JP drains for HOW LONG? Seriously?!

Love the juice progression. Very appropriate & descriptive.

Jadeblue, Kotex and I have a long and humorous history. When I was 8 or 9, waiting in a ladies room for my mom to finish helping one of my three younger siblings, I distinctly remember seeing a dispensing machine on the wall and making the comment "Well, I wouldn't pay 10 cents for a napkin, even if it was sanitary"! Health class was still a couple years away (it was the mid-60's)... 

Hi,

I have had lumpectomy and 15 of lymphs taken. My BS was known to let drains inserted for long. I kept my axillaries drains for three weeks, I fixed my receptacle about waist under dress it was uncomfortable, but I didn't get lymphedema!

Best Usha

Everyone is different boy is that the truth!  I had one on each side and the right side was still producing 75cc's daily after 8 weeks!  I was out of my mind as this I found the worst part.  The stitch that held the drain in broke on right side went to er and it was removed as I had no choice.  Everything was fine on the right side.  My left side however was in for almost 3 months and when I went in for surgery to replace the shifted expander I went in with the original drain in and then came out with a new one.  The new one stayed in until I had a steady 75cc's daily and two weeks later had an incision infection. URGH.  I know people that had them in for only a few days.  So everyone is different.  One thing I found to be the most helpful was I asked a good friend to sew pockets inside a bunch of tee shirts 6x6 inches towards the waist line sewed side seam in to middle leaving top open.  This was the only thing that kepy my sanity.  I was able to put the JP drains into the pockets and then put a sweater over the tee shirt and feel somewhat normal.  The drain line was able to curl up and also go into the pocket.  They were easy to pull up the bottom of the shirt to empty the drains and made moving around very easy.

virtual - well my right drain hole is leaking like a sieve (although slowing down). Guess it's better than a seroma. That is the side my SNB was on. My left side was leaking until this morning. Seeing PS tomorrow. He was adamant about removing the drains as he felt the risk of infection from leaving them in was too great, and that in his 20+ years of experience many women with large chests will have output >30 cc for weeks. He said it was time for my body to start reabsorbing the fluid. Being a physician myself, we had a "vigorous" discussion about risks and benefits. There was no easy answer, so I went with his experience and am hopeful my body will start behaving! He also has continued inflation of TEs hoping that expansion would slow down output.

 I know seromas are a frequent complication of mastectomy, but I already have had one complication requiring another surgery and would rather be like many of the women who sail through with no problems. (Wish I could win the lottery also!)

I use a thick, sterile 4x4 with antibiotic ointment, paper tape, then a pad taped to the inside of my "wife-beater" t-shirt to catch any overflow, which hasn't happened yet. I had to change dressings about every 2-3 hours while awake the first day, then only about 3 times a day. But when I was changing, I would gently nudge around (have a lot of excess skin left over for final implants) and once squirted the mirror! Now I just dribble a bit when changing dressings and put a paper towel in my pants to catch any overflow - oh, and I must shut the bathroom door, the dogs are most interested in how I smell. So it's clean up bathroom with Clorox wipes and me with alcohol!

I have been very inactive at the doc's suggestion (except using the computer). No difference between daytime and night time fluid output - just like when I had my drains in. The body is an amazing creation, and most of ours' refuse to play by the rules!

I seem to remember less output with lower activity level, during the day anyway. Then decided it was better not to be too lazy! Held off on arm exercises until everything "dried up"...

theatercat, if it's red hot you should call your doc - it might be an infection & you don't want to fool around with that.

Best of luck.

Leah

Just had 50 cc drained from right chest near axilla. Not too bad considering this is 8 days after my last 2 drains were removed, and I was producing 50 cc+/day. Hoping my lymphatic system picks up the pace!

Hi - sorry you have had such discomfort! I know how awful drains are - had them twice  - after my bilat MX and then after a 2nd reconstruction. Longest stretch was 14 days. My twin had a bilat MX (prophylactic) after being a BC survivor for 7 years (we are BRAC1+) and she had hers for 3 weeks. My neighbor's mother, however, had 2 drains for just over 2 months. That is the longest I have heard. You can see how I solved the drain problem at my site: www.pink-pockets.com.  They really take the edge off those drains. I know because I have heard from all over the country that have used them. I did too. Best to you - hang in there!

I had 4 drains.  Two removed one week out and the other two at two weeks.  My PS told me she always removes at 2 weeks from experience of drain site infection, etc.  It really is a balance of risks.  I am now 5 weeks out and have some fluid build up on both sides--the side with the most build up was actually less than 20cc output when drain was pulled.  My PS sent me back to my BS for evaluation and possible aspiration a couple of weeks ago.  He told me the risk of infection from the aspiration was higher than the risk of leaving the fluid there so I have started fills thinking that would help the fluid reabsorb.  I can say that I am much more comfortable and I think the fluid is less since I started fills.  No signs of infection and I am back to exercising regularly cardio, yoga and very light weights (3 lbs).  This isn't a new exercise routine--just a return to almost pre surgical levels.  I am kinder to myself and resting more.

Would the seroma appear at the drain incision site or elsewhere? I have been at 25/25 for the past few days, and had drains removed today - 8 days after surgery. I am panicking - maybe that's too soon. I am double MX with TE's, btw. My armpits, underside of arms, and sides of torso have been particularly achy the past several days. Am I setting myself up for lymphedema?

jyg wrote:

virtual - if you get a seroma, you will know it by a new formation of fluid just under your skin. Just keep a watch on yourself. Don't know if LE exercises help but keeping your arm motions to a minimum is supposed to help - didn't with me. I would avoid anything repetitive involving your pec/chest area and don't use weights. 

I finally stopped collecting fluid - well, enough that was worth draining. Got another 125 cc of saline on each side (wowser am I huge and sore). No more room for fluid. I hope...



Down to one final fill in 3 weeks then the 6-week wait, which would put exchange during our 20th anniversary trip to Hawaii. Soooo, I will be sporting these ridiculous melons on the beach then surgery after vacay.

Hi. I'm Judy. I had a double mastectomy/tissue expanders on 3/18, and the drains are still in, producing 50-60 ml a day. So frustrating.  But, we don't want a seroma.  I have gone back to work a couple of times - each time the drainage went way up.  I am taking super great care of the drain sites and they are fine, except one stitch pulls, but I found a way to tape the tube below the drain site to hold it where it doesn't pull. I have found I can wear jeans and fit the drains in the pockets to make them less noticeable. Otherwise I safety pin them to the top of my pants.  Trouble (for going back to work - I am a professor) is finding a top that is work- and weather-appropriate, and long enough to cover the drains.

Two days ago I went to work for the morning, and did nothing but sit, talk, and walk a little. Drain output increased 20 ml on one side.  I called the PS nurse, who said, "You know what I am going to tell you, right?" I said, "Rest?", and she said yes, if I want the drains to come out, like, ever.  She also said "You need to wear something tight," so now instead of the surgical cami or a comfy sports bra, and am swathed is a super-tight cami and a tight sports bra.  That information would have been useful, say, three weeks ago.  We'll see tomorrow if it helps, but I am STILL going to work tomorrow because I have told everyone I am going to do my two lectures tomorrow!

So hard to sit when there is so much to do!

I just finished week 7 with my drain. Feeling this will never end. Now I have to travel to Asia for work in two weeks and it appears the drain will get frequent flyer miles with me. How can I get these numbers down. Still around 40cc

Hi Pam:

Please contact your surgeon(s), and inquire whether or not you should be concerned about the length of time and volume of fluid output, including whether it might possibly be a sign of some infection.

Ask what is the typical time for having drains removed in patients undergoing the procedures you received, and if you are outside the norm, what might that indicate and do they need to be removed at some point?

Please also alert them to your upcoming travel plans, and inquire whether international travel is advisable for you if the drains are still in.

Did you have any lymph nodes removed, and if so, have you done some reading on risk of lymphedema, self-care and precautions?

BarredOwl