For those who had JP Drains...

I am about 5 hours away from my surgeon's office, and mine was a revision, which has a higher risk of a leak.....therefore, my surgeon requires patients like me to go home with a JP Drain.  I am supposed to have it until I have my follow up, next week.  

Besides being a PITA to try and keep dry while showering, I haven't had much issues with it, until today.  I woke up and noticed that it was leaking.  My pajama top was damp, and the cotton guaze underneath the tape that covers the tubing was soaked.  ICK.  So, I showered, then re-dressed the area.  Well, unfortunately, a few hours later, I notice the guaze is soaked again.  

I called and left a message with the nurse, but until I hear back from her, can anyone tell me if I should be worried?  I was very active last evening.  I was feeling good and started cleaning out my closet.  I was careful not to lift too much at once, but I was very active.  I am wondering/hoping that I didn't do anything wrong.  

Hope I can help...the same thing happened to me....I started draining around the tube my 2nd night in the hospital...it done that pretty much the whole time it was in...some days worse than others. My doctor said it was fine aslong as it was draining somewhere...I just kept a bandage around mine to soak it up and then when I showered I let the water run over it and gently cleaned around it with soap. Other than it just being a total pain to deal with I had no major problems. Just relax and keep calm...my surgeon wasn't concerned...he said he would have been concerned if it wasn't draining anywhere at all...i still had a little in my tube...but most I'd get out daily was 5-10cc when I drained the tube!

Thanks so much for the info, Cathy.  Mine did leak once in the hospital and the nurse there was very nonchalante about it.  Said it happens.  Hmmmm Okay, sounds like it should be okay, just a PITA.  Mine was draining anywhwere from 35 to 55 ml a day, so not a lot anyway. 

Yeah...I was worried about it at first...my husband and I both were...the hospital I had my surgery is over 2 hours away....I called the doctor tho he chuckeled a bit and said it was fine. He actually said in the class before the surgery his nurse had said that if it happened it just happened and not to be alarmed...apparently I was trying to take so much in I didn't hear that part lol.

Don't you love it when your doc chuckles at your worries?  LOL  Good to know I will hopefully live!

Yeah lol like I said it was mostly just a big pain in the butt! lol

 I would have to say that's not normal, did you hear back yet? 

No, I haven't heard back, yet.  They usually do their callbacks about now, so I am waiting.  

Yeah they leak like that and it's fine.  I did the calls and just redressed for the first couple of days and then got tired of the work.  then I'd just wear an old t-shirt around the house and kept washing it and slept in one too.  if your not as lazy as me you could dress it twice a day but it will ooze and get less but i had mine in for 10 days and it never stopped but it lessened.  pain in the ass yes.  Problem?  just the mess.  They make us revisions keep those drains in for a long time.

Thanks, edelu.  I will have mine in for 16 days total when my follow up appointment happens.  *sigh*  I am glad to hear that it's nothing serious, most likely.  I also keep telling myself it's just a blink of time when you consider a lifetime of benefit from the sleeve!