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Drains After A Mastectomy

12/15/2013

3 Comments

 
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After my bilateral mastectomy, 4 drains were installed, 2 on each side.

They don't hurt but they are a pain in the butt. 

The hospital sent me home with a spreadsheet to keep track of the amount of fluid that drains from each tube.  I was told that the drains need to stay in for about 10 days.  My drains were in for 22 days.  Yes, that means no shower for 22 days.  The risk of infection is too great.

I didn't like the spreadsheet that was given to me, so I created a better one.  :)

Feel free to download my drainage chart if you or someone you know should need one.
 

Removing the drains didn't hurt, just felt a bit odd because I could feel the long tube on the inside, being pulled to the outside.  YUCK!


And if you have experience with drains, please feel free to add your story in the comments below.  I remember it being very helpful to me when I was searching the internet, to find several stories of experience.

drainage_chart.xls
File Size: 17 kb
File Type: xls
Download File


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3 Comments
Helen
12/16/2013 10:03:10 am

I read your blog after seeing it posted by Brandon. I don't know you, but feel incredibly close after reading your very personal and very frank blog which showed all the emotions of this awful nightmare. I had a friend who had the same thing and is now 8 years cancer free. She did the same route you did and has done wonderfully. Reconstruction was just amazing - she looks wonderful. She teaches zumba and has for the past 5-6 years (maybe longer!). Anyway, watching her go thru this awful nightmare, being so down and discouraged, and then come out on the other side doing so well, living her life again has been extremely encouraging and wanted to share that with you. I know she had lots of involved lymph nodes that were removed and despite such an awful prognosis, she has done well because she did what you did - research! She was her own advocate and made sure every decision was right for her. It is amazing to see her now - I sometimes forget she had this awful disease. Anyway, I thank you so much for sharing your journey and hopefully it is helping you heal and also helping many other women. Writing/journaling can be so therapeutic and I hope it is for you. You are very brave and the emotions you wrote, are ones that I totally could imagine having and had me in tears. I can totally understand all those feelings. Keep up your hard fight and never let this awful insidious disease take over. You are a strong, tough woman and once this initial week of pain is over, I am sure you will be well on your way to a great recovery. Keep up that fight. Thank you again for sharing this. I will continue to follow you and many prayers for a complete recovery with minimal pain. You.Got.This!

Reply
Shelly
12/17/2013 01:40:06 am

Helen,
Wow. Thank you so much. My mom kept reminding me that I should be journaling, to maintain emotional stability. So, when I started writing (blogging), it was for myself but whenever I read notes, such as yours, it reminds me that it isn't all about me. This may be my journey, but maybe my words of healing will help someone else someday. What a blessing that would be! And because of survivor stories such as the one you shared, about your friend, I am able to stay strong! Thank you so much for taking the time to share!
Shelly

Reply
Mari koon link
1/12/2019 04:45:21 pm

I wore one of my husbands button down the front shirts, wrong side out, so pockets were inside, put drains in pockets. He is a big guy, so there was plenty room. Might have looked a little weird, but was most comfortable way I figured out.
.

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