Must I have tubes?

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affenpinscher
affenpinscher Member Posts: 3
edited August 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

That seems worst than the mastectomy. Do all doctors insist on inserting those?

I'd rather use 'diapers' than have to clean tubes every day and get them removed later.

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  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited August 2015

    after,

    Are you talking about drains?? I was very concerned about them too. 25 yrs ago I was in the hospital for a week after my mx, which was how they did stuff then.. The nurses took care of everything so I never had to deal with them. That's what I was obsessed with last time last year, I thought I'd never be able to deal with a drain myself. A nurse friend showed me what to do and my husband helped me take care of it and it wasn't bad at all. I!d worked myself into quite a state worrying about them. I only had 1 drain. Do you have someone who can help you with that when you go home from the hospital?

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  • Morwenna
    Morwenna Member Posts: 1,063
    edited August 2015

    They are nothing to worry about, truly! Their purpose is to remove fluid that leaks into the area after surgery as a normal reaction. Exterior dressings don't do the trick as the surface wound heals over so the fluid has nowhere to go and can cause a problem if it collects in the tissues.

    Normally the drainage slows down after a few days, and they are usually surprisingly painless to remove. I was most anxious about that, the first time, and was really surprised how little I felt on removal!

    Sometimes they stay in for longer if draining large amounts, but they always come out eventually. You should be shown how to empty it/them and measure the output before you leave hospital. I never needed help with mine.

    I had one at lumpectomy, another at mastectomy, and no less than FOUR at my reconstruction this year. They can be a little uncomfortable if you tug on them accidentally as they are secured by a skin stitch, but really totally manageable!

    Don't worry :)

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2015

    The drains are a closed suction system. They are not just there to absorb fluid leaking through an opening, so a diaper or absorbent material will not do the trick. For most people they're a minor annoyance and you'll be glad when they're removed, but the're easily managed. .

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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited August 2015


    They are annoying, but they are for the best. You want all the excess fluid having a place to go as opposed to being trapped under your skin and causing swelling and a seroma. 

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  • DL3
    DL3 Member Posts: 154
    edited August 2015

    just had my 2 drains removed last Monday (8/10/15) from my mastectomy (uni) surgery 8/3/15 and I had myself all worked up about the removal of them ..however... it wasnt bad. the first one came out and I felt absolutely nothing, the 2nd one when was removed I felt the pull and it was a bit uncomfortable but was over before I knew it.

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  • Unbreakable01
    Unbreakable01 Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2015

    As others have said, a diaper will not collect the fluid since the jp drains are inserted in you. After 1 week, 1 of my tubes was removed. At 2 weeks, the PS wanted to remove the second, but I asked to keep it in one more week. I had a hematoma during surgery and did not want to take the chance of having a seroma.

    The tubes are not bad, and I see them as my friends. It's to ensure that excess liquid drains so you don't have a seroma.

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  • affenpinscher
    affenpinscher Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2015

    Thanks to everyone. I guess I'm overthinking.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited August 2015
    You're welcome! They are called drained, BTW. Best of luck to you.
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