Drain at lumpectomy site question

Anonymous

Dear ladies,

I had a lumpectomy 9/29 which turned out to be ILC (2 c., grade 1, stage II, everyone seems to put their stats here).  I was told to expect swelling but after 9 days it was worse than it had been in 7, so my surgeon inserted a drain tube with a collector bulb at the end.  It's a real pain although I've learned to conceal it well enough in my bikini underwear and waistbands.  Anyway he said I couldn't have it out till it filled up with less than 30cc in 24 hrs. After a week the thing is still filling up with about 75 cc. a day--I expected it would be out by now--and it's precluding me from starting tx.  I have to get my port put in (same surgeon) but can't till this thing comes out, per my onc. I'm anxious to get started!  I keep thinking there isn't much fluid in there to fill the thing up anymore, but every few hours there's enough to dump out. 

 Anyone else have this experience?  How long did you  have to wear the drain tube?  I feel like it's become a permanent part of me, but it's keeping me from moving forward for chemo, and so much to do to prepare for that. Plus my hubby has to go back to DC (we're in AZ) to close up his apt--he worked there--and can't leave till after the port is put in. He's spinning his wheels like I am.

Frustrated....don't want my partycrasher to go anywhere else and am ready to kick some cancer *ss if you know what I mean, although my PET was negative last week.

Thank you! C