Tell me about caring for the post-mx drains

I had only one drain.  The nurses took care of it in the hospital.  Then showed me how to empty it, measure the output, write it all down. I went home about 24hrs after surgery and handled the drains just fine myself.  Some are a bit squeamish and get hubby or visiting nurse or friend to help, but it's really no big deal. Everyone is different.  Mine was draining just a little bit after 4-5 days and got it out at one week.  But have heard others say they had them in for weeks.  Guess you never know.  I got a post-mastectomy camisole that had pockets for drains, very handy, wore that under a loose shirt and went out in public without feeling self-conscious.  For at home just safety-pinned it to a cheap tank top undershirt.  

I originally thought the BS had said no shower until drain was out.  But on about day 4 when I was having a meltdown feeling so yucky, I called them and they said go ahead.  Just put a ribbon around my neck, pinned the drain to it, and carefully showered. It felt sooooo good!!

Some have said that it hurt a little when the drain was removed, but I didn't feel a thing when mine was pulled out.  Except relief!  Ha!

Cecilia:  My friend helped me the first day, but after that I did it myself. It's not hurt. It's just kinda yucky thinking about the tubing stuck in your body.  My BS lets you shower the next day, but some don't, so we sure to check.  Walgreens has great adult type body wash wipes that feel really good. Not as good as a shower, but still pretty darn good. They are by the medical supply area. I used those the first day until I felt strong enough to climb into the shower. Borrowed a shower chair from a friend so I could sit in there.   I had a post mastectomy camisole to hold the drain. It has interior pockets. Home Depot has these little tool belts with pockets that you can tie around your waist. I got that for a male friend with BC to hold his drains. It's uncomfortable if they just dangle,, I don't recommend that.  Using a lanyard or long ribbon, you can tie around your neck for showers. Or the sash from your old bathrobe, which is what I had to use!!

I was worried about removal, but it didn't hurt at all. Just a slighly weird pulling sensation that was over very quickly.

This is a link to the camisole I bought. Since you are having BMX, you will have at least two drains. This has two pockets. The Home Depot tool belt has 3,,, which worked well for my male friend cuz he had 3 drains.  I recommend this cami in particular as it velcros up the front. Others do not,, and you can step in them (you won't be able to put anything on over your head for a while,  have some button up shirts) and I had one of those too,, but I didn't like it nearly as much as the velcro ones.  The opening made it so much easier for me to take care of the drains without having to remove or lift the other cami.

https://www.tlcdirect.org/Post-Surgery-Mastectomy-Camisole-Bra-American-Cancer-Society-TLC-Direct?did=65

I woke up from surgery wearing a mastectomy camisole with drain pockets so it might be a good idea to ask your surgeon if this will be the case for you.  If I had purchased one I would not have needed it, and because it was used by the hospital it was covered by my insurance.  I usually pinned my drains to the side seams of my shirt, or tucked them into my tank.  I had no problem stripping them myself, but if you do, I recommend using an alcohol wipe folded over the tubing - it makes it easier to slide your fingers along the tubing to strip the drains.  I was allowed to shower as soon as I got home from BMX surgery, but if you are not I recommend installing a hand-held shower head prior to surgery because you can get clean while keeping your chest area dry.  I used a clean shoelace to string the drains by their loops and wore it like a necklace around my neck.  You can also use a length of rolled up plastic wrap, and then dispose of it after each shower.  I used plastic wrap to protect the chest during times when I was asked to delay showering (I have had drains multiple times) so that I could use the hand-held shower but keep my chest dry.  I also found that using a piece of tape to tape the drain to my skin at the exit helped with avoiding discomfort from accidental pulling.  Here is a video that shows caring for JP drains - it is a demo, there is not a patient.  Also a couple of links for other useful drain products.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNFtsGa_f6w

CureDiva has the pink pockets but I had trouble with the link.  I think you can get to it from BCO though.

http://www.pink-pockets.com/en/buy-now/

I did not use this but I know others have used this type of belt.

http://www.happychemo.com/partners/mastectomy-surgical-drain-belt/

There is also a really nice belt that you can order with different pocket options, and you can wear it in the shower, wash and dry it.  www.marsupialpouch.com.   It's a thick terrycloth like a spa robe, and you can wear it over or under clothing.  Has a really big velcro closure and doesn't pinch or bind, and you can tuck any extra tubing in there too.

Ask your doctor or nurse if they have a drain stripper to give you - it is a little plastic doohickey that helps you strip the drains so all of the stuff goes into the drain.  Or just do the pinching down the drain tube so you get all of the drainage.

My experience is almost the same as NatsFan's--eight or nine drains in the last couple of years.  For showering, I got a longish piece of narrow grosgrain ribbon--a shoelace would work fine--and tied a knot in it to make a re-usable "necklace."  Then I pinned all the drains to it.  When you shower the first couple of times, be sure to put a shower chair, a plastic lawn chair, or a plastic stool in there with you, so you can sit down if the hot water makes you dizzy. 

Stripping the drains involves running your fingers or a plastic thingy down the tubing to break up clots and keep the drainage moving down into the drain.  What works best is an alcohol wipe from the hospital.  Fold it around the drain tube, squeeze the tubing through the wipe, and zip your fingers down the tubing.  The alcohol makes it so your fingers slide easily.  Be sure to use one hand to firmly hold the tubing while you strip it--you don't want to accidentally yank it, that would sting.  A lot.

Drains are emptied at least once or twice a day, and more frequently if needed.  The only thing you'll really feel is the suture in the skin that's holding it in place.  It pulls and pinches a bit, just like you'd expect.  But it's an annoyance, not a huge deal.

After the DIEP with the four drains, my husby was in data heaven.  He took charge of everything--stripping, dumping, writing a database to record the output.  I had to laugh, because it would have been no problem to do it myself, but it made him feel involved, so I sat back and was pampered. 

When I had just one drain, I pinned it to the waistband of my pants or slid it into my pocket.  After the DIEP reconstruction I had four, and carted them about in a small hip-pack.  They're small enough to hide under loose clothing.  I went to work at my desk several times while still sporting a drain, and no big deal.

The removal is no big deal.  Take a deep breath and out it slides.  Snipping the suture is what pinches, and that doesn't take long.

Best of luck with your surgery and just know that you have a huge team cheering for you!