Drainage Tubes Hurting

I have looked on here as well as online in general and can't really find any information about this.

I have three tubes including two on the left hand side. That is the only area that hurts and it only hurts when I lift or move my leg. I am 3 days post op and not taking any pain meds.

Is that common to have pulling/shooting pain in that area?

I wouldn't call it hurt, discomfort perhaps.  I would get a sense of tugging at times when I moved.  The tube that you see is actually connected to something fairly long inside of you - so as you move you could be pressing on it.  I assume you have the drains pinned to you so that the tubes are able to move freely against you?  They are not getting caught up in anything as you move around?  I don't recall any shooting pain from them. 

You are stripping them periodically?  They don't really hurt when they come out - again just discomfort.  I was told to take a deep breath and let it out as they pulled it out.  That causes you to focus on the breath and not the drain being pulled.

Thank you for your response. I'm not talking about when they come out but I'm glad I'm not the only one that had that feeling. Tugging is a good word to use.

The bulbs have a clip that are clipped with enough slack. I will be happy when they come out.

You may want to try wrapping some gauze around them at the opening and sort of taping them in the direction that's most comfortable.  Or taping them against your leg (or wherever) so that they don't get pulled on.  Yes, they're uncomfortable, but it's a short term problem.  And getting them out feels strange, but none of mine have been painful - no reason to dread it.

Good to know. Thank you.

try taking some pain medicine. After all, you have cuts in your skin and they will likely hurt. My leg drain incisions hurt until the drains came out. 

I have been taking pain meds at night to help me sleep but I hate the foggy, groggy feeling or being on pain meds. The issue is that the pain meds didn't help with that pain anyways but I'm hopeful that the pain will go away when the drains are removed on Thursday.

Oh drains....those evil little devices that you both love for what they do for you and hate for the mechanism in which they do it. It is so much better to have that fluid out though rather than getting major edema. Talk about uncomfortable and painful. Edema sucks. 

But I feel your pain, literally.  I currently have 4 drains in from my arm/breast lift last week and I have the same issue as you every now and then. Try putting some padding around the stitches, that helps a lot actually.  Sometimes the stitch will pull a bit and that is the pain you are getting. Putting a thick pad around it elevates any clothing that may be touching it and helps with the pulling by stabilizing the stitches. 

This is is my 4th time with drains, so I have learned a few tricks. I had 2 with my bypass, 4 with my lower body lift and 2 with my thigh lift.  

Today I actually discovered one of mine is leaking a bit, that is fun. Not. But they come out Thursday so preserverence will be my mantra.

Good luck to you!

Oh yeah I totally will deal with the annoyance as opposed to edema, swelling, infection.

I have never been a good patient when recovering from surgery. When I had my son I was told I looked too good to have just been in labour. With gastric bypass surgery I asked if there was a problem since I was walking the halls too quickly. With this surgery I am anxious to get back to normal so Thursday can't come fast enough when my tubes will be removed (hopefully).

You are really doing great if you are not taking any pain pills. Any type of irritation, esp near or from the drains will cause discomfort/pain. You may want to try and put numbing cream in the area or ice/pressure may help and support the drainage bulbs when you are turning/moving.

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