tell me about your drains

mjjones453
mjjones453 Member Posts: 155
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My mom is haveing double mastectomy, and will have drains places in. I didn't have to have them after my lumpectomy. Do you empty them and care for them on your own, or have someone else do it? She is 81, and gets around with a walker, she is sharp as a tack! Can you tell me of your experiences? I may be taking care of her the week after surgery. Any other hints? Mary

Comments

  • Dawne.Hope
    Dawne.Hope Member Posts: 823
    #2
    home health?
    I lived with my cousin after my DMX and she emptied them for me. You'll do it twice a day and you need to keep track of the fluid output on a piece of paper. Home health was offered to me at the hospital but because I was staying with my cousin I declined it.

    It might a good idea to do it in your mother's case if you are at all queezy at the sight of blood. I thought the drains were one of the most uncomfortable parts of the surgery. It's tough to get comfortable with them, sleep with them, shower with them. They're just a pain, but we they do a great job of draining the fluid and I know they're a must, just not fun. If you decline home health, a nurse will show you how to keep the drains clean and empty them at the hospital.

    Best of luck to you. What a great daughter you are! Bless you!

    dh
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    Talk to the Dr/Nurses

    The medical staff should tell/show what needs to be done and how. IF they don't ask questions!

    One of my drains was taken out 2 weeks after surgery - the other at 4 weeks. The last really should have been left a bit longer as I got a large seroma.

    Yes 'you' or someone has to empty them several times a day and record the amount.

    Talk to her medical staff - they can explain how to take care of the drains better than someone on line - until you have an idea of what to do. If you don't understand ask question and more questions!

    Susan
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #4
    I started with 3 drains,
    I started with 3 drains, still have one. My surgery was 2 weeks ago today. And my surgeon wants the last one out at 3 weeks, unless the fluid level drops before then.

    You measure the fluid (I was instructed to do so 3x a day) to look for the total output in a 24 hour period. That fluid output determines when the drain is removed, I was told less than 30 ml for 2 consecutive days then the drain could come out.

    Removal of the two so far has not been bad at all. One at the surgeon follow-up visit, one a few days later by the nurse. For me, there was little to no pain, and a little bit of pressure. They were both quick, so the little bit felt didn't last long at all.

    Taking care of the drains is easy, it's mostly about cleanliness and measuring the output. Be sure to ask the nurses if you have any questions.

    I hope this helps,

    Linda
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #5
    Taking care of drains
    After my mastectomy I had 2 drains. While it would probably have been possible for me to empty them on my own I found it was much easier for my husband to do it for me. The nurses at the hospital showed us how to empty them and clear the tubing. They also gave us some written instructions along with a diagram. That was very helpful. I also kept a log of how much fluid was emptied from each drain. Once it reached a certain level then the surgeon took the drains out during an office visit.
    Hi Mary,

    I found the drains to be the single worst part of the mastectomy experience. They were not painful - just uncomfortable. You have to make sure they do not dangle from your body but are supported in some way. Some people wear a camisole with pockets for the drain bulbs. I found that putting the drain bulbs in my pants pockets worked just as well. When I took a shower (YES you can shower with them in) my husband used that white first aid adhesive tape and taped them to my rib cage. When I went to the bathroom I simply held the drain bulbs in one hand. It was a very strange feeling having the drain bulbs and tubing protruding from my body.

    The surgery itself was nowhere near as painful as I expected it to be. It might not have looked too good but wasn't particularly painful. I was very big breasted and in order to access all the breast tissue I had a rather long incision.

    I think it is wonderful that you have found this discussion board and are gathering information with which to take care of your mother. What a good daughter you are being. She will never forget this kindness.
  • kt1127
    kt1127 Member Posts: 51
    #6
    The nurses at the hospital
    The nurses at the hospital showed me how to empty the drain right away after my mastectomy. My husband emptied mine each time because he was home, his way of helping and it grossed me out, I was very naseaus and it made me gag. Dont know why its no big deal.By the third week I was doing it myself good luck
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #7
    I definitely had to have help
    with my drains. My Sister was my caregiver and I wouldn't have been able to do it without her help.

    Make sure you wear gloves to keep everything sterile if you do drain care. You'll have to empty out the fluid and measure it several times a day right after surgery. I had my drains in for almost 2 weeks!

    I'm sure they instruct you.

    I pray all goes well with your Mom's surgery.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia
  • faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy Member Posts: 319 Member
    #8
    sea60 said:

    I definitely had to have help
    with my drains. My Sister was my caregiver and I wouldn't have been able to do it without her help.

    Make sure you wear gloves to keep everything sterile if you do drain care. You'll have to empty out the fluid and measure it several times a day right after surgery. I had my drains in for almost 2 weeks!

    I'm sure they instruct you.

    I pray all goes well with your Mom's surgery.

    Hugs,

    Sylvia

    I was instructed...
    by the nurses on how to care for my drain. I had not known I was going to have a drain. I was also given a container to measure the output and told to track it.

    Most importantly, the Jackson Pratt bulb uses suction to pull the fluids from your body. It does not work on gravity, so it's not enough to just empty the bulb. You need to collapse the bulb into itself and then close the nipple so that the fluid is drawn out. It's a pretty clever design actually. After measuring the output, just pour the stuff down the toilet.

    The drain was cumbersome, and as I had just lost my symmetry and was rather guarded towards that surgical site, I pinned mine up inside a heavy zip-up hoodie where my breast had been. I found getting this particular type of sweatshirt on the easiest with my tender and limited range of motion after surgery.

    Sleeping was tricky, I slept sitting up with lots of pillows for the first week or so. I also increased my physical activity from walking to the mailbox to around the neighborhood within the first couple of days.

    My prayers are with you and your mom.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #9
    faith_trust_and_a_little_bit_of_chemotherapy said:

    I was instructed...
    by the nurses on how to care for my drain. I had not known I was going to have a drain. I was also given a container to measure the output and told to track it.

    Most importantly, the Jackson Pratt bulb uses suction to pull the fluids from your body. It does not work on gravity, so it's not enough to just empty the bulb. You need to collapse the bulb into itself and then close the nipple so that the fluid is drawn out. It's a pretty clever design actually. After measuring the output, just pour the stuff down the toilet.

    The drain was cumbersome, and as I had just lost my symmetry and was rather guarded towards that surgical site, I pinned mine up inside a heavy zip-up hoodie where my breast had been. I found getting this particular type of sweatshirt on the easiest with my tender and limited range of motion after surgery.

    Sleeping was tricky, I slept sitting up with lots of pillows for the first week or so. I also increased my physical activity from walking to the mailbox to around the neighborhood within the first couple of days.

    My prayers are with you and your mom.

    Jeans belt tab
    I used a bandage pin (huge safety pin used to secure older style leg wraps for horses) and ran it through the side belt loop on my jeans - worked great.

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