ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: wendysig on August 30, 2008, 10:59:55 pm
-
Hi all,
I just thought I'd share my latest post- AN experience with you. Since this past Wednesday my fat graft has been leaking from my incision. I will spare you most of the gorey details as it is kind of disgusting but wanted to share the experience since if it happened to me it can happen to anyone else. When I got up on Wednesday I noticed my incision was leaking more than usual and decided to take a closer look and saw this new surprise was some clear yellow gelatinous stuf. leaking out. I contacted my doctor who confirmed, based on my desription, it was fat from the fat graft. He further explained that sometimes the fat graft liqufies and leaks out for a while. If this happens to anyone else, unless there is some reason to suspect an infection, there is no cause for alarm but it needs to be watched for just in case purposes. Of course, as with anything of this nature, it should be reported to your doctor -- I just wanted to share this so that if it happens to you, you will not freak out.
Wendy - Still a reluctant member of the Icky Head Club
-
Wow, Wendy. You seem to come up with all the unique experiences! My surgery was just a few days after you, and I have not had this yet. I am glad you shared to keep everyone aware that this can happen. I hope you are getting better, stronger and fully healing!
Kathleen
-
Wendy -
you are certainly unique. In all the time I've been reading posts on this forum, a fat graft leak is a new one on me ??? I never even realized this could happen! My graft incision never leaked anything at all.
Thanks for letting us know since as you say, if it can happen to you, it can happen to others.
Jan
-
Hi Kathleen and Jan -
I think I must have given you the wrong impression. The fat is not leaking out of my abdominal incision, it is leaking out of the incision in my head - my abdominal incision is fine, in fact I'm amazed at how quickly this has healed.
Kathleen - Although my doctor told me the fat graft leaking is not cause for alarm, it is not fun either, so I hope this is one experience you don't have. It's reallly kind of disgusting even if it is harmless.
Wendy - Champion member of the Icky Head Club
-
Well, Wendy, you are unique, aren't you? ;)
I guess you must have had the wrong kind of fat - mine never leaked because mine was probably just a giant solid mass of fat to begin with! :-\ I still think I should be able to donate the rest of it to someone who needs it. Keep me in mind if you leak too much and need a refill! :D
Lori
-
Hi Lori,
I know I can always count on yoiu for your generosity!! Yes, am unique in the sense of my leaky head, my doctor said this only happens 10 - 20% of the time. I've always been an overachiever so I'm not really that surprised this happened to me. Since my head does seem to be rejecting my own fat (why can't it the rest of my body reject all my fat though?) maybe I should have gotten a donation from someone else. To be honest, my incision has been leaking for so long I'm amazed there is anything left to leak out.
Wendy
-
Wendy -
thanks for explaining your subject line. I thought you meant your belly incision was leaking - which I have never heard of; although I'm sure it's not impossible.
I have heard of head incisions leaking - or oozing - but I never experienced that.
Just lucky I guess - glad I'm lucky in some aspects of my life :P
Jan
-
Hi Jan,
I guess all of us deserve to be lucky in some way. I consiider myself lucky too -- my leaky head and balance are the biggest problems I have had. Considering the possibilities I think I am lucky. The leaky incision is more of a bother than anything. Since it stops leaking for an hour or two occasionally (I know because I am still such an optimist I leave my bandaid off if it's not leaking in the morning and I usually change it twice a day), I always hope it's stopped for good and then it starts again. This too shall pass!
Wendy
-
Oh, Wendy! I am just getting caught up on posts and immediately read yours. Yep, you get to be the Queen of the Icky Head Club now - uncontested! I am glad it is not medically urgent, but regret that you have to deal with it at all. And, as you said, it sounds plenty yucky.
Hope you had a good weekend, other than leaking belly fat from your head?
Debbi, can't get rid of fat to save my soul!
-
As long as it's not CSF, couldn't your doctor put some adhesive on your incision? That's what mine did with the CSF leak twice (kept leaking in different spots) before deciding that that wouldn't work. But it might work for you - maybe you could ask? Ultimately I was brought back to the OR for more stitches, staples and glue, which sealed everything up tight. I understand that the CSF leak is more critical than the liquified fat leak, but it sounds like a pain.
Keep dry thoughts,
Tammy
-
Hi Debbi =
Apart from my leaky incision evverything is good. I hope the leaking stops soon because I'm wondering what will happen next. I've been leaking one thing or another since August 6 and it's getting on my nerves. As things go, and since there is no sign of infection, which I'm truly grateful for, it may not seem to be much to complain about but it is a pain in the butt!! Thanks for the title of Queen of the Icky Head Club -- it makes me feel so special!!! I hope all is well with you. How did Willie like the onion goggles?
Hi Tamara - I haven't seen you post in a while and hope you are well. I noticed your signature said you CSF leak is under control. Has it stopped or are you still having problems? My doctor said since the fat has liquified, it is better to let it drain since I am still also leaking serous fluid, because otherwise it could cause an infection.. That is something I am hoping and praying I will avoid. I really posted the information about this because I never heard of it happening and like I said, if it happened to me, it can happen to anyone. My chief complaint in all of this is that my inciison hasbeen leaking for almost a month and there is no end in sight. My doc says it is harmless (so far anyway) but it is disconcerting.
Wendy
Queen of the Icky Head Cl;ub
-
Wendy - You win, you ARE the queen. It still sounds very icky, and a royal pain. You are right, I needed to change my signature. Mostly I'm doing very well. I still have eye issues, but I can see clearly probably 70% of the time now, so that's a big improvement. Still, I misread the brownie box last night because I wasn't seeing well and added 1 cup of water instead of 1/4 cup. It still works, in case you are curious, just ends up like heavy cake. :)
I colored my hair yesterday and went for a long bike ride last weekend, so other stuff is getting back to normal.
Hoping you dry out soon!
Tammy
-
Hi Tammy,
Congratulations on being able to color your hair -- that is something I am looking forward to since I have lots of gray and my roots are really growing out. I won't be able to do that though until my darned incision stops leaking. Sorry to hear you are still having problems with your vision and hope that passes soon. Thanks for the info about yoru brownie mishap. I'm sure I've done the same kind of thing and thrown it out. Next time I'll bake it and see what happens - iti's a crime to waste good chocolate desserts!
Wendy
-
Tammy,
I also meant to say you're riding your bike?!!! That is fantastic and incredible news!!! I am so jealous of you, I have been very tempted to try, but my balance is bad enough that I'm afraid I would fall right off and crack my head open. I guess I should get a helmet (I really hate them) before I try anything this daring. -- who ever thought bike riding would seem like a daring thing to do at my age, especially since I learned how to ride a two wheeler when I was six.
Happy riding!!
Wendy
-
Wendy -
How about training wheels to go along with that helmet! :D
Lori
-
Wendy,
I'd like it if my fat would leak for a while, would make dieting easier. What a drag on an otherwise stellar recovery. Don't let it get you down, you're doing great.
M
-
Marci,
If my fat graft was leaking from my abdomen I would be happy (I think -- I'm not entirely sure this would be a good thing) because my belly would be shrinking! Alas, it is leaking out of my head so only adds to my leaky head incision misery -- you're right though, I am having a great recovery in every other way!
Wendy
-
And, I want you to know, Wendy, that you were the topic of conversation as my hubby and I were laying in bed last night recapping the day! Willie is now on a mission to find out what happens, long term, to the fat that is placed in our heads (assuming it doesn't all leak out like yours if trying to do!) Thank goodness we're seeing Dr. Golfinos next week!
Hope the head stops leaking soon - otherwise they may have to shore up the fat supply!! :) ;) :D
Debbi, sending dry thoughts your way...
-
Hi Debbi,
According to a conversaiton I had with Dr. Choe, the fat placed inside our heads is usually reabsorbed by our bodies, except of course in cases like mine where it liquifies and leaks out. My incision seems to be trying to stop leaking again -- this has happened before and it has started leaking again as mysteriously as it stopped, but this time I am cautiously optimistic. It has not leaked for about 6 hours now -- the longest it has ever gone without leaking, except maybe and I don't really know this for certain, but maybe when I was sleeping. Maybe I finally ran out of fat and other things to leak. Hopefully when I wake up tomorrow my incision will be as dry as it is now!!!
Wendy - Thinking dry thoughts in NYC
-
Hi Lori,
Do they make training wheels for a 26 inch bicycle? A very intersting idea! Just FYI, when I got up this morning myincision was leaking again. Will it never end?
Wendy
-
Bummer, Wendy! I know your dr says it's not serious (only serous, ha ha ;D) but maybe you could ask about getting adhesived. Mumble something about either needing that or some anti-depressants - maybe that would get his attention. ;)
As far as the training wheels - I was really going to dig them out of the basement if needed. I think you could just attach them and angle them down. Happy wheeling to those who go...
Tammy
-
Well, if they don't make training wheels for big kid bikes, then maybe that's another money making opportunity for us. ;D
Lori
-
I think the solution to training wheels for "big kid" bikes is just the huge tricycle with the large basket in back :D
Take heart, Wendy. This time next year you'll be cruising on your two-wheeler without any balance issues whatsoever. Just takes time - and patience ;)
Jan
-
Tammy,
I got a good laugh out of your joke. Maybe I will ask again about taping the incision when I see the doctor on Frrday if it's still leaking -- I still hope it will stiop on its own before then. I really do think it is trying...it leaks a little and stops for a while and leaks a little more. It has to stop eventually (I hope so anyway).
Lori - I knew you would come up with a great money making idea again! Training wheels for bigger bikes -- there may be a calling for that, heck I'd use them! Maybe James could whip some up in the garage unless you've gotten good at this kind of thing -- I'm all thumbs.
Jan - I like your idea too. I haven't seen them in a long time, but I know I've seen those big tricycles. I'll bet they'd be really hard to tip over too so they'd be great for those of us with balance problems. Dependable transportation and a good form of exercise too!
Wendy
-
Wendy~
One of our neighbors at our old house had one of those trike things (he was older) and he road it every night in the summer in his circular driveway (my girlies call them "rainbow" driveways, BTW). Dave always oked that he was going to get me one!!
K
-
Okay, enough about training wheels - how is the leak today, Wendy? You've been Queen of the Icky Heads long enough now...
Deb
-
Sorry to say I am still Queen of the Icky Heads. I am seeing Dr. Choe tomorrow and will see what he has to say. I think I must be accumulating a lot of fluid in or under my skin again since there is a small lump just above the bottom of my incision again. When I gently push on it (I've done this before and told him about it. He didn't comment so I don't know if this is a good or bad thing to do) lots of serous fluid streams out -- yuck!
Wendy - Still Queen but ready to give up my ritle
-
Hi all,
Just back from seeing Dr. Choe. The last time I e-mailed him (September 2) my incision had been dry for several hours. When it srtarted leaking again the next morning I decided to wait and talk to him bout it in person. Although he was surprised to find it is still leaking, he is still not ready to intervene. He still feels it is better to let it drain because the fluid can still build up under my skin and be a potential problem. I told him I think it is trying to stop leaking since it stops for a few hours at a time and then starts leaking again. I am scheduled to see him agian on October 3 and he said if my incision is still leaking at that time, he will suture it. So that's the story, it looks like I'm the reining queen of the Icky Head Club for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
Wendy - Her Royal Highness Queen of the Icky Head Club
-
Wendy~
Sorry that you are still ave to deal with this, but glad you aren't having to do more as far as treatment of an infection or anything!
have a good weekend! ;D
K
-
Hi K,
Thanks. i'm certainly glad there is no infection but s you can imagine this is not fun. On the brightr side of things, I got to try the BAHA demo and loved iit, but that's another subject. I posted my experience on that under "Hearing iIssues" In short, it was awesome! Hope your weekend is great too.!
Wendy
-
Wendy -
while it's generally good to be Queen - of anything ;) - I'm sorry to hear your head is still leaking. But as K said, thank goodness it hasn't lead to an infection or anything else. I'd hate to see you have to deal with a PICC line, even though Debbie's lemon was quite portable.
Hopefully your leak will run it's course by October 3rd and Dr. Choe won't have to get out his needle and thread again.
Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Jan
-
Hi Jan,
I know you and K are right -- I'd rather not have an infectrion especially considering what Debbi went through. I've thought and worried about that possibility. So far so good despite the leak. My incision was leaking earlier today but has stopped again for now. Every time this happens I can't help but hope it's over and be at least a little bit frustrated that it's not. I'm hoping again...
Wendy
-
Hi all,
Well I really think my incision is trying to stop leaking. It leaks, and sometimes quite a bit, but almost always in the morning and early afternoon. The drainage (yuck!!) seems to be getting lighter in color too which I take to mean whatever toxins were leaking out along with my fat (yes that's still coming out too, but only a little) must be almost all cleared out --YAY! The part of my head directly behind my ear still feel slightly swollen, but this could be and probably is still from the trauma of having had surgery, not from a lot of fluid in and beneath my skin. I can't help but wonder if I can feel the titanium mesh plate too. I know I've said it before and been wrong but I really think this is almost over!!!
Crossing my fingers for myself this time,
wendy
-
Got my fingers crossed for you, Wendy. Time for a new (hopefully better!) chapter for you.
Debbi
-
Some people will do anything to be "queen". :D Seriously Wendy, it can't go on forever that way, so just take it one day at a time (are you laughing yet at me telling you to be patient??)
Hope you are dethroned soon,
Marci
-
Hi Debbi and thanks. I agree this chapter of my recovery is just going on and on, time for a new one. My incision was dry when I got up and is still dry. I am thinking dry thoughts. Good luck to you today. Let us know asap what Dr. Golfinos saysl
Hi Marci,
I did laugh when I read your post but because you said some people will do anything to be "queen". I will gladly give up my title as soon as I can!
Wendy - ready and willing to abdicate my claim to the throne