How do you secure your drainage pouches?

deelightful

Hello,I'm taking care of my mother. I wanted to know if anyone has creative ways of securing the drainage pouches? We have them secured with safety pins to her shirt. Do you all have other ways?

badger

hi deelightful, I bought a Softee mastectomy camisole that had pockets for drains.  Soft cotton, no seams by the chest area, and stretchy enough to be stepped into and pulled up.  I wore it even after drains were pulled as it was so comfortable against my super-sensitive skin.  

Another idea is to thread some thin soft ribbon through the little loop on the top of the drain bulb, tie the ribbon so it's at a comfortable length, then hang it around her neck.  I did that for showering and it worked great.

Best wishes to you and your mom!  ♥

Ariom

Hi Deelightful, how are you doing?

I used a lanyard in the shower, but I had a soft cotton shoulder bag which was part of a kit that is given to everyone who is Dx here in Australia. It is two simple cotton rectangles sewn together with two straps. You can wear it under your clothes with the drains inside it, or you can thread the drain out through your (short) sleeve and pop into the bag. It worked really well!

I have also heard others say they wore a fleecy jacket inside out, with the drains in the pockets.

All the best to your Mother, and I wish you all the best too...Hugs to you both!

SelenaWolf

My mother used an elastic cinch belt.

Anonymous

I used the Softee camisole also. It worked very well and kept them close to me so that I didn't worry about getting the tubes caught on anything and kind of snugged them up so they were more concealed under clothing. If you are at all crafty you could sew pockets on a tank top.

My PS sent home a length of my oxygen tubing to use in the shower. It was perfect!

SpecialK

I was allergic to the mastectomy camisole, so I just pinned them to the inside of my clothing, and also used a clean shoelace to string them on and wear like a necklace in the shower, but I have read about these:

http://www.pink-pockets.com/

exbrnxgrl

I used camisoles with built in pockets. My insurance paid for them!

Kicks

I used a HUGE (3 -4") safety pin to secure them to the belt loop on my jeans during the day just behind the side.    For nights, I pinned to the waistband of my sweat pants (it was winter and and I'm always 'freezing' so for winter I use sweats to stay warm at night).  Never had any problems with feeling the drains with my arm or my side/back when sitting down.  The first time I went to see surgeon a week post surgery I saw his PA first.  He said that belt was a good place to have the drains hooked as lower let gravity 'help' with them draining.

I'm a 'tubbie' person so showers were not an issue.  What I did to be sure the drain bulbs did not fall in the tub was to put some adhesive velcro on the lower soap bar and on a small plastic box that I put the bulbs in.  Last drain out - adhesive velcro removed.

Just what I did.

Warrior_Woman

Everyone has a different comfort level. I keep it simple by pinning them to a lanyard I wear 24/7. Simple and easy. No need to unpin and repin. I was told that my insurance would cover the mastectomy bras and camisoles but I haven't bothered with it yet. As long as your mother is comfortable and it doesn't become complicated for you.

ziggypop

One of the nurses at my PS's office said some people use a fanny pack - I was so close to getting the drains out that I didn't get one, but it seemed like a good idea.

farmerlucy

I too pinned them to the compression garment.  I also bought a couple inexpensive zip-up hooded workout sweatshirts from Walmart (Hanes, I think). They already have inside pockets and were very handy for the drains, not to mention comfortable and easy to put on.

caitlin61

I used a mastectomy camisole with the built in pockets. When I wasn't wearing the camisole (bed, shower), I made myself a lanyard out of an old pair of pantyhose, and pinned drains to that. Also, my pain pump came in a little pouch that I wore around my neck. Once the pump had done it's thing, the pouch became a convenient carrier for the drains.

deelightful

Thank you all so much. I'm so glad I found this forum. I'm going to look into whether or not her insurance would cover a camisole. I don't know how long she will have the drains. All of your ideas are great.

SpecialK

delightful - also ask the surgeon - I woke up from my BMX already wearing one - did not have to purchase it separately, it was supplied by the hospital.