Question about mastectomy care in Ont.

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CancerSchmancer
CancerSchmancer Member Posts: 25
edited June 2014 in Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer

Hello ladies,

I was wondering if there is anyone here from Ontario who had home nursing care after having a mastectomy?  I had a mastectomy a week ago Wed and still have the drain.  I was wondering how frequently most people have a home visit from a nurse while they have their drain?  I haven't seen a nurse in a couple of days and won't be seeing one over the weekend either... I was just curious if this was about normal..

 Thanks ladies :-)

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited August 2008

    Oh, that's not right.  I was told that the home care nurse is supposed to see you every day until the drain comes out.  And that is the level of service I got.  Every day, including weekends.  And on her day off, another nurse came instead.

    In my case, it was the home care nurse who removed the drain.  That was great, because together we decided to leave it in an extra day (after the drainage had reached the minimum levels), just to be on the safe side.  And it was so nice that I didn't have to travel down to my PS to get the drain removed.  It was done right in my bathroom.  I loved having the daily visits because it gave me a chance to ask about anything going on post-op that seemed strange (like my grossly swollen ankles).

    At the first session, did you get a piece of paper with the contact info for the company that your home care nurse works for?  OHIP pays, but the work is contracted out to private companies.  You should have the info on which company is handling your service; if you do, you should call them.  If you don't, you should contact the hospital where you had your mastectomy to find out which company they work with.   

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  • Caya
    Caya Member Posts: 971
    edited August 2008

    I had the home nurse everyday as well, including weekends (and Xmas day too)  Beesie is right, contact the company that contracts the nurses or call your breast surgeon's office. 

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  • Sierra
    Sierra Member Posts: 1,638
    edited August 2008

    Goodness me..

    I would think a nurse .. should be coming

    I had a lumpectomy and had nurse come

    to help me out and also with the staples

    Get on to your doctor

    and see what he can do

    or call Willow... or

    I meant to say: 

    Wellspring..  

    Keep after them..

    Sending out a hug for you

    Sierra

    PS   I was connected to Interlink

    you can call them as well

    Interlink Nurses

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  • mke
    mke Member Posts: 584
    edited August 2008

    I really don't remember exactly but I'm sure it was every day for the first week or so and after that it might have skipped a day now and then (I had drains in for a long time).

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  • sunshine2003
    sunshine2003 Member Posts: 77
    edited August 2008

    definitely everyday until the drain came out - which I think was a week or so.

    Janet 

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  • HeatherBLocklear
    HeatherBLocklear Member Posts: 1,370
    edited August 2008

    Good grief, I want to move to Canada! I wouldn't be suprised to find out I have to remove my own drain (only partially joking).

    Annie

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2008

    Everyday. This was set up through the surgeon and hospital the day of my surgery. I recieved a call from the homecare agencey a few hours after my return home. They did all the dressing changes, stripped the drains and removed the drain. Nice perk to being in Canada eh?

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  • CancerSchmancer
    CancerSchmancer Member Posts: 25
    edited August 2008

    Thanks Ladies.  I phoned my clinical nurse today and she told me the same.  It has been 5 days since I've seen a nurse and I still have the drain!  They haven't even phoned.  I phoned VON and they are FOR SURE sending someone tomorrow.  I'm quite surprise that they could have let me slip of the radar like that.  I hope there's nothing that could have gone wrong with not having a nurse check my drain for so long.

    Thanks again, ladies :-)

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  • DFOnt
    DFOnt Member Posts: 145
    edited August 2008

    That's strange. I'm in Ontario and had a VON nurse come every day, including weekends, until the drains were out, then a couple of days after.

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  • BMac
    BMac Member Posts: 650
    edited August 2008

    I had a nurse everyday for about a week.  Unfortunately she took the drains out way to early (day 3!) and I suffered because of her ineptness. 

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