us posted. I surely hope it is nothing and that your drains come out soon.

Denise

Thank you all for commenting on my post! I have been taking cephlaxin (an antibiotic) since my surgery, so I never even thought an infection could cause the odor.  Honestly, I wouldn't mind the drains so much if the drain site wasn't so painful.  Is it a general consensus that they could be in for six weeks or longer?
What's bothering me is that for about a year, I have had an extreme amount of fluid retention in my hands, knees and feet around the last week of the month, lasting until 2-4 days after the start of my menstrual cycle.  I've been to a dozen doctors, not one can tell me what the issue was.  I'm afraid that this problem might be interferring or adding to the drainage. 
Unfortunately, this is also the time of the month I'm in the most pain.  Does anyone think I should ask to leave the drains in until the beginning of next month?