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- pilonidal thread
- fios pilonidal
- Thread StarterRumpeln
- Start dateNovember 25, 2007
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- Not open to further responses.
R
Rumpeln
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #1
My postoperative visit to the surgeon is tomorrow, but today I have a question on my mind. After a relatively trouble-free week, my incision (2 inches, 3 stitches) is now leaking fluid (clear to pink) and the pain level has increased a bit. My husband moved twice yesterday. He's going to change it again today. He still can't sit up, except on the edge of the chair on the cushion. My husband says the incision splits just above the top seam. I would call the surgeon but even if I started the antibiotics today it wouldn't change anything until I see him tomorrow anyway. No fever, just this nasty discharge. I thought about going back to work on Wednesday, but that seems less likely. So tired of laying on my side.
Has this ever happened to anyone else?
F
funkbombe
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #2
I believe this is what is known as Exadat. Not sure about the spelling. I have the same problem. It's a normal part of healing from what I've read. My first fear was the same as yours, infection and oh god they have to cut me open again.
Basically, Exadate is leftovers from the healing process. The body uses what it needs to heal and then removes waste from the wound. It can be light, pink, grayish or light brown. mine is light brown
Of course, I'm not a doctor, so don't take my words as gospel. Any concerns, such as an infection, should be discussed with your doctor, and since tomorrow will be, now is a good time. Until then, I wouldn't worry too much. If you saw real pus, you would be worried.
I recently found out that my surgery is a closed cure. My surgeon was not comfortable leaving the wound open due to the depth of the cyst and its proximity to my anus.
As for the pain, I lie down a lot. I also stopped trying to change my weight while on my butt. Instead, I lean on the arms of the chair and sit down until I find a comfortable position. Grab a donut sitting down too. I have the round type for hemorrhoids, but then again, my wound is a little further south than usual. I know people on this site recommend donuts for people with tailbone issues.
Good luck tomorrow. I think you'll be fine. Be honest with the doctor and accept it.
sascha
Administrator
Employees
- November 25, 2007
- #3
This sounds like serous fluid, which means you may have a pocket of fluid under the suture; Better see your doctor tomorrow. This liquid needs to be drained...
R
Rumpeln
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #4
Radio pump, when was your surgery? Yep, I'm glad I already have a date... imagine standing in the waiting room across from the date, LOL. My husband has to drive. Serous fluid or exudate sounds better than infection, but it's a little surprising to have it so far after surgery, I would have thought drainage would have happened sooner rather than later. On the other hand, 10 days isn't really "later". I connect with gauze and tegaderm, there are no instructions from the surgeon on what to use. I think if he was worried he would have specified what to use. My skin does not tolerate most types of duct tape well. Thanks for the responses to Funkbomb and Sasha.
What does wound drainage include? Needle sucking?
Is it common to receive antibiotics after closed surgery? I don't remember mentioning this in other posts.
D
by_by11
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #5
Hi Rumble,
I'm glad your healing didn't go too bad. From what you've said, I'd say the discharge is probably normal. I've always felt weird since I've never had drainage so I was wondering how I "absorbed" it or something. I'm not sure what Tegaderm is, but I'm told you just need to cover your stitches with a very loose gauze pad, or even use a feminine pad if you have a leak. This sanitary napkin would also avoid the use of any type of adhesive tape. If I had an infection they told me they would give me oral antibiotics but the dots should be red if there really was an infection. How long does it take to remove the stitches? I hope they wait about 3 weeks as mine has been removed. We applied bacitracin twice a day and after 2 weeks only once a day. So you use that too? Just so you know, I didn't sit down until the seams were removed and I think you'll find it will be more comfortable.
Good luck and, for me at least, I think avoiding sitting was the best thing for my healing; so while it's really annoying, it might help you heal faster.
As for me, I'm back to normal, so I still don't regret having the surgery!
F
funkbombe
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #6
Rumpeln,
I had mine on the 16th. I'll have the stitches removed on Friday. Nurses recommended maxi sanitary napkins because they stick to underwear. Very humiliating for a guy.
Mine immediately started leaking. There was more blood in the first few days, but now it's almost completely light brown.
They didn't give me antibiotics. My surgeon said they were useless and would not stop the infection.
You will go to the doctor tomorrow to clear everything up.
B
Baby blues
New member
- November 25, 2007
- #7
I've had the exact same thing since day 8 after the stitches were put in. In any case, consult a doctor immediately. They told me my drainage was "normal" and now I have an open wound. I'll admit I was AFRAID of an open wound, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be. My incision was much longer than yours (6-7 inches), so even if they have to open it up or it falls apart, I bet you'll heal just fine. I ended up going to a wound care center and it was the best decision I could have made. IF your wound is collapsing (which I hope it doesn't) then I highly recommend visiting a wound care clinic! GOOD LUCK TOMORROW. Be sure to ask questions and persevere!
R
Rumpeln
New member
- November 26, 2007
- #8
I just got back from Dr. Quote come home. He said it looked fine, the drain just oozing, although it looked a little uncomfortable. The pathology report said it was just a coccyx cyst (raised). He removed all 3 stitches and squeezed out a small pocket of fluid that was left. Put me on keflex 500mg and come back in 10 days. Now leave the wound uncovered with the maxi pad to catch the drain. Good thing I already had the wet wipes. He said he could go back to work on Wednesday. Driving was really “special”. Argh. My usual car is a sports convertible, so today I opted for our truck. I didn't think moving would be comfortable.
Postoperative 11 days, closed incision, 50-year-old woman.
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FAQs
How long should an incision leak? ›
While serous or serosanguineous drainage is normal in small amounts, call your surgeon or healthcare provider if the drainage is profuse or persists for longer than 72 hours.
Is it normal for an incision to leak a week after surgery? ›In the days and weeks after surgery your body needs time to repair the incision. During this time, the incision will likely become inflamed and there may be some drainage. A mild amount of drainage from the incision is normal.
How long should a surgical incision drain? ›On average, JP drains can continue to drain for 1 to 5 weeks. Keep a log and bring it to the clinic for discussion so your surgical team can determine the best time to remove the drain. slide the fluid towards the bulb.
Does a wound leak when healing? ›Once the scab forms, your body's immune system starts to protect the wound from infection. The wound becomes slightly swollen, red or pink, and tender. You also may see some clear fluid oozing from the wound. This fluid helps clean the area.
Can an incision open after 2 weeks? ›Surgical wound opening is most likely within 3 to 10 days after surgery. Medical attention may be necessary to prevent infection and promote healing.
How long can a wound leak? ›Serous and serosanguinous drainage are normal for the first two or three days. But you should watch for signs that the amount of blood mixed with serum is increasing. If this happens, see your doctor. Paying close attention to a wound as it heals is vital.
Why does my wound keep leaking fluid? ›Purulent drainage is a sign of infection. It's a white, yellow, or brown fluid and might be slightly thick in texture. It's made up of white blood cells trying to fight the infection, plus the residue from any bacteria pushed out of the wound. There may be an unpleasant smell to the fluid, as well.
Should I cover a weeping wound? ›Clean the wound and apply a dressing
When the wound has stopped bleeding, clean it and cover it with a dressing to help stop it becoming infected. To do this: wash and dry your hands thoroughly. clean the wound under drinking-quality running tap water – avoid using antiseptic as it may damage the skin and slow healing.
Answer: Drain holes not closing..why? The reason is almost always either a retained suture or an infection, even a localized one. It may even be a combination of both where a suture may be infected, and removing it is required for the hole to close.
How do you treat an oozing incision? ›- Open the wound by removing the staples or sutures.
- Do tests of the pus or tissue in the wound to figure out if there is an infection and what kind of antibiotic medicine would work best.
- Debride the wound by removing dead or infected tissue in the wound.
- Rinse the wound with salt water (saline solution)
Why does my surgical wound leak? ›
Dead space, or a remaining empty cavity in between tissues, may form as a result of improper healing of the surgical wound. Damage to neighboring lymphatic vessels during surgery can cause leakage of serous fluid into the dead space, resulting in seroma formation.
What does it mean when an incision is oozing? ›Purulent drainage is a sign of infection. It's a white, yellow, or brown fluid and might be slightly thick in texture. It's made up of white blood cells trying to fight the infection, plus the residue from any bacteria pushed out of the wound. There may be an unpleasant smell to the fluid, as well.