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Monkeygirl's avatar
Monkeygirl
Member
14 years ago

Drain, Drain, go away . . .

I'm only just starting my trip down BC Lane, and find I have a lot of questions.  This network has been a great way to talk to other women going through the same issues, and a point of contact I just couldnt get any other way.  

I only had my first chemo six days ago (AC) and so far I have been lucky to only experience slight nausea.  Fatigue & bad headaches, and a general feeling a bit like having a bad flu have been the worst of it, along with hot and cold flushes.  So if this is as bad as it gets I will consider myself lucky.  I notice some of you comment that the AC treatments get a bit harder as they go on?  Does everyone find this?  Maybe it is a bit early for me to know how it will effect me just yet.

One thing really bugging me is my post surgery drain, which I still have after 5 1/2 weeks.  It doesnt look like going anytime soon.  I have to wait till it drops below 40mm in 24 hours, well I've been over 100mm the whole time, and since the chemo started I'm back up to around 140mm per day.  I hoped the chemo would dry it up!  Has anyone else found this?  It is a minor thing in the grand scheme, but drives me a bit crazy, makes sleeping and getting comfortable hard, is very painful at times, makes getting a bra on a bit of a challenge!  

Do you all wear the post surgery bra?  I find I can tollerate a few hours a day if I have to, but after that it is too painful on the drain, and sometimes i get blood in it still.  Have any of you found a way around this?  I've tried snipping bits out of one of those AH Bras, to make it fit comfortably, but by the time you snip the annoying bits off there's not much left.

Looking forward to the day I can bring the drain home, start a little bonfire & have a ceremonial burning!

chemotherapy

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  • Monkeygirl's avatar
    Monkeygirl
    Member
    14 years ago

    I still have the same tubing that I woke up from surgery with.  It started off with the little squeezy ball and bag, they told me once it dropped to below 100mm a day they would shorten it.  It went down to 70mm for 2 days after nearly three weeks, so they cut the long tube off and attached a sticky sealed plastic bag thingy to my side, over the hole and the drain itself.  However ever since it has been back up well over 100mm a day.  The bag has a little 'tap' thing at the bottom, so I have to empty it and measure the output.  The sticky bag gets changed once every 12-14 days.  I have to stay on antibiotics until it comes out.  The skin around it is kind of all peeled off and gross.  Just changed it today (it was starting to come off)  Only trouble is if you dont get it positioned exactly right, it tends to pull or push on the stitch that is holding the drain into the wound.  Needless to say we have buggered it up a bit today.  So waiting to see if the pain settles overnight, or it I need to go back and have it professionally changed.  It's not that hard to change really, you just must have to have a knack for doing it.   So here I am whinging again, Im sure my husband is sick of it.  Every time I move, sit, stand, lay, whatever I'm catching my breath as it either pulls or pushes on the stupid drain.  My surgeon doesnt seem the least bit worried about it.  Maybe the drain is a good distraction, if I didnt have it to whinge about, I might be more worried about my chemo side effects!  They say there is an up side to everything.  I'm sorry to moan and groan, promise to make no more comments unless I have something good to say.

  • Monkeygirl's avatar
    Monkeygirl
    Member
    14 years ago

    Thanks Lara, maybe my nickname should be 'Drain Queen', not that I want it! lol

  • FD's avatar
    FD
    Member
    14 years ago

    OMG couldn't imagine over 5 weeks. I had four in total all removed at different times. The last one was removed at day 13 and for me was a struggle. Once it was removed moving around and having a shower was so much easier. I agree they do get sore around the entrance site and especially if they come apart and they need to re suction them - feels like a dyson is being applied to your chest! All I can say is you are obviously doing an amazing job at keeping it in and when you do finally get it out you will appreciate your freedom so much more.

    You are doing great

    Lara xx

  • FD's avatar
    FD
    Member
    14 years ago

    OMG couldn't imagine over 5 weeks. I had four in total all removed at different times. The last one was removed at day 13 and for me was a struggle. Once it was removed moving around and having a shower was so much easier. I agree they do get sore around the entrance site and especially if they come apart and they need to re suction them - feels like a dyson is being applied to your chest! All I can say is you are obviously doing an amazing job at keeping it in and when you do finally get it out you will appreciate your freedom so much more.

    You are doing great

    Lara xx

  • TrishMLDB's avatar
    TrishMLDB
    Member
    14 years ago
    Thank you for reassuring me, when are the one having it so long. Our new - mantra drain , drain go away ....thinking of you as you navigate this journey too. The forum seems a great place to share , encourage and whinge xox
  • Monkeygirl's avatar
    Monkeygirl
    Member
    14 years ago

    Please dont let me put you off - from what I can work out most people get rid of them in a week to 10 days, so I'm the exception not the rule - hopefully you will get rid of it real soon!

  • TrishMLDB's avatar
    TrishMLDB
    Member
    14 years ago
    I sympathize with you I've had mine 11 days and it is so painful . I'm still getting 100mls +a day I came in here to see how soon it might come out . I was diagnosed 14th June , had surgery 20th. I'll keep following this post. I hope you get it removed soon. I don't care about wearing bra with my drain ...ouch . Goodluck