Excessive Drainage after Mastectomy

I knolw the drains are a pain but you should listen to the doctors and leave them in until you are draining the 20 ml.  I pulled one of mine too early and kept having to go back in every 3 or 4 days to have the seroma that developed drained.  And I have a high pain tolerance but that HURT.  They would have to poke around (with what seemed to be a knitting needle) to "find the pocket."  I'd listen to the docs, though, and leave them in.

When they slow down it seems like they do very quickly. For me the downside of antibiotics is yeast infections.

I had 3 drains.  First two came out on day 10.  But the last one didn't come out until day 25.  And even then it was doing 25-30 ml.  But the surgeon looked at it and said that it was basically plugged and not doing much good.  Got it out and for the next 12 hours it was draining like mad!.  It would soak the multiple gauzes and run down my side.  But then it healed over and I never looked back.  Boy did that feel good to get that last one out!

You must be moving around too much. NO housework, NO groceries, NO nothin' but lying around and indulging in the treats of the season!

Are you 'milking' your drainage tubes...?  I lugged around those nasty tubes for about 10 days .. 2 in 1 breast, and 3 in the other ... ugh!  I did NOT have tubes after my bi-lateral mastectomy ..  a drop in my right breast .. warrant another reconstructive surgery, and 2 more drains!   I grew tried of draining and measuring .. 

After drainage tubes removed, I leaked for days ..covered each opening with gauze and sterile tape -- changed dressing every few hours. Nasty ..

Good luck ..

Vicki Sam 

Day 38 here - my BMX with LD reconstruction was on January 12. I started with 6 drains - 1 in each breast, and 2 on each side coming from the waist/hip area.  Now I'm down to one on each side, but they are still draining like mad!  They go up and down some, but to use today as an example, I had around 100 ml on one side and around 85 on the other.  I really am not doing much, but I am driving a little, and doing things like going to my daughter's school conference or going into the pharmacy to pick up a prescription.  Also - I do have some skin necrosis problems.  Might this be adding to the drainage issues? Any other thoughts?

I am so glad that I found this site.  I had a double mastectomy on May 4th  due to ILC with drains out 2 weeks later.  Now I have fluid build up in one side.  There is no pain and it is not red or hot but very full.  Everything that I read says that my body will start absorbing it soon.  I go back to the Dr. on June 2nd.  Should I let him know what is happening before then?  Any thing that you all can tell me will be so helpful.  I go to the oncologist June 8th to find out about treatments.  Lymph nodes were negative. 

Thanks Pam

Hi - My double mastectomy was on May 2 so that was over 4 weeks ago!  Im desperate to get them out.  The one on the right seems to be ready at 35 to 40 but the drain on the left is still at 70.  Im watching this thread closely for any tips.  Going to Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando on Friday to have a nice weekend before I start chemo on June 7.  Would love to have them out by then.  I just joined this forum and Im looking forward to learning lots.  I have a 7 week old baby and a six year old.  My lump was discovered in the hospital when I went in to have my baby

I am on day 26 with BLM with Reconstruction and still have 2 tubes in.  One has been at 35cc for almost 2 weeks and the other just fell to 50 cc yesterday.  I am trying to keep still but it is hard and the family is getting tired of doing everything.  I had lots of fluid after my lumpectomy on the same side that is draining more, I could even hear the fluid moving around, the surgeron said it would just be reabsored like others have said bu the PS says no - they want to wait until at or below 20cc.  Yesterday the tubes themselves turned a pink color and the blubs tonight are also that color.  I am concerned that this maybe a sign they are getting too old.  I have appt tomorrow so will see what the PS says.  I so want the left one out so I can sleep on my side again.

Ahh....drains. I had Uni NSM and AND on Oct 17th. The axilla drain was out in 7 days but the breast drain just kept churning and the fluid did go down but only to about 40 cc's per day. At 4 weeks, the PS agreed to remove it. But, 10 days later, another drain had to be reinserted to handle all the fluid. Now, I am still producing between 50-65 cc's per day and 20 days with drain 2. Stinks! This little setback is now delaying my rads, unfortunately.



So, the fluid color is good now (lighter/yellowish) but, I am dying to figure out how to get the damn thing to reduce. Help! . I am not great with being immobile. I have 2 little kids. I am not doing any wild or crazy exercises. I do get PT 3x wk to help with range of motion. This is with the PS's blessing. Any other ideas? I am willing to try compression. Even asked the doc about a low-salt diet. Anything, at this point.

I had BLM, no recon, April 4th. I am still having well over 100 ml a day. For the first 3 weeks I did nothing. The left side fell out 2 weeks ago and I have to go in Wednesday to have it drained. I have so many questions. How can you tell if you are healed? I have no pain around my incisions. Sometimes on my right side where I have all the fluid I feel like it is sucking the life out of me. The muscles really get tight especially if I express the tube. This fluid thing is really bothering me.

I had BLM on April 3. I had 45 nodes removed on cancer side. That drain is still producing over 100 per day. I do have compression on it. I lost the other 4 drains during normal ranges. I did have expanders put in. I keep being advised to slow down, but I am really not doing anything to slow down from. Just want you to feel normal.

Ladies,

I feel a little better (well, I guess more informed and comfortable is a better way of putting it) that others are having the same problem I'm having.  Today is 9/1, had my BMX on 8/7.  2 tubes removed at 5 days but the 2 remaining simply refuse to go down.  I swear, they continue to drain the same amount as they had been 3 weeks ago and I want these flippin things out in the worst way.  PS explained the danger in doing that, and I agreed the last thing I want is to remove them too soon and end up with infection which would lead to TE's being removed.  But I am so frustrated.  I had hoped to see some advise here; I will not be less active as I did that post surgery for the first 3 weeks and fluid output never decreased.  Got tired of sitting around so I took my employers offer to do some work at home and started doing that - also started doing small chores around the house - so I am not overdoing it by any stretch of the imagination.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED by the 9 weeks!  Why is that?  Why is it so different from woman to woman?  I mean, taking tubes out at 5 days vs 9 weeks is a huge difference and I'm confused as to why that is.  I do not want to return to work with 2 drains hanging off my waist (I work in an office that must interact with the public - it's not like I have my own personal office I can hide in with these disgusting things); I was fitted with a compression camisole about 5 days ago but the feel of the material against my chest drives me nuts (and forget about putting in the temp protheses in the cami - more pressure, more hurt!).  I was told I should not wear a sports bra or any tight garment of that sort until 10 days after tubes are removed.  PS told me I could go "natural" and that's what I'm doing because everything else is too uncomfortable.  I thought at going on 4 weeks post surgery was nuts, but I guess it's nothing compared to what I'm reading about some of you very unfortunate ladies (and I must say I hope not to join your little group!).

I'm destined for chemo probably in a month - if I am one of the very unfortunate and still have these tubes in, will that delay the start of chemo?  I thought with chemo you need to be so careful with infection and it seems with 2 drains stemming out of the body - well there's a good area for any infection to start.......  I'd like to hear what you others have experienced with that.

Will be watching for responses - I thought I was really on the outside of the margins at 3+ weeks but apparently I'm not as unfortunate as I thought (so very glad this discussion board lets us all connect and share our experiences - it has really been a relief to chat with others dealing with the same issues).

Wishing you all well!

Wren, it does help to know what other people experience. I love BCO for that reason.

A thought occurred to me. Have you been stripping the tubes? I use an alcohol patch it makes it slide right down. So easy. Dont know why that makes a difference but it does. Just take the pad, wrap it around the tubing, hold on to the tubing near where it comes out, and slide. With your fingers you never seem to get the tube empty. With the pad it is actually flat from being emptied completely. I cant count the number of nurses I taught this trick to. My first nurse at my BMX taught me. Sorry for the lecture but it is such an amazing difference I like to share it! LOL. Much love.

I have one drain left of 2 from bmx w/te on 8/23. It went from about 30 on Thursday to 15 Friday and has been at that all weekend. I got tomorrow to get it out. Finally. Tho from reading here, 2 1/2 weeks isnt so awful. First drain came out at 4 days.