Drain, Drain, go away . . .

Hi Donna, you poor thing I can really sympathise with you!  This is probably not what you want to hear, but my drain ended up staying in over 8 weeks.  It drove me crazy!  I ended up having to start my chemo with it cos it just wouldnt stop.  After being in so long the stitches holding it broke, and it started slowly sliding out.  I had a hissy fit one morning before going to chemo and pulled it the rest of the way out (pretty silly really, and I certainly am not recommending this!) and slapping a sanitary pad over the hole before fronting up for chemo.  It drained into pads for a day or so and then of course the hole closed over.  THEN my breast started to swell.  It was like a bowling ball after a couple of days.  My surgeon decided to give it a week and see what would happen, but told me he thought I would have to have another surgery and a larger drain put in.  You can imagine how happy I was about that!  Anyway my boob kept getting bigger and bigger, and then literally on the eve of having to go back and see my surgeon it started to go down.  I was VERY lucky, didnt need the extra surgery or another drain.  My breast has never gone down completely, I ended up doing physio and having treatment  for breast lymphodema, but that's another story.

I truly hope you 'dry up' soon.  One theory on why mine was so bad was that I had 33 nodes removed (I had a positive one so the whole lot had to come out).  Hopefully yours will not be so bad.  The up side is that if you can get through the drain strain, you can get through anything.  I honestly believe that bloody drain gave me more grief than 6 months of chemo.  You will get through it, sometimes now when I look back it all seems like a bit of a bad dream.  I'm feeling pretty good these days, not as perky and energetic as I used to, but not sure if i should blame cancer or getting older for that!  Probably a combination.  But you've been there before so I guess in one way at least you know what you are in for,  

I sincerely wish you all the best, you will feel like you've won lotto when that bloody thing finally comes out!

Jennyxx

PS.  As for driving, i ended up swapping cars with one of my kids so that I could drive an automatic, I found that much easier as I could mostly manage with the one arm.  Not sure how legal that is though! :)  Oh, and I bought a cheap handbag to hide it in, should have seen the look on the face of airport security when they asked to inspect it one time! Yech.

Well, I came on here and was heartened to hear that someone else (albiet 2 years ago) has had the same issue. 18mths ago I had a lumpectomy and 2 nodes removed and got the all clear after 6 rounds of chemo and 30 doses of radiation, Then 2 months ago they found another lump and I have had a mastectomy and 2 more centinal nodes and 11 auxillary ones removed. 
My frustration comes that 5 weeks and 6 days later (yes, I am counting!), I STILL have my drain. They changed from a vacuum bag to a gravity feed 2 1/2 weeks ago, and it has become blocked more than once and the 'cavity' in my chest is full and hard and when it eventually drains, I am averaging 100mls+ a day still, and it has not returned to the post-op state.  
Has ANYONE been through this? Does anyone know ANY way that I can move this along? I have tried exercising/not exercising, drinking more/less, lying down more/being upright more. I don't know what to try. Can ANYONE give me some ideas? 
Sorry to sound so complaining. I am generally patient (I think), but chemo is being delayed (not that I am eager to go there again, but it has to happen). I have limits to movement/activity, and I still can't drive. As my chest is swollen and just uncomfortable, wearing any sort of bra is difficult, especially for extended periods of time, so I go about braless (even to work--I NEED a life!), and I have a wonderful workplace! 
OK! I have vented and feel a little better!! Thanks for listening to my rave and thanks in advance to those who respond. I DO appreciate it. :-) 

I am 46 in 6 days , it feels tight still but ok . I'll see my DR tomorrow, I had double mastectomy and left axillary clearance - I think one sentinel node was 3mm ? whatever that means , his cut off was 2mm. I only had small area of invasive cancer in L breast but larger area of preinvasive -DCIS i think , don''t need radiation anyway.

Today I just perserved with panadol and we were very busy all day , out at another EYE appointment at Westmead for my 6 yr old, then a birthday party for him and his twin (1st July) . The pain was ok.

I will put up with the drain for now I think if he offers the needle as alternative .

You ladies have done some hard yards before it seems .

Tomorrow I will find out more info re - if I need hormone treatment and appointments for chemo.

thanks you have helped me a lot.

Go the drugs! Don't forget the laxatives if you are taking panadiene.Yep,denial will work for awhile.Take care,hope you get a better sleep.

                                    Tonya xx

Go the drugs! Don't forget the laxatives if you are taking panadiene.Yep,denial will work for awhile.Take care,hope you get a better sleep.

                                    Tonya xx

Go the drugs! Don't forget the laxatives if you are taking panadiene.Yep,denial will work for awhile.Take care,hope you get a better sleep.

                                    Tonya xx

Trish & Tonya,

Evening Ladies!  Sounds like you are in the same neck of the woods.  Trish, I had a lot of hot/cold flushes after my op, and am still having them since the chemo started.  Weird huh?  I also had a flu shot between surgury and start of chemo.   I dont think it's menopause or anything, Im only 47 though I have had a hysterectomy for cervical cancer back in 2001.  I know what you mean about the tight feeling, almost feels like theres a big piece of string running up my arm, but it's too short.  I had a lumpectomy & a tumour on my sentinal node, so all 33 nodes removed.  Geez Tonya, been through this once before, bet it doesnt make it any easier though.    Heard back from the Doc and I've been too slack with my pain relief, trying not take it all the time etc etc, so from now till it's gone I am taking it by the clock and to hell with it.  Thanks for all the chats ladies, I actually feel a lot calmer tonight, my current drain stragegy is to pretend it isnt there.

Hi Trish and Monkeygirl

I had my drains in for about 14 days after surgery. But I also needed to have the fluid syringed after that twice. I was told by my surgeon that the more you syringe the fluid, the quicker it will build up again.

So, having the drains in should lessen the fluid build up over time.

Good luck with your drains, and keep blogging here. We are all here for you both.

Love Julie XX

Hi Trish and Monkeygirl

I had my drains in for about 14 days after surgery. But I also needed to have the fluid syringed after that twice. I was told by my surgeon that the more you syringe the fluid, the quicker it will build up again.

So, having the drains in should lessen the fluid build up over time.

Good luck with your drains, and keep blogging here. We are all here for you both.

Love Julie XX