JP drains for HOW LONG? Seriously?!

The hazard with leaving them in too long is the possiblilty of ascending infection. You would notice this straight away - local symptoms red hot tender etc, if not treated then systemic problems fever headache nausea confusion...and it can be treated with antibiotics. The potential problem with taking them however out if fluid is still being produced, is that you could get seroma which very much raises your risk for lymphoedema. My BS said, after two weeks and out they come, ready or not and Hey Presto, i got a seroma, now I got LE. Be patient!

I didnt read if you have implants in or a reconstruction either planned or in progress already. You have had all the cancershock stuff as well as major disfiguring surgery and I can hear your frustration, wanting to get going again, get quit of those appendages and get your life back. But say again, be patient. Good luck.

My drains were removed by the nurse who did my home care. The PS had ordered them removed when my output was either under 30 or under 20 per side per day (can't remember) for two consecutive days. Only my first two days were above 25, then dropped to around 18 and then very quickly dropped to barely anything. I guess different places handle things differently but I didn't have to wait for a doctor to remove my drains.

Although, IMO, at 20-24 per day, you might want to leave them in longer. The more fluid that drains, the better. I don't think I'd be comfortable removing them yet at 20/24 even though it's been a couple of weeks. I have no idea why some people have large outputs for weeks post op while others like myself have barely any drainage after the first few days.

I remember when the homecare nurse said she would be removing them I tried to convince her to leave them in for a few days because I was afraid I might end up with lymphedema. She said she had to follow the PS orders and they were coming out the next day. So that night I kept squeezing and squishing the area trying to ensure all that should be drained, was in fact drained.

Stupid move. I started bleeding from the drain site . . . lots and lots of bleeding. DH called an ambulance (we live in a very small town and since they rarely get called they were quite happy to come over to take a peek).

They changed the bandages, spent an hour with me to make sure the bleeding had stopped and then spent another 30 minutes privately talking to DH asking him how he was doing, how he was handling being the caregiver, and how he was handling things emotionally. We were both moved by their thoughtfulness.

I had my last two drains in for (6) weeks.  Every morning I would pray that the cc's would be minimal and every day they weren't  My PS kept telling me to remember that the more fluid that I could get out the better off I would be.  He was right but it was so frustrating. 

I would take a deep breath and try to relax.  The key is to keep the drain area near your chest clean and make sure you can move the tubing.  You want to try and keep the skin from fusing to the drain tube.  Otherwise, those drains are doing what you want - getting that fluid out and not creating swelling inside which could lead to infection.

Good luck!

I so needed this post--thanks jadeblue.  I am an rn, so I understand the why, but it is so frustrating.  I had two taken out today and think a third will be out Thursday, but one of them keeps draining quite a lot.  I don't want to keep it, but thanks for the reminder as to why I need to.  If they say I can shower with it, I will deal better.  The one that keeps draining is on the cancer side that had had the core biopsy and the incision on that side is larger and more jagged and swollen.  Maybe it just needs longer to heal more.  I will try to be patient--but it is hard!

Rennasus, 4 months oweee! ((((hugs!)))

I had one drain removed at 10 days and the othe one the next day.For some strange reason the actual drains didn't bither me very much but I'm having one hell of a time with the tissue expanders.I hate them.The're hard and lumpy they cause me to lean forward when i walk and I yet to have a fill done. I had one done in the OR but so far that's it. I'm 3 weeks post-op today and I see the PS again next week so I'm thinking that he;s going to do something then. I've already decided that I want to go even smaller than i first said just to get these things out sooner!

jadeblue - it is perfectly acceptable to question your physician's decision making. Ask him to share the reason for the wait until you are clear of his thought processes and medical necessity. (I am a physician and don't say this lightly.) I go to every visit with a list of questions, which are usually answered before I ask them, but if not, I pull out my list. It's our bodies. The standard of medical practice is to share with patients why decisions are being made and if options are available to share in the decision making.



No one wants a seroma or LE, but no one wants the risk of infection from leaving in foreign bodies (drains) too long or the decreased quality of life that goes with dealing with 4 damn drains. I will be lucky to get mine out next week, which will be 12 days post-op. Just amazed at the ebb and flow of drainage.

DocBabs - I had 300cc put in each TE at the time of surgery and curse mine also! At least I'm thinking that I am already halfway there, but dang are they uncomfortable (an understatement)

Juliebell: I'm a little worrried about you waiting so long to get treated. Perhaps you could be seen at a walk-in clinic for lower cost. Was bacitracin or another antibiotic ointment suggested? You can get that without prescription.

I would hate for the infection to spread. If you tell the doctor on call about your financial situation maybe he would phone your pharmacy with an order, at least enough for the weekend and you could promise to see your regular surgeon Monday. Of course, they might want a culture also... 

Hey Jade....I'm a MONTH Post op today.......and I still have a drain in each side.  My PS wanted to take them out and I said NO...I am planning on leaving them in until they are under 10 ccs.  He got really ticked.  I keep them clean, put Muprocin (a prescription antibiotic ointment) on them, and when they get painful, I put a prescription lidocaine ointment on the opening .

DO NOT take them out early.  Don't win a battle only to lose the war.  We've come too far. Remember, too, that once the plastics guys are done with you, they don't have to care for your lymphedema or consequences of fluid buildup....so they don't really care.  Take your time...let them dry out.  You'll (and I'll) be glad we did.

Jade - in response to your question about going to work with drains - I've had a total of 12 drains with all my surgeries, and I have gone to work with drains after a couple of surgeries.  I just wore a loose top and/or a hoodie, and pinned the drains to the inside.  My workplace is casual, so no one really cared. 

My surgeons always let me shower as soon as I came home from the hospital even with drains in, fortunately.  I just tied a shoelace around my neck and threaded that plastic loop on the top of the drain through the shoelace.  The surgeons said not to soap and water the drain sites and incisions directly, but if soap and water ran over those areas during my shower that was OK.  And I was to pat the area dry gently.  I used antibacterial soap during that time, and had no problems with infections.  

It's like heaven to finally be free when they take those drains out, isn't it?  

had my drain taken out yesterday at the er. Was infected and they gave me antibiotics. It had been putting out 20 ccs for 3 days. Can not tell you how relieved i am to have that thing out! I felt better immedietly! I have just a slight amount of fluid build up, but nothing i dont think my body will absorb. Its a personal choice, but i now I am so happy to have those things out. Today was 2 weeks post op!

ok ladies, a happy as i am to have those drains out, tonight had some leakage through incision from build up of fluid. Small amount, but nervous, as it was the incision part that looke GOOD, and was healing! have appt tomorrow with family er for something different. Hope she can tell me this is normal!