BiLat in a week, question about drains?

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BulldogluvrBeck
BulldogluvrBeck Member Posts: 41
edited June 2014 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

I will be having a bilat mx a week from today. Yikes!

I am trying to stay focused and calm. (yeah right)

My question is about the drains. Sounds like I will have 4 of them. How do you walk around with these things?

Thanks for all the advise I have received here. It has truly given me knowledge and insight.

Beck 

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  • mke
    mke Member Posts: 584
    edited February 2010

    Yes you can walk around with all of them.  I used safety pins and pinned them to a shirt.  Don't pin them to your pants, you might forget and pull your pants down and that would tug on the drain.  4 drains sounds awful, but it really isn't so bad, you will get rid of a couple of them fairly quickly and then there will probably be one stubborn one.  You do have to be a bit careful with the bookkeeping so you are sure reording each drains output accurately.

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  • stlrepke
    stlrepke Member Posts: 34
    edited February 2010

    I also had 4 drains and would pin mine to my surgical bra. They sucked and I didn't really go anywhere while I had them. I had two taken out after two weeks and then had to go another week before I got the other two out. I saw they have some cami's that have pockets made for specifically for the drains, I didn't see these until after my surgery but I will probably invest in some when I do my reconstruction surgeries.

    You'll get through it, they suck but hopefully you'll only have them in for a short period of time.

    Take care.

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  • kellyrs
    kellyrs Member Posts: 21
    edited February 2010

    Still carrying around my third (and last) drain after 3 weeks. I have a little cloth bag for the drain that I sling diagonally over my shoulder and I wear it night and day (obviously). But at night, cos I get sick of wearing it on my body, I put it beside me in bed and pin the strap of the bag to my nightshirt. That way I feel more 'free' as I sleep, but when I get up to go to the bathroom I don't forget to take the stupid thing with me! I haven't let it stop me doing anything. I wear a long tunic over the bag and I guess it sticks out of the bottom a bit but hopefully doesn't show too much. I have been out for dinner wearing my bag. I tried to accessorize it too - it's a bright orange bag and I stuck a brooch with blue glittery rhinestones on it. I call it my Tangerine Dream...

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  • JAT
    JAT Member Posts: 81
    edited February 2010

    I bought a camisole at Nordstroms (they have a whole line of items for breast cancer patients)-- it had pockets for the drains-- some specialty stores have them as well and some insurance companies reimburse you for the shirt. It really helped, and I wore the camisole to my dr's apptmts after the surgery with a zipped hoodie-- made me feel less conspicuous in the waiting room, plus it was comfortable. I'll confess, I had to have my husband empty the drains and measure the amounts emptied each time because I was squeamish, and showering was a little awkward but manageable.  Once you get the all-clear from your dr. after the drains come out, start doing your exercises-- helps prevent frozen shoulder and regain range of motion (I prepared my bedroom before the surgery by putting all of clothes and necessities, robe, towels, etc, no higher than my waist because I couldn't lift my arm.  My drains came out after just 7 days, but it can take  from 1-3 weeks. .-- JAT

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  • kle
    kle Member Posts: 317
    edited February 2010

    I used a fanny pack, and just zipped the drains in..worked like a charm.  I even sometimes slept w/ the fanny pack on ..because it was so easy.  Good luck

    kle  

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  • Melinda41
    Melinda41 Member Posts: 672
    edited February 2010

    My drains had belt loops, I just wore a belt around my waist and wore a pouffy top so you couldn't see the bulge. Just don't fasten them to your pants, like someone mentioned, you don't want to pull on them when you go to the bathroom.

     

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  • hipchik47
    hipchik47 Member Posts: 268
    edited February 2010

    I got a cami in the hospital after the surgery, so u might want to check to see if they give u one.  I wish I had 2 cams cuz I wore it constantly day and nite.  When I washed the cami I had a small fanny pack.  I liked that too.  You can get the camis on line.  They are called Softees, or brand name is Softee.  I wore them after my drains were out too because they were soft and my skin was sensitive.  Make sure u leave the drains in till u  get to the required amount of fluid per day output.. That might prevent u from getting a seroma which is a fluid build up post surgery.

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  • lvtwoqlt
    lvtwoqlt Member Posts: 6,162
    edited February 2010

    The cancer center gave me 2 camisoles and 4 knit bags with satin ribbon straps (they called sally bags) to hang around my neck. I would wear either the camisole or the sally bag.  I could get 2 drains in each bag, they gave me a second set to wear while I was washing one set. If you sew the sally bags would be easily made with an old t-shirt, cut rectangle aprox 6 x 16 in, fold in half (to 6x8), sew up 8 inch sides leaving top open. fold down top about 1/2 inch and sew around. cut a narrow satin ribbon 36 inches long and tack ends on each side of bag (where seams are at). Since it is knit the edges won't unravel.

    Sheila

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  • robinlbe
    robinlbe Member Posts: 585
    edited March 2010

    My hospital gave me a heavy-ribbon-like material that made a necklace (of sorts)....I pinned each drain bulb  (from the loop) to the :"necklace" that was hanging at around my belly button area.

    I had enough of this material for two necklaces....one to wear in the shower, and one that would be dry.  The softee 2 pouch wasn't big enough for all four drains - it only held two. 

    Good luck...blessings.robin

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