This is Going to Feel Weird

Entry 30
December 22


Yesterday my pelvic drain was removed at the Manitoba Prostate Centre. When the urology nurse began to extract the tubing of the pelvic drain she remarked, "This is going to feel weird." Picture someone pulling a long, chubby worm through your skin. There was no pain.


The contraption consists of a transparent plastic bulb often compared to a grenade that is attached to a rubbery tube. The idea is that the fluid that builds up around the site of the surgery seeps into the tube, through your abdominal skin and collects in the bulb. The bulb was loosely attached to my shirt with a clip. Once or twice a day we poured out the lymph that collected, measured it and logged it in the journal.


Each time we emptied the fluid from the bulb, we had to squeeze the air out of it too. The vacuum created that way caused the suction around the surgery site. The day before the pelvic drain was removed, Gayle, the urology nurse told me to release the vacuum and see what amount of fluid still accumulated during that day. When output is minimal, as in my case, the drain can be taken out.


The pelvic drain never hurt but it did feel odd. It also impeded my movement at night slightly.


Tomorrow, the catheter comes out.

 Removal of a JP pelvic drain from a female patient