Hi guys...questions for you all...

Hey everyone, I want to say thanks for all the encouragement. I may not be able to answer everyone individually but I am reading all the comments and appreciate them all. I have had a very weird thing happen yesterday that freaked me out. I woke up and my nightgown was soaking wet...I thought my ever-present G tube had leaked but it was dry. Then my daughter starts yelling for her father that "Mommy has stuff coming out of her belly!" My incision was leaking, a lot...it wasn't gushing but it was a steady stream...if I stood up, I would literally soak the floor. So I called the office and it was after hours so I called the other number for the oncall doc. It turned out to be Dr. Olsen and he was so cool. He called me back immediately and reassured me that as long as I was not running a fever and as long as the liquid, much like vegetable oil, was not cloudy or smelling foul, then it was normal. He said it was actually better to be active and get more of it coming out as possible. So I stayed fairly active as much as my pain would let me, took a shower, yaddah, yaddah, and it stayed pretty much a constant stream until last night. It seems to be over now but it sure freaked me out. I know this is normal for right after surgery but I didn't know it would happen three weeks out! So has this happened to anyone else? Also, did you guys find that the pain was the worse in the morning? I have to say, all the stuff I have read about Dr. Olsen being so stern and kind of cold had me worried but he was so nice and reassuring and told me to call him back if I needed him anytime this weekend. He was definitely not what I expected!

I didn't have a G-tube but my drain leaked like that for the entire two weeks that it was in. I had to change the dressing at least 3 times a day because it would soak. It was bloody for the first week and then it was just yellowish stuff for the next two weeks. It finally stopped running and draining at about 4 weeks out. Janie

Hey Kym, It's great to see you back on the board I'm sure I would have freaked out too..but I never had anything like that happen to me. I do remember my pain being worse in the mornings when I initially got out of bed, but as the day progressed the pain was more tolerable. I did have an instance when I had to call the on call doc (Dr. Olsen). I had this really weird numbing sensation in my right thigh that radiated up to my hip and down to the back of my knee. It was at the point where I literally couldn't feel anything in that area it was so numb and then it would alterate between the numbing and a sharp stabbing pain. I was kind of panicky, almost to the point of tears..I thought I was maybe having a bad reaction to the anesthesia or something like that. But, my experience speaking with Dr. Olsen was awesome. He was very calm and reassured me that what I was experiencing was normal. Just an after effect of being strapped down to the operating table that may have pinched a major nerve in the leg. I was really surprised too when talking to him! Well, I hope you get to feeling better. It sounds like you're doing awesome! Keep up the good work April

I'll bet you were freaked out. I know I would have been! I'm glad he was able to reassure you. Remember, you had a much more extensive surgery than most of us experienced. I am just so proud of how you are handling all of this. It will be worth everything you are having to go through right now. Happy New Year sweetie!!! Susan

((((Kym))))) I haven't had the surgery, so I haven't had that leakage problem. I've only ever had c-sections. But I've taken care of a lot of post-op patients. By 3 weeks out, I think it's pretty normal for you to hurt more when you're getting up in the morning and when it's time to turn in at night. I always encouraged people to take the pain meds to get up and out of bed and then again at night to get a good night's sleep, even if they've been able to cut back on the pain meds during the regular day. I hope your recovery continues super-smoothly. After the complicated surgery, it only seems fair! Love Dennie

I never had drains or leaks. I really didn't have excess pain either, but the only bad thing that happened was the stricture which caused me not to be able to eat much of anything for almost 9 weeks. I guess its true that we all have different experiences as our bodies heal so uniquely... but if I would have had the leaking, I would have freaked out! You all handled your problems very well. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hi Kym, Because my skin is so sensitive to all tapings, I found it was easier to put the sticky side of a sanitary pad to my underware, where the drain tube was, and even after it was taken out. I even used them when I had to have the lymph node removed. They are called heavy duty or over nights for nothing. They had their uses. I'm keeping you in my prayers that soon you will start feeling on top of the world and the healing process will be a thing of the past. Take care of yourself. May God watch over you during this part of your journey. Kathy