Pull drains at 3 weeks?

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BCSucks1
BCSucks1 Member Posts: 26
edited September 2018 in Breast Reconstruction

I have 2 drains in from surgery to exchange tissue expanders to implants. Despite not moving both sides are stuck at 40. I am supposed to have a cat scan on Tuesday for my radiation plan. They can't do with drains in. I'm also supposed to fly cross country to help my mom who has just been diagnosed with cancer. Should I just pull at 3 weeks or try to reschedule everything?( and probably miss change to visit my mom before radiation happens.)How much of a risk to pulling drains when still at 40 cc

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited September 2018

    That's quite a bit of fluid and the likelihood of a seroma forming would be high. Flying would just make that worse. Could you perhaps fly with the drains in and find a local MD (maybe even an urgent care place) to pull the drains when they're ready?  For sure call you PS and talk about options. 

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  • BCSucks1
    BCSucks1 Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2018

    I can’t fly if drains stay in because that means no cat scan and I have to get that done for the radiation. I thought some doctors pulled at 3 weeks regardless of CC’s ?

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited September 2018

    I suppose some do. Mine didn't. 

    Your situation sounds very stressful. Hope it is resolved soon. 

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited September 2018

    Wow - 3 weeks? You must be so sick of the drains! I only had drains for 6 days. I can only imagine.

    What does your PS say? Have they been waiting for the implants before doing radiation? This must be a situation that your providers have dealt with before.


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  • Tajmari
    Tajmari Member Posts: 19
    edited September 2018

    My plastic surgeon just pulled my remaining drain at 21 days, even though I still was producing ~80 ccs/24 hours. He'd pulled the other drain about a week ago. It was producing about 30 ccs/24 hours.

    There's more of a chance of infection if they don't get pulled, the nurse said. Yes, my reconstructed breast feels hard (saline implant), tender, and uncomfortable, but it's better than having that horrid drain in.

    I had a single mastectomy, node removal and reconstruction.

    Cheers!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2018

    We just want to chime in to welcome both Tajmari and BCSucks1.

    BCSucks1, sounds like you have alot on your plate now. Hopefully your plastic surgeon can help you quickly resolve your issue, and provide you an opportunity to fly to see your mom. Take care of yourself!

    And Tajmari, thanks so much for sharing your experience!

    Warmly, The Mods

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  • Tajmari
    Tajmari Member Posts: 19
    edited September 2018

    Thanks mods! It's nice to be welcomed. BC really does suck, BCSucks1. Hope you get your drains out soon!

    Cheers!

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  • KK2018
    KK2018 Member Posts: 65
    edited September 2018

    I’m 4+ weeks out and still have one (remaining from original 4) drain at about 40 ccs. I’ve been getting fills for 3 weeks and there is always uptake for 2 days and then it starts to reduce. I’m hoping it gets down to 20 by my 5 week visit bc I need it out by my chemo start date on 9/10. I’ve been on ABX since surgery.

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  • Palsomine
    Palsomine Member Posts: 16
    edited September 2018

    are you sure it is safe to fly so soon after surgery? It sure sounds like you’ve got a lot on your shoulders. Hoping it goes well and you’re able to be with your mom.

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  • BCSucks1
    BCSucks1 Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2018

    thanks for all the answers.I'm very curious if anyone has seen a study that shows reducing movement actually works and that this is just completely subjective. I've gone insane doing nothing since last Wednesday and drains haven't moved at all. Hopefully they pull them tomorrow, I get cat scan and catch my 12:30 flight. Once again tnx for all the support

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  • wasntintheplan
    wasntintheplan Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2018

    How are you feeling by today? Mine plugged Aug 31 and was removed Sept 4th, I am pretty miserable. A lot of fluid under my arm where 17 nodes were removed. I had a double mastectomy and had drains for 1 week after surgery, then removed, surgeon took 840cc off me after 10 days, swelled again within a week, so 1 drain was put back in and had for 3 weeks, fluid reduced somewhat, but still draining over 30cc a day. Surgery was July 10th. Tired of drains, tired of seromas. Any one had any success with anything else?

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited September 2018

    Increase your protein and vitamin C intake. 

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  • BCSucks1
    BCSucks1 Member Posts: 26
    edited September 2018

    I'm feeling awful. .they didn't pull drains, (and even if they had, I was told they would never do CAT scan same day (might have been nice of someone told me that before I bought my tix to west coast-more wasted money). I now have an infection so I'm on two antibiotics and they are being pulled Friday so I can have cat scan next Tuesday, and then rad starting 9/24 even though they told me it had to start 9/17 (I love how they just always change the story). Im just so disappointed in MGH right now. I think my doctors are individually great, but the idea that there is a cancer team, or any communication between reconstruction, oncology and radiation is 100% false. I could list so many things that they they could have done differently. Right now it just feels like I got the shortest answers they could give so they could see the next patient.

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  • Rrobin0200
    Rrobin0200 Member Posts: 433
    edited September 2018

    my drains were pulled at 2 weeks, thank God. I really feel like they were impeding my recovery. I understand the importance of the drains, but they’re such a nuisance. My surgeon was skeptical about pulling them so early, but he did so and all was well. No Seroma formed

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