Drains?

GAMomma

---

How long did everyone have drains for..roughly?

gracie22

I had a BMX, not a lumpectomy. I had a drain in one side for a couple of weeks, the other side (which I had problems with from the get-go, and an eventual infection) for about a month or so. If you are having lumpectomy, it may be less. The drain time is based on how much fluid is coming out, and the color. It is usually bloody at the start, and then lightens up. Once it is clear or near to it, and the quantity is fairly low (as I recall, once it was 20 ml or less and light in color--clear to straw colored) the drain can come out. It is less about a particular time limit, and more about how much fluid is coming out and the color. The drain bulbs have the ml gradations on them, and your doc will ask you to empty them regularly and keep a diary of the ml amount. The removal time is based on that.

MinusTwo

Two to four weeks for the various surgeries. I hated them, as we all do, but was glad to have them to allay the possiblilty of seromas.

BarredOwl

Hi GAMomma:

I had a bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction. I had one drain on each side, and both were removed on Day 6 (with Day 0 being the day of surgery).

How long the drains stay in depends on their output and is quite variable from person to person. My surgeon estimated the drains would be in for about a week (in the ordinary course).

A booklet I received noted: "After the total amount of drainage in a twenty four hour period is 30 cc's or less per drain, the drainage tube(s) can be removed. Your drainage will generally decrease to this level in about seven to ten days." Actually, the output of my drains fell below this level within days, but they wanted them to stay in for about one week.

There may be differences in practice or special circumstances, so don't hesitate to ask your surgeon for information about it in your case.

BarredOwl

mustlovepoodles

I had no drains after my LX until I developed an enormous seroma. My BS put a drain in there in the office (it was painless.)

I had 4 drains after my BMX with no recon. I had 3 in for 7 days, 1 in for 21 days. What a PITA.

Goincrzy8

I had UMX I had 2 drains that drained into one large plastic bottle. It was a PItA, I couldnt sleep in my bed with that thing, so I slept in recliner. I had mine out in 11 days. they do the job, they just are a nuisance

Kicks

One was removed at 10 days, other waz still putting out quite a bit at 4 weeks but Surgeon removed it anyway as he thought it waz causing 'irritation' was why it was still draining so much. Developex a 'good' sized seroma that was still 6 cm 11 weeks later.

GAMomma

I see the doc tomorrow. I know 1 will be removed. It is putting out very little and it's pinky clear. These other 2 will be my friend for a while 😢 I'm still putting out dark blood and a good amount. Just wanting them gone,but I must have patience.

Thanks Ladies!!!

MrsMC

I'm on week 4 with one drain left, and it's still averaging 50mls per day! My Dr has put me on another antibiotic, so taking two types. I have an inflater implant after a mastectomy on 18th Jan. Im having procedures in France so language barrier is hard! After reading other peoples experiences, It's possible to have drains for weeks!! My questions is why is its still draining? Am I doing too much, to cause this, i.e.. walking, carrying (nothing too heavy), moving, reaching, bending etc. Or that may be a silly question!!

GAMomma

I don't think anything is a silly question 💞

My guess about drainage is your body is just slow. I will say this.. I had my drains removed and it's been a mini nightmare. I have fluid building up still and it's getting drained a few days a week..no fun at all. It actually hurt more after the drains came out for me,due to the pressure from the fluid build up. Which is mostly all old blood. So as much as I wanted my drains gone,it was probably too soon 😑

coachvicky

MrsMC

My Plastic Surgeon insists that I keel my arms down and tight to my sides. No lifting. No stretching. My implant surgery was 20 January and the only movement I have with my arms up is to shampoo my hair.

I don't know how much you are moving. I am just sharing what I was told to do.

Best wishes.

Coach Vicky

GAMomma

glad you said that Coach Vicky.. I forgot last week when I saw my doctor he said let's go backwards for a litlebit. I was doing well and healing good,then the fluid issue. He felt going backwards in movement may help. To be honest he was right. It is helping. I still have fluid gathering but it's not as bad,or as painful.

Luckynumber47

Even though I only had my drains in for a week they really creeped me out and one side really hurt. I don't know if it was where they put in the stitch to hold it of if the tape was pulling my skin but it hurt. Now there's a reddish scar there but no scar on the other side.

My opinion is everyone will have a part of their surgery that was really hard for them. For me it was that one darned drain.

LAstar

If the area gets too full, it will need to be aspirated. Not too painful, but not too fun either. You don't want too much fluid to build up and open the incision.

BellasMomToo

Roughly what are the dimensions of the drain bottles? How long are the tubes?

I'm having a mastectomy at the end of March. I saw a belt to hold drains in the tlcdirect catalog. It looks pretty easy to make, but I need the dimensions of the bottles.

Thanks!

GAMomma

my drains were about the size of an avocado? Maybe a little smaller. Now my drain tubes were long. if I let them hang they nearly my knees,but I'm super short. My tires is little also,so I may be the odd one here.

I had this small apron like wrap that I tied around my waist and put my drains in them to walk around with. I will be able to use it for gardening or something.. that may never happen..lol

MrsMC

Thank you GAmomma, I'm going back today but was still 50mls this morning, so guessing I'm going to have my drain a bit longer!

MrsMC

Thank you coachvicky, i will try and slow down on my arm movements and see if that helps slow the drains.

MTwoman

BellasMom, I didn't buy any specific belt, but used a small carabiner to attach the bottle to my belt loop (all nicely hidden underneath a baggy sweater). Mine was about avocado sized as well. good luck!

BellasMomToo

Thanks for the replies on the drain sizes. I plan to buy a wide piece of elastic, and sew velcro on it. I'll size it so I can wear it on my lower ribs, waist or hips. (In case I get long or shorter tubes.) Then I'll sew fabric pouches (large enough for an avocado) and attach it to the belt with velcro.

The tip on using carabiners is a good one! I'll try that when I wear something with belt loops.

SpecialK

Just an FYI - be extremely attentive if you attach drains to belt loops - you may forget when taking off your pants and end up pulling on the drain tubing. The JP drains have a plastic loop at the top which can accommodate a large safety pin, and I pinned my drains to my shirt seam to avoid the pants debacle, lol!

bellasmom - you may be able to skip the pocket if you want to and attach a Velcro loop to your belt that goes through the plastic at the top of the drain. Here is a visual of a JP drain so you can see the loop that the drain is hanging by. Also, some surgeons will put you in a camisole post-surgically (you may wake up from surgery in it) that has drain holders built in. This is what my surgeon did, but I turned out to be allergic to the fabric, so could not wear it.

MTwoman

I was not nearly as stylish as that! lolol Not sure these were available when I needed them Looks like a great idea.

GAMomma

yes very stylish.. odd for me though because my drain exits were mid stomach,not at my breasts. I got a post op camisol from this organization that does wigs and stuff. But I still cannot wear it because the top of my ribs/lower breast area is still so tender. I almost feel like my ribs are being pushed apart. It's getting better but the elestatic of the camisol is very thick there for good support and for the cotton prosthetic.

MTwoman

Sorry you're still so tender GAMomma! Hope you're feeling better every day.

kalenji

I had UMX with one drain. It was out after about 4 days. My surgeon told me he would try out a fibrin sealant (Artiss) on me during the surgery to see if it could reduce seroma. I guess it worked on me. I had low fluid output after surgery. Still, I had to carry a huge drain bottle, cos that's what he gave to all his patients.

I bought a pouch to hold the drain. It has a sling which can go over the shoulder or be used as a waist belt. I also placed a hook (for hanging handbag) on a table next to my bed, where I would hang the drain when I rest on the bed. For the drain tube, I just wound it up and tape it onto my shirt or pants using a masking tape, so that it wouldn't be all over the place.

PNWBCHgirl

my binder was like a tube top that came together with Velcro . It had loops on it to attach drain with safety pin through the loop on Jp drain. The tube top like binder was made out of cotton and lined with a soft knit. They put gauze on my breasts it was very easy to take care of and wasn't too uncomfortable.

Mastiffmom

Getting ready to go back next week for the third round of drains! Has anyone else had this happen? And did you get a better outcome the third time? (I need some hope !) My MX was in Dec. Had drains in for 5 1/2 weeks. Then after a week or so after being removed, fluid began to build-up again. I needed to go in for aspiration twice a week. Kept that up for about a month, with no improvement. So second drains put in and only stayed in for a week and half. Output was down so thought all was OK. Now, back to the same thing. Filled with fluid which is uncomfortable and I feel pressure throughout the side of chest. BS said we can try one more time if I want to. I guess I have nothing to loose, right??

Moderators

Hi Mastiffmom-

Welcome to BCO! We're sorry to hear you're dealing with this. Hopefully the third time is the charm! You might also want to check out our surgery forum, lots of good info there on recovery after surgery: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/91.

The Mods

GAMomma

Mastiffmom

Define better.. no pain.less swelling? No and no. I cannot wear normal going. The pressure from a bra is maddening. I were an ace bandage all day. I was rd.pressure would help. But I feel like I'm being g crushed.. sick of feeling shitty.

Maimai

Hi, dear Mastiffmom,

How do you feel now? I am having similar situation, i.e. 5 months after surgery, I still need drain (JP drain was put in last week after 4 aspirations). But the fluid is old blood. Why? after so long? I am concerned. Anyone else has similar issue? thanks.

MM

aweate

I am about a week out and mine are slowing down. I anticipate 10 to 14 days. Hoping for 10 but won't push it because I do not want a seroma. Those are much worse. Bilateral mastectomy no reconstruction.