Drain removal

Amprue · October 2020

Hi,

I'm 1 week post prophylactic mastectomy. I'm having my drains removed next week. Many family members have said it's painful to have the drains removed. Was it painful for any of you and did you take pain medication before your appointment?

Thank You

marie914 · October 2020

I had a left mastectomy with two drains. I had the first out 4 days out and 9 days for the second drain. I felt it a bit the first one and didn’t really feel the second one at all. I didn’t take any pain meds with getting them out. I was pleasantly surprised it didn’t hurt. My surgeon had me take deep breaths and she pulled when I breathed out.

Sunshine99 · October 2020

I remember when I had my drain removed, the NP told me to take a deep breath like I was going to blow out the candles on my birthday cake. I took a deep breath and she said, “Oh come on, you’re older than that!” I started laughing and she pulled the drain out. I loved her

serendipity09 · October 2020

Hi Amprue!

I'm two weeks post op double mastectomy with lymph node removal. I had five drains; the first one was removed 6 days after surgery; there was a bit of discomfort, but it was only for a few seconds. I had two other drains removed last Monday and I barely felt anything. As mentioned by Sunshine99 and marie914, I was told to take a deep breath and when I exhaled is when they pulled them out and I barely felt it. I did not take any meds. I have two left and get them taken out on Monday. Hope it goes well for you!

LivinLife · October 2020

I had two drains pulled out after 8 days. The P.A. had me do the big breath in and exhale as others mentioned. It did not hurt at all though felt kind of odd. The remaining two drains were pulled out about 6 days later. There was a little discomfort as the CRNP cut the stitch - more of a pulling I could feel though I did not feel either drain being pulled out at all.

Spookiesmom · October 2020

Out of a total of 5, two surgeries apart, only one Really hurt. No pain meds prior, drove home myself, no problems.

MinusTwo · October 2020

Love the anecdote about the doc saying: "Oh come on, you're older than that!" and pulling the drain while Sunshine was laughing.

I had drains for three different surgeries. My doc insisted on pulling them in the hospital instead of her office in case of complications - so I was a bit worried. Whup & done - no pain, no foul.

Beesie · October 2020

I've had two drains removed. One was so painless that I didn't even know the drain was out. The other was so painful I almost passed out - the tube was stuck in there and wouldn't come out. With the second one, since the removal was being done at home (we get home nurses here in Ontario until the drains are out), after a first failed attempted, I ended up lying on my side in bed, clutching a pillow, while the nurse pulled it out. Yeah, not good at all. So I've had both the best case scenario and the worst case scenario. As I recall, the nurse did suggest an extra strength Tylenol about a 1/2 hour before removal.

So be prepared for it possibly hurting but hopefully your experience will be painless!

OCDAmy · October 2020

I’ve had drains for four surgeries and it never hurt having them removed. Hopefully yours won’t either!

Hope2021301816 · October 2020

I had 2 drains. Advised to take Tylenol3 an hour before the appointment. I was nervous and anxious. The first drain, didn't feel it at all. But the second one, maybe because I was ok with the first, so she was not as gentle, so I felt a little discomfort, but nothing major. Kind of like....pulling a tampon out, you feel it being pulled out. Hope yours goes well.

clarrn · October 2020

I've had 6 drains removed. None of them hurt, just felt weird as they snaked their way out. One of them was in for a full 3 weeks, and the only thing that pinched was the stitch coming out because it had grown in a little. I didn't take anything for pain.

Rah2464 · October 2020

I had two drains. They were in for three weeks. The first one hurt a smidge the second one not at all. For me, the discomfort was fleeting and the relief of finally having them out wonderful.

Love the story about the NP and blowing out the candles on the birthday cake! What a great technique to divert attention!

Amprue hope your recovery is fast and easy.

Lille · October 2020

To add to others, I had two drains from my last surgery that were removed. It was explained that it shouldn't hurt as I had no sensation where they were placed but it might feel weird. That about sums up the experience. They are long thin tubes that just quickly 'slithered' out. I had one where the stitch has a bit tight and had to be cut close to the skin. It was only a pinch and considering it meant being relieved of the drains it was nothing. I might have danced out of the appointment singing about freedom.

exbrnxgrl · October 2020

I had one drain on each side. My dd went with me when I had them removed. The doctor and his PA told me to cough as they each removed a side. So I coughed and coughed and kept on coughing until I heard everyone else laughing. Apparently they had removed both drains very quickly but I was so focused on coughing that I didn’t notice

WC3 · October 2020

Amprue:

For me it was a strange sensation but not painful.

JanetM · November 2020

I had 6 drains after surgery and had one removed 5 days after surgery. I took a muscle relaxer and an oxycodone about 30 minutes before and it didn't hurt it just felt like a bee sting. Now I feel beat up because they were all played with and all of my bandages were removed. Hopefully on Monday the rest of the drains will come out.

Castigame · November 2020

I told my BS "this is the day doc" right before DMX. But right before drain removal, I showed the same BS a can of lidocaine spray and asked him to use it. He laughed so hard and did not use it. Turned out there was no need.

msphil · December 2020

hello sweetie i was discharged with order for nurse to come take mine outit was close to holiday i asked could i go home with the outside drain docs agreed. Then when time to removed went back to hospital to have removed gave me pain meds so wasnt painful. Hope this helped. msphil idc stage2 0/3 3mo chemo before and after Lmast then got married we were planning at diagnosis then 7 wks rads and 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

MandaSkier · January 2021

I had one drain in each breast. One side drained well, was ready to be removed in a week (<30cc output), and hurt coming out...a stabbing pain in my armpit and burning near the skin surface. It was sharp but brief. The other side did not drain as well...the breast stayed swollen longer and drainage was steady for 2 weeks but I didn't feel anything when it was removed

Drain removal

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