Post surgery exercises with leaky wound

Hiya, 

I'm no expert, but seem to remember you should hold fire with the exercises if you have an infection. Either way, I don't think it will make much difference not doing the exercises for a couple of days tiil you can get proper advice. Did they give you an exercise leaflet cos it may tell you in there. Good luck & remember the discharge may get a little worse before it gets better. If you're in any doubt or not happy with it phone ur out of hour docs. Xx

Dear Sam,

Your question brought to mind my mum who had a problem like this from a healing appendix wound - whilst on holiday at my sister’s post op, this was becoming problematic as the wound leaked loads every time the dressing was removed. My sister took her to her GP as a temporary resident and the GP saw her and said that my mum would either think the GP was bonkers or a genius but he had cared for post op breast cancer patients before becoming a GP and that in that role, when this happened following drain removal etc., he gave the patient (I think) naproxen (a pain killer) which for some reason stopped the leakage and build up of fluid. It’s not what it is normally prescribed for but my mum took it for a day of two and like a miracle the fluid stopped draining almost overnight. So she said he was a genius when she went back for follow up care! 

I have messaged my mum to double check it was naproxen - not sure if you could get a GP to prescribe it for this and your medical history might preclude it but as soon as I hear back from my mum I’ll confirm the drug name and how long it took to work (I do recall her saying it was so quick and such a relief because it was driving her nuts and soiling her clothes).

Hi Sam,

Heard from my mum and yes it was naproxen and it worked virtually immediately!

as I said, you might not get it prescribed because it does sound a bit nuts but the GP was really good and very pleased it worked even though it wasn’t for post op breast cancer in my mum’s case. He told her he’d used it a few times for breast cancer patients with great success. Can’t hurt to ask?

 and

Thanks both for your replies, have called a halt to the exercise for the weekend- Danny girl you're spot on in the leaflet it does say if you have wound infection or healing problems then stop - good shout indeed.

Maind cannot get hold of a doctor so will await return of BCN to work Monday and see if they support the magic painkillers.  Your Mum has a jolly good memory!

Sam 

Good idea to stop exercising until you get it sorted and yes, she does have a good memory. She said she was overjoyed to have it stop so quickly and pure fluke the GP was there that day. 

Hope you get resolution to it - very annoying

Maind x