Fluid in abdomen

[Clara12]

Hi, I hope you are all doing well.

Has anyone ever had to have fluid drained from their abdomen/ pelvis? I had a scan last week that showed a lot of free fluid. I have a repeat scan later this week to see if this has sorted itself out by reabsorbing but was told if not I will have it drained. I’m not sure what this involves or how long it would take ( thinking in terms of letting work know in case I’m not back straight after scan or even if they’d do it same day). Any experience welcome?

[Rosh87]

Hi Clara,

Im doing well. How are you? Are you having any other side effects?

I've had a drain because i had this issue last year.

To be honest it depends how much fluid you have however I was in hospital overnight, went in Wednesday afternoon around 3pm and came out 6pm Thursday.

I was kept overnight because of my blood pressure, so it depends on that as well.

If you want any further info, please reach out.

thanks

Roshni

[Clara12 in reply to Rosh87]

Hi Roshni,

Thanks for your reply. I hope you are well. I only discovered I had fluid after a trip to A&E as my doctor was concerned I could have appendicitis. I’d been having a lot of pain in my abdomen, centrally and to the right (which is why my doctor suspected appendicitis) for around 2 weeks. It feels like burning and as though my abdomen is really inflamed. Also getting some pulling pain around my belly button but this has been going on a while. At the time of my doctors appointment I’d also just come on my period and was extremely nauseous, vomited whilst in the surgery and I was shaky and dizzy and having horrendous cramps so think my doctor took one look at me and sent me off to A&E which wasn’t pleasant but I wouldn’t have known about the fluid otherwise.

They didn’t give me any indication of how long it might take to drain if it hasn’t resolved itself or how that is done. I think I perhaps naively assumed it could be done at the time of my next scan later this week but from your experience seems to be a longer process so perhaps I’d be booked to return later.

How was it done? I’m a bit hospital and especially needle phobic so trying to prepare myself mentally in advance.

Thanks,

Clara

[Rosh87 in reply to Clara12]

Hi Clara,

Wow seems like you have gone through a lot.

So my symptoms were a bit different, I also get pain on the right but looked like i was 3 months pregnant. I get a lot of acidity and heartburn that im having to take medicine for it everyday.

I also went in for a routine appointment, however it was a follow up as they had sent me in for MRI & CT where they saw my organs were swimming in fluid.

They sent me straight to the another hospital, where one doctor was able to do the drain.

So they numb the side of your stomach with local anesthetic and then they have to put a needle in so they can attach a tube.

Im letting you know now its not pleasant and to brace yourself. Also i refused to look at what they were doing. It was painful but luckily they were quick.

The whole procedure started around 3pm and I was in overnight only because they were worried about my pressure.

Not wanting to scare you. Hopefully you wont need to go through that and all is reabsorbed. Take care.

thanks

Roshni

[Clara12 in reply to Rosh87]

Thank you for you reply. I don’t think I’d look either! I hope you are doing better now