post-UMX - minor fall - blood in drain

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Kat104
Kat104 Member Posts: 30
edited December 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I am 9 days out from a left mastectomy with tissue expander placement, and I have a drain in place. The drain fluid had turned a tan/translucent color, and I was hoping today would be the day the volume would drop below that magic number to get it out.

Unfortunately this afternoon I fell down 3 stairs inside my home and without thinking grabbed the railing with my surgery-side arm. As I fell, my arm was pulled straight up and behind my head, sharply stretching everything. It doesn't hurt any more than usual now a few hours later, but the drain picked up in volume, and the fluid turned bright red. I think it has stopped actively bleeding, and I didn't even empty it yet, so it's not a LOT. But seeing the blood worries me, and ugggghhhh, I just wanted to get the drain out soon. I have a message in to the PS office, but I was wondering if anyone here had anything similar happen. If so, how did it turn out for you?

Thanks.

Kat

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited December 2016

    I tripped over a dog gate three weeks post exchange, I fell flat on my face and right implant. I was just sick about it. I was black and blue. My PS put me on papaverine, an old drug that helps with blood flow, it was the pre-viagra drug of choice. I had to have it compounded. I'm over four years out and am happy to report that I had no issues re:the fall in regards to my implant. Whew. I suspect you'll be fine. Let us know how it goes.

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  • Denise-G
    Denise-G Member Posts: 1,777
    edited December 2016

    Oh so sorry - sending you a gentle hug --

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  • Kat104
    Kat104 Member Posts: 30
    edited December 2016

    Farmerlucy, that sounds like quite a fall! Not glad it happened, but so happy to hear that it caused no major issues. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm nervous about messing up something inside, even if it's just the tissue expander, but I think it'll be fine, too. Already the fluid is a little more see-through again, so it's not all blood, and the breast area itself looks okay. Just getting more sore now.

    Thanks for the hug, Denise! It's been a crummy day, so we'll start over tomorrow. :)

    The PS office said to call back overnight if the area swells up twice as large, and if the drain flow is 2 or 3x as much. It's not anywhere near that! So I feel reassured.

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  • Icantri
    Icantri Member Posts: 93
    edited December 2016

    oh my goodness. my heart is aching here, imagining you falling like that. how scary. I am glad you didn't have any major problems.


    Btw, lately when I try to type "I am..." my autocorrect sometimes changes it to "mastectomy". stupid autocorrect thinks it knows me so well.

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  • Kat104
    Kat104 Member Posts: 30
    edited December 2016

    Icantri, too funny about your autocorrect!

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