Question:
PLEASE HELP I'M FREAKING OUT!!!! I am 15 days post op and was supposed to get my

staples and JP drain removed. Well I did get my staples out but when my surgeon tried to remove my JP drain(after cutting the stitches that connected the drain to my skin) he said it wouldn't come out!!! It's STUCK!! He told me that it isn't the internal stitch that they put in because he pushed the tube all the way in my stomach and it was fine. He then told me that if it didn't fall out in a couple of weeks to come back and he would put me under using a local anesthetic and than pull it out. HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE??? I checked the library and had no luck. I also tried to coax it out but it won't come out further than 3 inches. Also I tried taking the lid off where you drain it and than tried to remove it thinking that maybe the lid being on was causing it to suction back in due to the air but when I tried that it started draining green with BLACK speck like stuff and it really freaked me out. Please if anyone can shed some light on this and help me I would soooooo greatly appreciate it. I am so afraid something might be wrong!!! Thanks all! Audrey    — Audrey W. (posted on July 15, 2003)

July 15, 2003
I don't know about you, but that would scare the he** out of me! I'd be on the phone wanting reassurance that green and black ooze is NORMAL - and if I didn't agree with him, I'd be seeking a second opinion. Do you have a good relationship with your PCP? Maybe you could talk to them for more professional advice. Good luck!!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 15, 2003
Green & Black! Oozing out of your body?? Did you call your surgeon and tell him of this development?? If not, please do! I've seen quite a few drains and NONE of them had anything green or black in them. I even pulled my own drains that were in for 3 weeks and NOTHING like that. And 3 weeks is a long time. I have heard of drains getting stuck but its the color here that's worrysome! Please call and have someone physically look at this, OK?
   — Shelly S.

July 15, 2003
I agree with the other posters about the oozing. The black is probably dried blood but the green sounds like infection. My JP drain was very difficult to remove; I had it removed before leaving the hospital and the first two nurses who tried to remove it had a hard time and gave up. They nearly killed me trying to pull it out gently. Finally, the charge nurse came in and told me to take a deep breath. She jerked like "h" on it and it came out. We had to do this three times as the drain is very long. At the very end of it was a HUGE blood clot and that was what was keeping it from coming out. The removal of that drain was the most painful thing I endured with the surgery; but the good side is that the pain went away as soon as the dang thing was out.
   — Patty_Butler

July 15, 2003
dont worry about the color of the ooze coming it is just fine. i was just as scared when i saw them colors in mine but was reaasured over and over again that the black was dried blood from the surgery itself and the green is a normal color ive also had yellow and brown. best wishes to you on your journey
   — sandra L.