Lymphatic fluid leaks after hysterectomy and LYMPHENDENECTOMY

Could be. It’s interesting though as my CNS said not to put anything on mine. I had one that became inflamed round the edges and wept a bit but I just used salt water and then used a disposable paper flannel as a loose pad. It could well be to do with the stitches dissolving. The healing takes a while as it’s deep and happens from the inside out. 

I am so thankful I found these posts. I had Robotic XI hysterectomy oncology surgery on 1/20/23, almost 2 weeks ago. I am am 61 years young. I am SO thankful I have not had much pain at all and thank the LORD for cancer free results from the biopsy. Five days post-op I had to go see the surgeon because my two left sutures would not stop gushing clear liquid. It was so bad it would leak on the floor when I stood up. I was able to get that stopped with pressured gauze and tape. As soon as that stopped however, which was one week post op, I started "leaking" like a constant Niagara Falls too! I am going through a OVERNIGHT HEAVY MAXI pad in an hour if I have to stand or walk. I have had some embarrassing situations! There have been times when I have thought about sleeping in the tub! I was finally so concerned that I went in to get checked out by my surgeon 2/1/23. He said he is 98% sure it is postoperative lymphatic leakage. He said I should notice it lessen as I heal and it should stop on it's own by Valentines Day...EEKS...that's TWELVE more days. My next appt with him is on 2/23/23. I PRAY it STOPS WAY sooner than that. I appreciate all of your comments on here that give me hope that it's part of the healing process and it will STOP! So from what I am reading a high protein, low fat diet and taking one Ibuprofen a day for the inflammation may help? In the natural I want to just lay in bed or sit very still until this stops but I have a life...UGH...any additional tips would be most welcome.  Thank you in advance!

I am so thankful I found these posts. I had Robotic XI hysterectomy oncology surgery on 1/20/23, almost 2 weeks ago. I am am 61 years young. I am SO thankful I have not had much pain at all and thank the LORD for cancer free results from the biopsy. Five days post-op I had to go see the surgeon because my two left sutures would not stop gushing clear liquid. It was so bad it would leak on the floor when I stood up. I was able to get that stopped with pressured gauze and tape. As soon as that stopped however, which was one week post op, I started "leaking" like a constant Niagara Falls too! I am going through a OVERNIGHT HEAVY MAXI pad in an hour if I have to stand or walk. I have had some embarrassing situations! There have been times when I have thought about sleeping in the tub! I was finally so concerned that I went in to get checked out by my surgeon 2/1/23. He said he is 98% sure it is postoperative lymphatic leakage. He said I should notice it lessen as I heal and it should stop on it's own by Valentines Day...EEKS...that's TWELVE more days. My next appt with him is on 2/23/23. I PRAY it STOPS WAY sooner than that. I appreciate all of your comments on here that give me hope that it's part of the healing process and it will STOP! So from what I am reading a high protein, low fat diet and taking one Ibuprofen a day for the inflammation may help? In the natural I want to just lay in bed or sit very still until this stops but I have a life...UGH...any additional tips would be most welcome.  Thank you in advance!

Hello Dew 

So you are experiencing exactly the same as I have had. From memory I think it lasted no more than 3 weeks! Then one morning I woke up and my pad was dry...... stayed dry all day and that was it. It had stopped just like that. I did follow a high protein low fat diet. Maybe it helped who knows. Hope yours does too!.Let us know how it goes. X

Wow I have been looking for info on this as recently had a similar experience. 
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer but I was also 37 weeks pregnant with my first baby. We organised for me to have a C-Section the following week to then be able to determine what treatment I needed although it was always very clear that it would probably be a hysterectomy.. on day of c-section the doctors decided that a radical hysterectomy was required there and then. Baby boy was delivered and I then went onto have the hysterectomy.

I was discharged from hospital 3 days later with a catheter and noticed my wound was weeping and I was feeling more damp below so was seen and given antibiotics for the wound. Over the day I started leaking fluid that I could only think was urine due to colour and consistency. I believed my catheter needed replacing. 

it seems that my lymph nodes are leaking I had and awful amount gushing out of me whenever I stood up. It feels so disgusting and degrading to now be wearing 2x incontinence knickers and worrying about leaking through. Mental and emotionally I find this difficult especially having to stand to look after my newborn. I hope they start to dry up soon but I am only 7 days post op, I guess I have a longer road to recovery than I thought 

Hello RD2509

Gosh, bless your heart, you're going through the mill a bit! 

I too was getting so fed up with the leakage and thought the surgery had punctured my bladder, I think that's what the hospital thoughts were at first too. They asked me to go in and when they tested the fluid it was confirmed as lymphatic fluid not urine. They sent me home and advised it will clear up on its own eventually but couldn't give me a timescale. They also advised me to go back or telephone the department if I had a fever or pain down below. The kind doctors phoned me a couple of days later to check on me, I was still losing the stuff.

It took about three weeks and it was weird as one day it was pouring out and the very next morning I got up, was dry and remained dry all day. I continued to wear a pad for the rest of the week. It was more inconvenient than anything else, it didn't smell or anything it just meant checking and changing pads regularly but at it's worst it did gush out whenever I strained to get up or go to toilet.

I did follow a high protein, very low fat diet. Maybe it helped who knows.I read somewhere that it helps recovery.

Bear with it a bit longer and hopefully it will go. I've had no further issues, to put your mind at rest.

Take care x