That sounds terrifying! If I had such a thing I think I would decide to trust the doctors. WHy doesn't a drainage tube work? WHere is the infection? Seems like the next step would be to culture the infection and use the appropriate antibiotic for that particular type of bacteria. There are the usual things to take to support your immune system, vitamin C, good diet, good attitude, good sleep, astragulus. SP?? Golden seal and honey. Heat often helps with bacterial infections, it's very sensitive to higher temperatures.
Do fill out your story and QnA. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

Hi Shelley,

How's it going? Seems like it has been over a month since we last chatted.

Did they figure out the bug and get it treated? What is the status of your drainage / pump? I wonder if something was blocked? Did you have a pump or a wound vac? I have seen a couple of wound vacs on people during my time in nursing school and from what I saw they seemed to help - but of course everyone is different.

Still wishing you the best.
Rebecca3

I’ve had a tube (pump) draining a large hematoma from my hernia surgery in August. Two weeks ago I had out patient surgery to open the abdominal wall to drain more (first pump did absolutely nothing) and they got the largest one pretty flat, but did put in the pump to continue the draining. I go back tomorrow morning to have the post op appointment and hopefully get to have it removed in the office. I’ve drained 15cc’s out since the surgery and it’s still slowly draining more.. but it’s older blood.. dark and stinky.. Dr told me not to worry when I wrote to him, but he will check tomorrow if there is any infection going on with the draining situation.
I feel like a test rat sometimes.

The infection is from the cancer & scar tissue

Hi Shelley,

I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time healing from the infection and resulting drainage. I went thru something similar but not nearly as problematic.

Following my Whipple surgery, I was put on IV Abts and sent home on oral Abts... so I had some sort of infection although I don't recall ever discussing what it was. I know that I fought being D/C'ed after 15 days because my GI issues were severe and I really could not eat or drink enough to support my body. After the liquid Abts ran out, I still had two drains at home. My bile drain had been capped but the pancreatic drain really stopped draining anything once I went home (it was irritated and a little weepy around the wound but nothing was going into the collection bulb). I was not given any instructions for flushing it. A week or two later, my surgeon's PA decided it was time to remove both drains. After she did that, there was quite a bit of leakage from the pancreatic drain site wound. I tried as much as I could to keep changing the bandages but when I went to sleep, it would get out-of-control. That site got infected, my whipple wound just a couple of inches down got infected too. They had to open the 9 inch wound and put in two drains. I also got a skin fungus infection because of all the moisture. It is my belief that the pancreatic drain was blocked and should have been flushed/unblocked and left in place - but that was never mentioned/discussed. I was able to unpack my wound but did not have the backbone to repack it myself. I had to go to the Dr's office (about an hour drive) or the ER to get it done. It was rough because the next round of ABTs made me vomit and made an already bad GI system worse. I had to stop taking them - that made my PA really angry - but no one would believe me when I told them how bad my stomach/nausea was. I am lucky that I eventually got past the last infection without it.

It was over the Christmas holidays so when my Dr and PA went on holiday, I could not get an appt at any local wound care center, they were all booked up. I got desperate enough to go to the ER twice (and got IV fluids too - which helped alot). It was a rough, rough time. I should have pitched a fit and demanded more help, not to be D/C'ed so soon or done more to self-advocate but I was not in a good place then and did not have the oomph to fight. PLEASE - check to see if you qualify for HH care @ home or see if you can go to a rehab to get more frequent dressing changes. Have they mentioned IV Abts or being admitted to get tx? You also may want to seek a different opinion / professional to see what they say / suggest.

My heart goes out to you because I do understand the sudden gush of fluids that you have no control over and the feeling sick either worsened by the Abts or because of the infection. Sending you prayers, positive vibes and lots of hugs.

Rebecca3