Extra compression to reduce drain output?

Leydi

Had two surgical drains removed 6 days after bilateral mastectomy but now it has been 11 days and the third drain is still producing 80-90 ml a day. This was with a concerted effort to reduce activity as much as possible.

I've been wearing the chest binder placed on me after surgery but it has gotten looser as I've been healing and swelling has gone down. I also have a much smaller binder that I've been avoiding because it isn't as comfortable. Now, though, I'm wondering if the extra compression from the small binder would help my tissue heal and stop weeping so much fluid.

As an aside, I've been venturing out in public after my surgery (no reconstruction) with a completely flat chest and one to three odd lumps around my middle (drains under shirt) and no one has batted an eye. I thought i might feel a little self conscious but everyone else is just absorbed in their own business. I've been leaning against future reconstruction and this experience has bolstered my feelings.

tsoebbin

Leydi... No certain about the compression but wanted to say I'm almost 6 weeks post BMX without recon... I'm feeling good with it. I was at several public places over the past few days and I sure didn't feel like everyone was staring at me. Not sure they even noticed. 😀

barbski60

I had my last 2 drains in for 3 weeks and 5 days (the PS limit on drains is 30 days) and I was still producing 50-60 ml in my non cancerous side. I spent almost a week doing nothing at all and it didn't help. The PS removed the drains and I had to have both sides drained a week later (90 ml non-cancerous and 15 ml cancerous side). My tissue expanders felt like a super tight underwire bra. The physical therapist suggested wearing a tight sports bra or spanx after the PS drained. This helped a lot. Hope you are doing well.

barb

tsoebbin

i found the Genie Compression Cami super helpful to provide the right amount of compression. They are 19.97 at Wal-Mart.

leftduetostupidmods

I had one of the drains in place for 4 weeks after surgery. I don't think that placing a compression on the area would do any good. On the contrary, it might cut off the drainage towards the drain of a certain spot then you'll have a seroma that either will need draining or will slowly resorb leaving scar tissue behind. As someone who had seromas on the back on the LD harvesting site - that were not drained, but slowly resorbed, and then had to deal with ever-tightening scars that needed monthly massage to break scar tissue - trust me, you do not want that. Just be patient. When your body will be healed enough, the output will subside.

Leydi

Appreciate the feedback. For future readers, I have been wearing the tighter compression binder about 12 hours a day over the last few days. I switch to the looser one for comfort at night. It has made no difference in fluid output. However, it does seem to be helping the appearance of the tissue around the mastectomy scars - they are becoming flatter and less poofy/bulgy.

I talked to the nurse whether there was anything I should or should not be doing to help the drain slow down and she said no. I did try resting completely for a couple days and it didn't help either. Now I'm back to doing whatever I feel up to doing.

leftduetostupidmods

Oh yes, do whatever you feel up to. Don't push it though, it will delay your recovery. If at any time you note increase in the drain output, just stop that specific activity and don't do it again.

For me it was making the bed. Go figure.