drains for abdominal part of DIEP surgery

lulud471

So I know of products for holding drains coming from the chest area, but what about drains coming from abdominal area?  Doesn't the drain have to be below where the tubing comes out of your body?  If so, where would you wear something to hold the drain OR where would you pin the drain?  It just seems like it will be so very awkward!

Meow13

I was just able to put my 3 drains together in the little hanging pouch. I didn't have the drains long at home. They kept me 5 days in the hospital and I had more crap taped on my abdominal area. 5 days was over kill I felt like kicking the door down to get released.

NatsFan

I had a few surgeries, with a total of 13 drains, so by the end of all my surgeries I was pretty good with them.  I came out of my DIEP with 6 drains - 3 on top and 3 on the bottom. I wore an large button up shirt and gathered the three on each side up and put a string through the loops.  I could then pin the bunches to the inside of my shirt.  When I was chilly I wore a large zip front hoodie.  I cut a hole on the inside of the hoodie where the pockets were, then put the drains through the hole so I could carry them in the pockets of the hoodie.  When I showered I threaded them through a shoelace that I wore around my neck.   

Drains are no fun, but they are a necessary evil.  But nothing is better than the day you get your last drain removed! 

lulud471

Thanks so much NatsFan!  So the 3 on the bottom - you didn't have to worry about keeping the bulb situated below where the tube came out of your body?  In other words, it was ok to pull the bottom bulbs "up"?   LOL this is hard to describe!

lulud471

Thanks meow13!  I had two drains -  after BMX/immediate recon (which failed) - but this will be a first with abdominal drains.  Yuck!

Meow13

Dillon it shouldn't be bad. I had 2 in abdominal area and one on recon breast but the lines were long enough to fit them together in this little pocket pouch at my waist front. As far the the shower I had a plastic tube necklace that I was able to pin them on that.

I hope you are as happy as I am with my results.

NatsFan

Dillon - so sorry about the first failed recon - I hope this one goes much better for you!  The drains work by mostly by suction, not gravity, so it's not a problem to raise them a bit above where they come out of the body.  That's why after stripping them, you squeeze the bulb to push out as much air as possible before you pop the little stopper back in - that creates the suction part that moves the fluid up the tubes into the bulb.  No fun to have drains, but they're doable.  And yep, like Meow I'm very pleased with my results.  Six years later, I honestly forget most of the time that they are not the original "girls".  I hope the same goes for you!

lulud471

Thanks NatsFan!  I forgot that's how the drains worked (squeezing for suction, not gravity)!  Yay -that provides more flexibility w/ what to do w/ the drains.  I remember I was so happy to get them out!  They're just very annoying - like if something "pulls" on the tubing it kinda hurts so I'm hoping to keep everything more stable this time.  THANKS!!!!!

NatsFan

Yea, catch that hip drain on a doorknob, and it HURTS!!!!! 

lulud471

got my last drain removed today!  I took an old pair of shorts with elastic waist and cut off all material except waistband and pockets...was great for holding the drains!!!

Meow13

Lisa congrats getting drains out always a happy event. Good luck to you

laurie2025

Dillon22222, I had 4 drains in after my diep 2 weeks ago.  I have 2 "bras" that look more like a corset; they zip up the front.  They have little pockets that velcro inside the corset part, right above my waist.  Since I have 2, I can velcro 2 pouches on each side, then when I switch, I just remove the velcro pouches from 1 garment and put them in the 2nd.  The tubes are long, and you can put the drains wherever is most comfortable for you, as long as nothing is hurting or pulling.

ChrisInPA

One suggestion on the abdominal drains - stand naked in front of a mirror with the bulbs pinned low to a waistband or long short.  Take paper tape and tape them about 2" below the incision to where they want to naturally want to hang.  Then, you can attach them anywhere as long as you keep them collapsed for the suction.  The tape will stop any movement in the lines from affecting the actual incision site.

Good luck.