One Week Out - And I Popped a Tummy Leak!

I just knew something wasn't right about the nurse taking out my drain on day two post-op and sending me home. That drain was consistenly filling up. Where was the fluid going to go, I asked the nurse?

"Oh, it's not that much. Your body will absorb it."

Bull****e.

I had been having a traveling pain in my abdomen for about 24 hours, and last night as I got ready for bed, my husband and I both commented on this lump in my belly that reminded us of times during my pregnancies when my babies would have their little foot sticking out.

So I went to bed and not fifteen minutes later I put my hand on my belly and felt *wet*. I jumped up and ran to the bathroom to see a big wet spot on my shirt. I lifted up my shirt and pressed on my belly (lightly!) and it was like - excuse the TMI - like I had just popped a juicy zit. Juice squirted out of my central incision!!

I didn't freak out too much, because I recognized the color and consistency of the fluid as that which was in my drain, so I let it leak out for a bit and then bandaged myself up and went to bed.

I called the nurse this morning and she confirmed that it sounds like a pocket of fluid. She said it travels to a weak spot and finds it's way out. Awesome. Lucky me.

So now I get to change my dressing a few times a day and do the work that the drain would have done much neater IF THEY WOULD HAVE LEFT IT IN! UGH!

I've been feeling great, having no problems with food, and progressing nicely. So I guess this is my cross to bear. Compared to most people's issues and complications, I have nothing to complain about. I'm just angry because I saw this coming. I knew it was too early to remove that drain!

that sounds terrible so sorry for you. I am so glad i did not have a drain at all.
My hubby had 2 drains, and daughter had 1 and son in lwaw had 1. Horrible things.!!

I did not have a drain either but if the nurse said* your body will absorb it* then why have the darn drain..smh..anyways get well soon sweetie..

I probably would of passed out.  I can handle other people's bodily fluids.  Mine not so much lol.  I'm shocked they took the tube out if you were still draining that much.  They told me that if I produced too much fluid that they would send me home with mine.  Fortunately, by my last day in the hospital it wasn't filling up at all.  Thank goodness because that had to be the most painful thing about the entire surgery.

How long did they say it would leak for?  Are you supposed to do anything to the open area when it stops leaking?

No idea how long it will leak for. I just have to keep an eye on it and call them if the color/consistency changes, it becomes painful, or if I develop an infection at the incision.

Right up until they took the drain out, they had been emptying it every 4-5 hours. That's why I thought it was odd that they weren't sending me home with the drain still in there and I asked.

It's a very small hole (smaller than a straw hole) that popped open in the incision. The nurse said it would close on it's own. I believe that because I had a similar little hole pop open on my c-section incision (I don't rest enough :) ) and it closed up on it's own just fine.

I had my drain drain out the day after surgery before they sent me home. That evening I had one incision that didn't clot up and completely and pooled in my belly button. When I took the bandage off I had a little puddle blood and fluids fall out. When we called the Dr he told my husband that he would have to pinch the incision closed for about 5-10 min, after he did that i never had another problem till I unexpectedly sneezed and blew open the bigger incision. that time I thought I was going to die from being in so much pain. (it had ripped open the incision)

As long as it's clear-yellow-bloody thin fluid and it doesn't smell bad it's normal to leak fluid from incision sites. I had almost the same thing happen about 2 weeks post-op. My lower left incision site had what felt like a quarter sized hard lump behind it. One day, all of a sudden, it just gushed out and then cont to leak a bit for another couple days. I just kept it covered and it healed on its own.

I don't know if they had you do a swallow post-op, but a great way to tell if it's just healing lymph fluid or fluid leaking from your pouch is to eat green jello.

Jenny, i hear ya, girl. i was 19 days post-op when the top of my incision decided to open. i didn't realize it was a hole until i went to see the surgeon the following wednesday. i kept it clean and covered until then; now, since it's 4cm deep, i get to pack it several times a day and keep it covered. i got concerned b/c the drainage started looking thick and yellow. went back to surgeon, he said it's not infected but put me on antibiotics as a precaution. he also said the drainage may continue for another 2 - 3 weeks (ugh) but that the hole will heal from the inside out.
i was so relieved that it was not infected.....no odor, no redness, no warmth, no pain at opening, just this gunky thick fluid coming out.....surgeon says it's part of the fat layer that did not heal and has liquified and needs an outlet. he also said it happens w/about 10% of ALL surgeries, not just WLS.

at least if it's fat, it's coming out, not hanging around inside me.

good luck with yours. you will be fine.