Surgery 4 weeks later and still

Suz, you sound depressed and who wouldn't be? You've been through a lot. Have you thought about asking your doctor for something to help you cope with the ongoing stress? A lot of us need a little help with this.

I had drains in after my BMX. Two were in for 4-5 weeks. I also had to have a wound vac on for 7 weeks due to massive tissue loss and a great big open wound on my chest. So lovely. Not. I thought of lose my mind. I became listless, withdrawn, uncommunicative, and irritable . Didn't feel like bathing, jcouldnt sleep, and LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE. Thankfully, my doctor was responsive. She listened to my story and immediately diagnosed me with PTSD. I was able to start some meds which helped a lot.

Suz2016.  I had my drains removed on day 6 because of horrendous pain.  My output on the drains,  #B was like 12, but the #A drain was still putting out around 45 a 24 hour period.  My surgeon said she had no problem taking them out early if I wanted.  That was this past Monday, and I've not had any complications from it. 

Suz, you are soooo not being a baby. This isn't a contest.  You are entitled to feel your feelings. 

Ispy gave you good advice about sleeping propped up. By far, the worst part of my BMX was sleeping on my back with the drains in. They were so uncomfortable and I'm a stomach sleeper to start with, so I had a real hard go of it.  I bought a bed wedge which elevated my head about 7" and used pillows to prop under each arm so I wouldn't accidently roll over during the night.  Not that I was sleeping. I was terribly uncomfortable, in just about every way possible. After 5 nights of not sleeping, I called my doctor and begged her for something to help me sleep. (I have bipolar disorder and the quickest road to mania for me is insomnia.)  Within days I felt better, had more energy, and less depression because I was no longer sleep deprived.

I second her suggestions for hiding the drains. Honestly, layering is the way to go.  You should be able to wear a sleeveless top with a lightweight jacket over it. Just pin your drains up under your arms and no one will notice. Or thread a belt through the loops of the drains and wear then that way.  Necklaces will draw the eye to center and away from the drains under your arms.  That ought to pretty well hide everything.   In the 7 weeks that I wore the wound vac--which is a dressing attached to the wound, with about 6 feet of tubing that goes to a machine about the size of a lunch box--I only had 3 people ask me what it was.  And this thing wasn't quiet either!  I just said I had had some surgery and it was helping with the healing. And then we all moved on. 

Suz, I went through a similar process and when I had expanders exxhanged for permanent implants there were no drains. I am concerned he has been filling your expanders while you were not yet healed enough from mastectomy and this could have contributed to your troubles. Like others have said go to another PS for a second opinion, even if the situation with drains is resolved.

Honestly suz I think it is very rare to have drains after the Exchange surgery (replacing the TEs with the implants). Drains are because, as you said, the body does not like empty spaces; so it sends fluid to fill empty spaces (like when they take breast tissue out, and even when he took out your original augmentation implants, during MX). When the doctor switches the TEs for implants, there shouldn't be any empty space -- it should be an even switch of TE size whatever to implant size whatever (and often they cram a bigger implant in there than the TE size). So no drains needed. It is a much less disruptive surgery than the BMX.

As far as the stamina: OMG I hear you. I had my BMX in July, my Exchange surgery in October, I broke my ankle, and then I ruptured a disc on January 22nd and had surgery to repair that on Feb 16th that they messed up; so I basically have barely moved since last July. I am getting better (next surgery is next Friday if this red spot near my foob goes away) but I have had some nights where I have cried with exhaustion. I don't have advice for you on this, other than taking walks one block farther each day. When do you have to go back to work?

Define "gross".....? smelly, yellow, dischargy or red? That is an infection. You've been in this for seven weeks; at this point, I would get a second opinion at the NCI cancer center nearest you. Most insurance will pay for a second opinion; you can check with your carrier.

Which is why you should get a second opinion.....

40ml is not really a high output. Well not according to my surgeon. So grateful that he doesn't believe in leaving drains in for longer than a week due to the risk of infection. My surgery was on a Friday and the drain come out the following Friday morning. I only had one drain and had no problems with recovery though I didn't have reconstruction. Wishing you well.

Yippee! Crossing my fingers for no accumulation!!

BarredOwl

Suz2016 Tomorrow makes 7 weeks that I had a unilateral mastectomy with latissimus dorsi reconstruction. The drain in my breast came out at 3 weeks, the drain in my back is still there. I am uncomfortable and annoyed. Nothing I do (or don't do) affects the output of the drain. It's still in the 60s. They told me they would pull the drain at 8 weeks regardless but now I'm afraid of what happens. I really need to go back to work so I can save my time off for the next surgery ( implant on the left and reduction and lift on the right). It's hot, its humid and I'm just plain miserable...... I just want to feel normal again. I am happy to see you had your drain pulled. I hope things continue in the right direction for you.