JP drain

hikerchick
hikerchick Member Posts: 21
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Thi is the first time I've posted anything. I had bilateral mastectomy with sentinal node removal two and a half weeks ago. No reconstruction. At two weeks post-op I got the right drain removed but the left drain is looking like it may take over 3 weeks, which I don't want. What can I do to help slow the output of the remaining left drain?

Comments

  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    I had my bilateral on the
    I had my bilateral on the 14th, still have 3 drains. It is my understanding that the fluids coming out into the drains is a good thing (unless there are drastic changes in color or output). Without the drains, all that fluid stays in your body and has to be reabsorbed, sometimes creating problems if the drain is removed too soon or if your body has trouble reabsorbing.

    As long as your doc isn't worried about the JP drain or the amount/type of fluid in it, all should be ok. Of course, ask your doctor. (My surgeon said that busty women tend to need the drains longer.)

    Finally, anytime your body has to deal with trauma or stress additional fluid intake is important. So drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated.

    Hope you're feeling better soon. And welcome, you'll find lots of people here willing to answer questions, give advice and support, people who will become friends.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member

    I had my bilateral on the
    I had my bilateral on the 14th, still have 3 drains. It is my understanding that the fluids coming out into the drains is a good thing (unless there are drastic changes in color or output). Without the drains, all that fluid stays in your body and has to be reabsorbed, sometimes creating problems if the drain is removed too soon or if your body has trouble reabsorbing.

    As long as your doc isn't worried about the JP drain or the amount/type of fluid in it, all should be ok. Of course, ask your doctor. (My surgeon said that busty women tend to need the drains longer.)

    Finally, anytime your body has to deal with trauma or stress additional fluid intake is important. So drink plenty of water and stay well hydrated.

    Hope you're feeling better soon. And welcome, you'll find lots of people here willing to answer questions, give advice and support, people who will become friends.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Linda is right
    I had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. My drain stayed in 5 weeks. I thought it would never quit. The nurse at my surgeon's office said--let it keep draining all it wants. If you pull it too soon, you'll be in here every other day and we'll be draining that out with a needle because it will just keep filling up. I don't think there's much you can do to stop the flow--your body will decide when it's done. My surgeon wouldn't pull it until I had 3 days in a row of under 30 ml.(or is it ccs?).

    When my surgeon finally pulled it out--he did it in the office and I didn't feel a thing. Be patient--you really will get there even though sometimes it doesn't seem so.

    Hugs, Renee
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    Don't be in a hurry
    I only had a single mast. but had 2 drains. The first came out at 2 weeks post surgery. The other came out at 4 weeks - wish it had stayed a bit longer. It had slowed down a lot in drainage but was still a bit more than idea to take it but Dr thought that it might be causing irritation that was keeping the flow. Unfortunately, with it out i developed a large seroma tht had to be drained several times. While it is not swollen out it still showed up on a CT scan a year post surgery.

    Din't be in a big hurry - let your body heal.

    Susan
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    missrenee said:

    Linda is right
    I had a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. My drain stayed in 5 weeks. I thought it would never quit. The nurse at my surgeon's office said--let it keep draining all it wants. If you pull it too soon, you'll be in here every other day and we'll be draining that out with a needle because it will just keep filling up. I don't think there's much you can do to stop the flow--your body will decide when it's done. My surgeon wouldn't pull it until I had 3 days in a row of under 30 ml.(or is it ccs?).

    When my surgeon finally pulled it out--he did it in the office and I didn't feel a thing. Be patient--you really will get there even though sometimes it doesn't seem so.

    Hugs, Renee

    The same
    ml and cc are the same. There is a scientific explaination of the difference but they equate to each other.
  • hikerchick
    hikerchick Member Posts: 21
    Rague said:

    Don't be in a hurry
    I only had a single mast. but had 2 drains. The first came out at 2 weeks post surgery. The other came out at 4 weeks - wish it had stayed a bit longer. It had slowed down a lot in drainage but was still a bit more than idea to take it but Dr thought that it might be causing irritation that was keeping the flow. Unfortunately, with it out i developed a large seroma tht had to be drained several times. While it is not swollen out it still showed up on a CT scan a year post surgery.

    Din't be in a big hurry - let your body heal.

    Susan

    Okay, Thanks
    Thanks for your help, everyone. I just have so much nerve irritation in the left arm, armpit and left ribs that I'm becoming impatient. The tube actually came out about 3" too far last weekend and the doc told my husband to push it back in. I feel like every move I make just makes matters worse. Time to psych myself up for waiting as long as it takes.
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member

    Okay, Thanks
    Thanks for your help, everyone. I just have so much nerve irritation in the left arm, armpit and left ribs that I'm becoming impatient. The tube actually came out about 3" too far last weekend and the doc told my husband to push it back in. I feel like every move I make just makes matters worse. Time to psych myself up for waiting as long as it takes.

    Hikerchick--my drain was hitting a nerve in my underarm too
    Since I had the axillary node dissection, it was placed from my underarm on the affected side and came out of my side almost at the end of my rib cage. Everytime my husband stripped it and drained it, I felt excruciating pain under my arm and just cried and cried until it subsided. The surgeon said it must have been hitting a nerve up there and there wasn't anything he could do until it came out. So, I totally know what you're going through. Check with your doc--but pain meds or at the least Ibuprophen might be in order to get you through this.

    Let us know how you do.

    Hugs, Renee
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    Welcome to this site.
    I don't know of any way to speed the removal of your other drain. I had bilateral mastectomy in June and my drains both came out 10 days later. They healed well. I did not have any reconstruction although I met with plastic surgeon beforehand. My surgeon didn't think I would need chemo or rads but oncs thought otherwise. I finished chemo and am getting rads now. Wishing you well with your healing process.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    cahjah75 said:

    Welcome to this site.
    I don't know of any way to speed the removal of your other drain. I had bilateral mastectomy in June and my drains both came out 10 days later. They healed well. I did not have any reconstruction although I met with plastic surgeon beforehand. My surgeon didn't think I would need chemo or rads but oncs thought otherwise. I finished chemo and am getting rads now. Wishing you well with your healing process.
    {{hugs}} Char

    I drained alot. drains in
    I drained alot. drains in over 3 weeks and then had to have the needle drainage and ace wraps. I always tell people not to do twisting movements. the area needs to tac down. as any open area fills with fluid (seroma) I thought i would never get this resolved and I hardly remember it, but while you have it, it is such a pain.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member

    Okay, Thanks
    Thanks for your help, everyone. I just have so much nerve irritation in the left arm, armpit and left ribs that I'm becoming impatient. The tube actually came out about 3" too far last weekend and the doc told my husband to push it back in. I feel like every move I make just makes matters worse. Time to psych myself up for waiting as long as it takes.

    Drains ugh
    Drains just plain suck! Sorry that you are having this pain, very understandable.

    I don't know of any way to hurry up getting it out, wish I did for you.

    Praying it will come out very soon.


    ♥ Noel
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    cahjah75 said:

    Welcome to this site.
    I don't know of any way to speed the removal of your other drain. I had bilateral mastectomy in June and my drains both came out 10 days later. They healed well. I did not have any reconstruction although I met with plastic surgeon beforehand. My surgeon didn't think I would need chemo or rads but oncs thought otherwise. I finished chemo and am getting rads now. Wishing you well with your healing process.
    {{hugs}} Char

    I don't know how to speed it
    I don't know how to speed it up either. Good luck!


    Hugs!
  • lovs2decorate
    lovs2decorate Member Posts: 44
    Helping to drian
    I had a bi-laterial on 4/30/10. I had six drains with tran-flap reconstruction done at the same time.

    My plastic surg. told me to up my protein intake and keep my diet more protein and fiber. My breast surg. said the same thing. I stayed away from carbs. and continue to follow this eating style.

    Hope this info helps. I'll keep positve thoughts that you have a "coming out party" soon.

    Justine :)
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    Rague said:

    Don't be in a hurry
    I only had a single mast. but had 2 drains. The first came out at 2 weeks post surgery. The other came out at 4 weeks - wish it had stayed a bit longer. It had slowed down a lot in drainage but was still a bit more than idea to take it but Dr thought that it might be causing irritation that was keeping the flow. Unfortunately, with it out i developed a large seroma tht had to be drained several times. While it is not swollen out it still showed up on a CT scan a year post surgery.

    Din't be in a big hurry - let your body heal.

    Susan

    I had a lumpectomy, and,
    I had a lumpectomy, and, didn't have any drains. Guess I was lucky. It sounds painful and I hope you can get yours out soon.


    Leeza