Question:
is this drainage normal?

I looked through the Q&A archive, and I didn't find anyting pertaining particularly to my issue, though I could have missed it. After showering today, I was patting dry around my JP drain and dressed it. After I pinned the drain to my shirt I noticed a sort of whitish blob about the size of my pinky fingernail in the tube! It didn't hurt at all when it came out (whenever that was -- when I was showering, I guess). I'm a bit puzzled if this is something to be concerned about. My aftercare literature doesn't mention anything like this being a red flag to contact my surgeon immediately, but neither is there anything to indicate that this is normal. Any thoughts? Suggestions?    — Kate B. (posted on June 20, 2007)

June 20, 2007
hi I am 3 weeks post-op and had the same thing. So it must be normal. I did just fine.
   — Alvernlaw

June 20, 2007
Call your surgeon and ask him or her. I am surprised your getting it wet at all, I was told not to shower until they were removed. Your surgeon is is your first line of defense, they get paid very well to answer your questions, if not his RN or PA can, always go to them FIRST.
   — DonnaB.

June 20, 2007
I would call and talk to the advice nurse. I had couple of small red blobs which were certainly normal but not the whitish thing you described. You always have to wonder about infection so please don't hesitate and make that call. Good Luck and God Bless, Norma
   — njkbutton

June 20, 2007
My tube came out before I went home, so I didn't have your issue. I like the idea of checking in with your surgeon. If there is no redness or swelling around the site, or looks of infection or fever, you are probably just fine, and perhaps it was a little stuff stuck in your tube came from your shower or something. But it never hurts to check in with your surgeon. If we are missing something, they shouldn't, and this fits the category of check in. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

June 21, 2007
Hi. I'm an RN and here are the things we look for to indicate infection when assessing wound drainage: 1) Redness, swelling or warmth around the surgical sight 2) Foul odor or excessive drainage 3) Temperature above 100.5 F (this threshold varies by physician) You should have been discharged with instructions about when to call a physician. If you notice any of the above symptoms, or if you experience any of the symptoms specified by your physician, please call him/her immediately! Good luck!
   — CWinLV

June 21, 2007
I suggest contacting your doctor about this. My thought is that if you have no symptoms of infection (and a another poster summed it up quite well), then you are doing just fine but please please please do address this issue with your surgeon or doctor.
   — mrsidknee

June 24, 2007
It's normal drainage -- I had the same thing.
   — the7thdean