I started having pain in my midsection and in the top of my shoulder after taking a shower and changing my drain dressing today. (I'm 1 week post op btw). It got worse tonight so I called the surgeon and she thinks that the drain has slipped and is now pressed against my diaphragm causing pain when I breathe deeply. My drain output has decreased and is a clear yellow now so she ruled out a leak and doesn't think it's a pulmonary embolism. Drain comes out Monday. I wish it was tomorrow. This hurts worse than the actual surgical pain! I slept on my side last night and then the drain change today so I'm wondering if that caused it to move?

Damn, a JP that's still in for a week is a long time for me! There's a surgeon that likes to tell nurses to affirmatively remove JP drains 48 hours post-op for laparoscopic procedures. If it's pressed against your vagus or phrenic nerve then that can cause unbeatable chest and shoulder pain. Your drain output being just a little amount of serous Fluid sounds about right. Have someone drive you to your surgeon's office tomorrow to get the drain removed.

(As a nurse I'd cut the stitches myself, remove the drain, and tape sterile gauze over it. But definitely don't do that last part! You still need to be seen by a medical professional to make sure you're not having any other complications.)

Get it done at the office Friday instead of Monday! There's no need for you to be in pain, especially when it makes it harder For you to breath and you still need to walk and use your incentive spirometer.