Hi friends! So I'm 2 days post-op and surprisingly getting along super well. The bandage is SO tight and I hate sleeping on my back, but I haven't experienced much pain. I empty my drains 1-2 times a day, and record the amount of fluid, color, etc. I emptied my drains at 11am today and both drains had 20ml of blood. I emptied them again at 11:30pm today. My right drain had, again, 20ml of fluid. My left drain, though, had 30ml (which is the amount that I had one day post-op.) Should I be concerned at all? I've already emailed my surgeon with plenty of panicky questions, so I don't want to keep bothering her if I don't need to haha.
the only time you should be worried is if you are emptying your drains every hour. I believe you empty them every 4-5 hours. It will start to slow down in a few days. I know my left side drained out a lot more than my right side.
By the way CONGRATS and take it VERY EASY. be gentle and don't reach up for anything too out of the way :)
Quote from: RaptorChops on June 18, 2016, 11:49:24 PM
the only time you should be worried is if you are emptying your drains every hour. I believe you empty them every 4-5 hours. It will start to slow down in a few days. I know my left side drained out a lot more than my right side.
By the way CONGRATS and take it VERY EASY. be gentle and don't reach up for anything too out of the way :)
Yep, this.
It should slow down, and the coloration should start to change. If it does not slow down over the course of a few days and the coloration does not change from a bright red to a dull red/yellow/brown, then be concerned.