Drain removal

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mudd
mudd Member Posts: 94
edited November 2017 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hopefully I'll be able to have to drains removed this week. I had a bilateral mx with no reconstruction and not draining that much. Can someone explain what happens after the drains are removed? Do they stitch the hole? Does it ooze, what are the restrictions . I read everything about drains before I had surgery but there's very little info on what happens after they a re removed. Thanks for all your help. Still don't know the whole pathology but the dr. said they only removed one node and it was negative.

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited November 2017

    mudd, when they removed my drains, they put some gauze padding and a bandage over the area. No stitch. It healed up pretty quickly. I did end up with an adhesion, so I'd ask if you should massage the area, and the timing on that (don't want to open it up again by doing it too soon).

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2017

    When my drains were removed, a bandaid was put over the site - no suture. They (2) were removed about 2 weeks apart as 1 had slowed drainage drastically so it came out but other 1 was still draining quite a bit. When the 2nd was removed it was still draining a 'fair' bit 4 weeks post op and Surgeon thought that 'it' might be causing 'irritation' so he took it out. Unfortunately, it should have remained in a bit longer as a large seroma developed. Just a bandaide put over it when removed.

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  • mudd
    mudd Member Posts: 94
    edited November 2017

    I posted this under PAIN. Guess I should have continued here so I'll repost.

    I just had my JP drains removed by the plastic surgeon about one week after bilateral mx without reconstruction. what should I expect now? They didn't really tell me very detailed instructions except not to lift anything yet and to go back next week for them to check the site. What is the expected activity level after the drains have been removed? Still very scared to do anything and very anxious until I see the breast surgeon for the full pathology.
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  • Icietla
    Icietla Member Posts: 1,265
    edited November 2017

    Hi Mudd. Now take it easy. Do not lift your elbows to above shoulder level until your Surgeon directs you to try that. Your altered lymphatic system is still working out how it will manage lymph flow.

    So rest. It will help you heal.

    It was at my next checkup after my drains removal -- I think (?) a week or two after my drains removal -- that I was told I could start some simple specified exercises, subject to pain telling me not to, to recover my very limited arm use.

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