Found the BEST Drain Belt / Pouch Combination!

Anonymous

I was doing some research to help a friend who was getting a double M (I had a lumpectomy in 2009 and didn't need drains) recently and we found the most awesome drain belt and pouch for her.  She ended up ordering two (she was allowed to shower) and wore her drains for 20 days (19 of them using this belt).  It is called a Marsupial pouch, and she ordered it with 2 pouches, as she had 2 drains.  This belt is terry cloth, like a really plush hotel type bathrobe.  It is in white.  It has these pouches, that are large enough to hold the JP drain easily.  The belt has really stretchable elastic and thick velcro.  My friend is a size 6, and she was able to get the belt nice and comfortable on her waist.  I am a size 12 and it fit me just as easily and comfortably.  There is also an extra large size available.  This thing was so cool, I wanted to use it!  My friend was able to go in the shower and she wore one while showering, and then took the wet one off and put on a dry one.  The wet one went into the washer and dryer.  She could wear it with her regular clothes, though, under it, though right after surgery, she wore these loose house-dress kind of things.  The website is www.marsupialpouch.com.  I recommend anyone who will have drains order one.  We ordered my friend's about 2 weeks before her surgery and they were able to put one on her at the hospital.  I've not had experience with drains, but I understand that usually you have to pin them, or hold them, or try one of those camisoles or something.  Maybe this will help someone - it sure was a pleasurable thing for my friend during an unpleasant situation.  Hugs to all of you.

curveball

how easy is it to get the drain bulbs in & out of the pouches? I bought a Softee 2 camisole (the one with the drain pouch) to wear after my MX. It's OK, but the bulb and the fabric used in the camisole are both matte, so the drain does not slip easily in and out of the pouch. I've never pulled the plug out accidentally while taking the bulb out to empty it but I think it could happen. I'm contemplating DIEP reconstruction and I don't think the camisole would work well for more than two drains, one in each end of the pouch.I think with DIEP there can be more than two, though maybe I will only have two drains since I will only need reconstruction of one breast.

Also, how did you know in advance of surgery how many drains there were going to be, so you knew how many pockets to order with the belt? Did the surgeon tell you?

Anonymous

Hi, Curveball.  It was very easy for my friend to get the drain bulbs in and out of the pouches - they were actually large enough to hold up to 2 jp drains.  She would empty them one at a time, just pull the drain out, empty it and place it back in the pouch.  No tugging or anything. They were very secure without any chance of them falling out - these are fairly deep pouches.   She knew how many drains she might be getting - Her doctor told her to prepare for up to 4 drains, which was why we were looking for something that could hold 4 (2 pouches will hold 4 drains).  We looked at the camisole for her and she liked the idea of the belt better because she could adjust it either over or under her clothes and either on her waist or a bit lower on her hip (I called her sheriff drain when she wore it hip length).  If you are getting 1-2 drains, then probably just the one belt with one pouch would work just fine for you.   I spent a week with my friend after her surgery to help her with the kids so her husband could return to work earlier and I was amazed at how great this thing worked for her.  

VegasSurvivor

I used a fanny pack for drains in the day time and I made a shower belt for my drains to use while showering. If anyone is interested let me know.

srosenbeck

Currently have drains and due to a backslide another surgery will bring a couple more. I ordered these pouches and cannot wait for their arrival. Yes, I ordered 2.