Incision "dribble" normal?

kipz303
on 11/4/12 4:06 am

I'm pretty sure it's normal but I thought I'd run it by everyone here that has had P.S.  

 

I'm 6 days post-op Lower Body Lift. I have incisions from between the breasts down to the pubic bone then from there, all the way around with it higher in the back as well as a "V" cut on the sides of the lady parts for a mons lift.  My question is...as I'm able to stand straighter, is it normal to have an incision "dribble" from a spot here or there?  Its not a lot of blood but simply a dribble.  The "T" point where the center incision and the belt come together didnt open up or anything, it just dribbled out enough that I grabbed a gauze pad and dobbed it up then tucked a clean pad under the binder to make sure ...no more leaks on that one since I noticed it and hunkered back down like an old lady.

 

Another - - my drains work wonderfully - hardly any swelling but 2 drains on my left hip keep leaking where it goes into my skin. Not profusely and not constantly, nothing alarming either just enough to see the pink bandage (surgeon saw this when he changed bandages before I left the hospital and said nothing) - Anyone have this happen? I think it's where the tension suture inside may have pulled a little? (I lean to the right which puts more pressure on the left hip, it's an issue with my back thats been there for years)

 

RNY - August 13, 2010

LBL - October 29, 2012

 a total of 271 lbs lost!!

jeterway
on 11/4/12 4:56 am

I have had some plastics and what you describe is normal.  As long as it doesn't increase a substantial amount, some oozing from the incisions in spots is normal.  Let's face it your skin is sown or glued together so some goop coming from along the line in a few spots is normal.  As far as the drains go, again that is normal.  Just make sure that you strip the drains regularly, I had to do it at least 3 times a day, so that you are sure they are not clogged by a clot.


kipz303
on 11/4/12 6:02 am

yeah, I've tried to "milk" or "strip" the drains but all they do is stretch?? I do it anyways to make sure that fluid goes on through - there will be a bubble every now and then that shows me it's moving. I know by the lack of swelling that they're working too.  I was pretty sure all that was normal, I just wanted to make sure that not calling until monday was not a stupid thing LOL.  Any time I spot a leak I watch it and make sure it stops and doesnt continue.  I'm so thankful for my medical assistant training I received. I had an instructor that would show us "now THIS is what an RN is licensed to do and you NEVER do this unless you want to risk your license and getting sued" ...she was basically showing us wound care and su*****ase we ever had to do it at home for ourselves or a family member in an emergency lol

 

RNY - August 13, 2010

LBL - October 29, 2012

 a total of 271 lbs lost!!

jeterway
on 11/4/12 6:23 am

The tubes will stretch as you strip them. But they bounce back right after being done.   Just make sure you pull down from right at the skin.  Hold one end near the skin with one hand to make sure you dont pull it out.  Then pull down the entire length of the tube all of the way to the bulb.  You can usually see it moving thru the tube - perhaps some piece of clot or just the liquid.  Many times if you watch the bulb while doing this you can see the liquid draining into the bulb.  As long as you do this frequently you shouldn't get any clogs.  Clogs can be tough to break up and get moving especially since they seem to stick near the top of the tube.  You just have to be persistent in keeping the fluid moving as you dont want the liquid to build up inside of you.  I had one drain in for about 5 weeks and even though it stretched as I was stripping it, it never really got much longer.

 


kipz303
on 11/4/12 2:23 pm

Oh my goodness! So you were right, it was a clogged tube...like the first 6" of the rear left.  I had gone to church to ignt with my husband. The moving around and just the excitement got my blood flowing and it felt good. (I was just sitting and singing, nothing strenuous) so once we got home I pulled down the pants  to go pee and got a handful of wet clothes....   Went to change the bandage with my husband and as we are taping the drain bandage it leaks again filling the pad. He said "which hospital do you want to go to.....and I don't like the color of your blood right there....so I look and low and behold there was about a 6" clot in the tube. My tube is working now and I know for sure because I feel less swollen in my hip!

thank you for reminding me of milking/stripping the drains. Now to find some yoga pants or pregnancy pants with a friendlier waistband.

 

 

RNY - August 13, 2010

LBL - October 29, 2012

 a total of 271 lbs lost!!

jeterway
on 11/4/12 7:15 pm

Glad you manage to clear the clog.  Sometimes just creating the suction in the bulb and stripping the drain causes it to move down the tube.  Sometimes you have to play with it a little to get the clot to move.  Color of the discharge is another thing you have to be mindful of.  When you first get the drain put in, it is more bloodlike in color but quickly starts to change to a lighter pink and then eventually almost a yellow color.  The texture changes as well.  While not as thick in texture as blood, it does start out thicker and then eventually turns almos****er like in consistency.  This is how my drains operated.  Any change in this pattern deserves a call to the doctor.  The length of time that a drain is in is very individual.  I have had drains pulled in a couple of days due to decreased drainage and I have had drains in for 5 weeks.  Bottom line is you want to make sure the drain is operating properly and not pulled too early as the liquid needs to get outside of your body.


kipz303
on 11/5/12 1:31 am

Yeah I'll be calling today just to update them and all.  I'm still at 1 week out producing bright red blood.  Now I did lose blood and had to receive 2 units as well as have an insane amount of stitching all over lol. Basically 3 surgeries into one that took 12 hours. Belt lipectomy,abdominoplasty and mons lift.

 

RNY - August 13, 2010

LBL - October 29, 2012

 a total of 271 lbs lost!!

Laura in Texas
on 11/5/12 4:28 am

Wow. Church so soon after surgery? Please take it easy. I would hate for you to mess up your results.

Laura in Texas

53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)

RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis

brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco

"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."

kipz303
on 11/5/12 12:37 pm

No worries, my husbands parents are the pastors, they reserved a spot up front out of "bumping" range and totally understood me staying seated through service in my pjs. Mother in law is also an RN and kept an eye on me.  Our church is very laid back as we host "homeless housing" and rehab programs as well. Trying to turn the community around. So far after 3 years crime in that part of town is down about 40-50%

 

RNY - August 13, 2010

LBL - October 29, 2012

 a total of 271 lbs lost!!

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