I had surgery 3 weeks ago and my drain is still very active. It puts out 150 ml per day. Doctor says it needs to be down to 30. I just wonder how long others had it. I need to go back to work because I'm out of paid days. Thanks for responding.

I didn't have one at all.

I had mine two weeks, but the fluid levels gradually decreased to almost nothing over that time. I did notice that if I moved around a lot, the drainage got worse and when I rested and healed it would become less.

I finally got the drain out at 3.5 weeks. It wasn't because the fluid went down, but because I got a little infection around the tubing. Out came the drain and then on antibiotics.

Edited May 14, 20179 yr by mamalou
Inaccurate time.

What was the purpose for the drain?

It was to drain fluids that accumulate around the site of surgery. The doctor said it took longer due to the extreme scarring around the Lapland. As you heal and have ER inflammation fluids are needing to be moved out.