Stupid question about drains?

Not a stupid question
I had my mastectomy 6 weeks ago and had the same question. The doctor had a safety pin attached to the bulb so that I could pin it to my clothing. Initially I pinned it to the post-surgical bra that the doctor put on me. Later I bought a camisole that had little pouches that were attached with velcro to the camisole. The bulb has a loop that I can put a chain or ribbon through and wear it around my neck when I shower. Once, when I needed to go out in public, I put on a regular bra with my one remaining breast in one side and my drainage bulb in the other. It worked out ok.

Good luck. This website has been a lifesaver for me.

More Drain Info
I'm two years out from my masectomy but when I woke up from surgery, I had a bra on that had a pocket for the drain. Before surgery,I had bought a camisole with pockets from the fake boob shop I had been refered to and I used that after I was able to get rid of the bra after a couple of days. My surgeon told me when I showered to use a belt to tie up the drain. I came home and searched thru my belts and found a canvasas one that worked. However, every shower I was worried the belt would let go and the drain would fall out! It never happened!!!!! It will be heaven when you can get rid of the drain - nothing like small pleasures!!!! Good luck with your surgery and I'm wishing you a quick recovery.

Dawne.Hope said:

I was sent home with a bra
I was sent home with a bra that had velcro 'holsters' for the drains.

You can buy post-surgery camisoles from TLC - the American Cancer Society's catalog. They are available at your onocologists or breast surgeon's office. You can also check out their stuff online.

The trick for me was showering with those drains! My cousin's kids had a soft, elastic belt that I put around my waist and safety-pinned the drains to the belt.

You'll be OK!

Best of luck,
dh

this last time I had an
this last time I had an appliance that attached to my skin, and the loop on the bulb was attached to the appliance with velcro. I really liked it the best.

carkris said:

this last time I had an
this last time I had an appliance that attached to my skin, and the loop on the bulb was attached to the appliance with velcro. I really liked it the best.

I attached the loop on the
blub to a ribbon I hung around my neck when I was in the shower. Not too long so your hand won't get caught in it tho. It worked great...but it was not my first idea, this just worked the best. I had little velcro drain holders from my camisole that I pinned to my clothes. I wore the camisole once and it was a waste of time for me, but the little holder was great. I didn't wear a bra until I got my fake boob and then it was a mastecomy bra. That was 6 wks after surgery. Fortunately the drains don't last forever, but they are really a nusiance and I thought the worst part of the surgery by far.

You'll get creative and work out what's best for you. But you really want to wear clothing that zips or buttons down front for convenience and less strain on your muscles including nitegowns.

Good luck with your surgery, you'll do fine. Let us know how you are doing.

Hugs, Judy :-)

shirt
I also got the camisole from tlc and it was great. One other thing I liked was wearing an oversized flannel shirt with 2 breast pockets. I put the drains in the pockets when I was at home. I didn't get as tangled up in the tubing with them up higher. I used a lanyard in the shower to keep them from pulling. The problem with putting them in your pants pockets is forgetting them when you run to the bathroom---ouch!:)

arbojenn said:

The first go round, I used a
The first go round, I used a lanyard. The second time, I got a carpenters apron from the hardware store. Then, a girl scout troup made aprons for us for a community service project: they just got a rectangular piece of material, hemmed it on top for a waist ribbon to go through, folded the bottom up sewing in pocket separaters: two pockets. I used my carpenters apron though, and saved the girl scout apron because it was such a lovely gesture that I appreciated so much.

the name of the product was
the name of the product was cath secure multi purpose tube holder. They gave it to me post op I liked it because it felt more secure and I didnt feel loose or anything. I also had a special jacket that my breast center gave out called a Jaqui that had pockets in the sides. I think it is important that although there is suction on the drain to have it alittle lower to drain as well. The jacqui comes from susan Komen .

TulsaMomof3 said:

Wow such great information.
Wow such great information. I went to the TLC website and oreder a post surgery camisole with the pockets. I am going to check on the jacqui from susan Komen.

I am so glad I asked!

get to try my cami soon
I got my cami from TLC and its soft and has velcro up the front and you get "puffs" with it which are really funny. I think you will like it. I thought it would be good for sleeping in too and get to find out in the next couple days. You got a lot of great shower advice which I really appreciate also as I hadn't really thought that through. I also bought 2 mens shirts off the end of year sale rack for $5 each as I hear that button up the front is about all you can do for awhile.

Good luck to you

Skeezie said:

The website for the catalog is
www.tlcdirect.org It is a wonderful site and catalog and I have oardered several hats from them. They sell everything you need for mastecomy, hair loss, fake boobs, mastecomy bras, head coverings etc.

The website that Skeezie
The website that Skeezie posted has a lot of items. I hope it helps you out.

And, NO question is dumb. Ask anything.

Sue