Help I’ve got a drain after mastectomy

lady_tinkerbell

I am so sorry to hear about your experience with the drain removal, I agree it does sound horrendous.  It not like my experience with my drain which I had in for 7 days, but was not that deep inside.

I do hope you are okay now and not in too much pain.  

Look after yourself and take it easy.  Thinking of you xxxx

Hi lady_tinkerbell, hope you are feeling better now after your horrendous experience with your drains , it sounded very traumatic. 
hopefully your wounds are healing well and you are feeling like you are moving forward, be kind to yourself  xxxx

Thank you. I feel much better now the drain is out. I’m not as restricted or queezy. I am still in quite a bit of pain but I think this is the bruising from the dragging out of the tube. 

As I had drains in I couldn’t put my sports bra on. Now they are out, am I right I’m assuming I need as much support as poss? Keep the pressure on with a pillow etc?

im paranoid about fluid filling up and having to go into hospital for it to be drained. 

I still have a dressing on from the wound where drains were removed. She said I could remove it today. Did you have any leakage? 

Ah I’m glad you’re feeling better , my drain was in 2 weeks in total, I had a temporary reconstruction and the area around the implant definitely filled with fluid after but nothing leaked out. My consultant said to wear a tight fitting bra to restrict the space , because the fluid would just continue to fill any  space there . It didn’t cause any problems though  and eventually it just went away. She was reluctant to drain anything away because of the infection risk . I used my heart pillow under my arm for support at night , which really helped . It’s 10 weeks now since my op and I’ve only just stopped wearing a bra at night . My wound healed really well and I even forget about it now . 
it’s such early days for you but it really does get better with time xxxx

Thank you so much for this advice. After I read your email, I put my purpose bought sports bra on and (very reluctantly) inserted the softie from the hospital. 

Despite having had my surgery (awaiting results) I don’t think I have actually accepted this. I have minimised everything and laughed about stuff even. 

I had no intention of wearing the softie or sports bra (as if I needed any of that!)  

immediately after I read your email something clicked. I think it was really just that you said the area will fill up if not restricted. Something clicked that my consultant had said that but because I’ve not been listening and taking it in, I had not retained that info. Which is completely wrong and important. 

The point I’m making is thank you for taking the time to explain your experience with me. It proves how valuable this support is. Ironically I feel better since wearing the proper stuff lol. And I think I’ve accepted it a little. 

So huge thank you - you’re my hero

xxx

Ah you’re welcome, that brought a tear to my eye , we are all on this horrendous journey together , only we know how out of control it can feel and how we so desperately want it all to go away . But we know it can’t and won’t. We have to keep moving forwards and take back what control we have and we can do that together  with all the amazing support from each other , take care and hope you have a good day xxxx

Hi Lady Tinkerbell

I developed a seroma after my op so went back into surgery again and they put two drains in me.  It’s not pathetic how you feel as I felt exactly like you too but you are braver than me because I couldn’t look at my bottles because I would pass out! 

Wishing you a speedy recovery soon. 

Love Netty xx