Drains after surgery

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barbiecorn
barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

My surgery was 2/1 and my drains have very little fluid in them...but it is still pinkish red  -going for my dr.'s appt. on Weds.  Does the fluid have to be a straw color before they take out the drains (I read somewhere the fluid turns to a straw color) or is the volume of the liquid that causes whether the drains come out in 7 days which will be my appt. date on Weds.????

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  • kmpod
    kmpod Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    Hi Barbiecom,

    As you heal the fluid will change colour. I liken it to cranberry juice turning to apple juice.

    In my case, the surgeon was looking for drainage volume to be below 20ml for three consecutive days before the drains were removed. One of the drains was in for four weeks and even that didn't prevent me from developing a seroma. :(

     Other surgeons may have other criteria for drain removal. It's a balancing act between risk of infection and the resolution of the drainage.

    Hoping for a speedy recovery for you,

    Kathy 

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  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited February 2012

    Thankyou Kmpod....my two left drains will be below 20 ml for three consecutive days tomorrow...so maybe I will have those removed on weds. and one on the right side left in....but the color is apple juice looking in the tubing but not in the bulb.  What is a seroma??  I am on antibiotics??

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited February 2012

    The doctor will look at the amount of fluid each day, mine wanted it to be under 25 mls, and then he removed the drains. Mine never turned into apple juice, it was alwats red, but the doctor said that didn't matter because it was not much fluid.

    I wish you the very best!! Lots of boards for coping with all of this here!

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  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited February 2012

    Thank you so much crystalphm...I feel better knowing the color doesn't matter that much...the drain under my left arm is sore....I wish you the very best too....so many of us....never knew...never knew how many until my diagnosis right after xmas...it has been a whirlwind of emotions as I am sure you know....it is so helpful to know I can relate with others who understand....(((((hugs)))) Barbiecorn

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  • kmpod
    kmpod Member Posts: 234
    edited February 2012

    A  seroma is a pocket of fluid that develops under the wound site. In my case I'm still having it aspirated by the surgeion four months post-surgically - but, it is slowing down and I'm hoping I'll be done with that soon.

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  • barbiecorn
    barbiecorn Member Posts: 437
    edited February 2012

    thank you.

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  • ivy1054
    ivy1054 Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2012

    I had my bilateral mastectomies done on 1/23/11.  Had my 3 drains removed last Friday, 2/3.  Two of the drains were on my right side, where the tumor was and 29 lymph nodes were removed.  I needed to go back in on 2/6 to have some fluid aspirated as my axillas, under the shoulder blade, and across the incisions were swelling with fluid.  When the surgeon aspirated, I developed a burning into my right neck and into the middle of my back.  It was only temporary, but thinking that it was due to the dr. aspirating too fast, and maybe it irritated a nerve.  Anyone else ever experience this?

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