Hi, I am going into hospital on the 16th for mastectomy and axillary clearance, will be discharged next day with drains. I was wondering if anyone out there knows roughly how long before the drains are removed. I have been told the nurse will visit everyday.
Can you go out with them or are you confined to the house?
Thanks
i wouldn’t go out with them because of the risk of infection etc.My hospital has a policy of not allowing you home with drains, which i was very grateful for, tbh
I went home the same day with a drain in, and yes, I did go out with it. Tucked into a shoulder bag under my coat so there was support for it. I wasn’t being particularly tough and gung-ho, I was just going stir crazy and needed a walk.
The nurse came round each day, and was really good about coming in first thing in the morning so that my partner could go off to work afterwards - he wanted to be in on everything that was going on.
Mine did in fact come adrift (the tubing joint separated after five days, I just got a bit sloppy about keeping it tucked well away and got it caught and pulled apart) so I had the drain pulled earlier than it should, while I was still draining. Not good as I then got an infection. So ideally, keep all your tubing tucked inside your shirt!
All the best for the 16th, hope all goes smoothly,
Lyn
My hospital liked you to go home with drains over the weekend and return to have them removed on the Monday. However, my surgeon is not keen on that idea and told me not to let the breast care nurses bully me into going home. I was so tired 2 days after my op that he suggested I should stay in over the weekend to be looked after and I was quite grateful as I didn’t fancy going home with the drain. I had my own room and en suite, so it was really quiet and restful.
I came home yesterday with drain still attached and draining after 12 days in Barts. Please see my update on Newly Diagnose with Breast Cancer - In a Terrified Tizz! x Jackie x
Hi,
I was allowed the choice & opted to stay in hospital til drains were out - chicken !!! I’d had a mx & full anc on same side with 2 drains on the Wed night. By Sat morning, all clear - surgeon was very surprised & said he hadn’t seen such a quick clearance. Nurse took drains out & I went home. District nurse came Mon morning to check all was ok & stitches out Thurs am.
Good luck & I admire all of you who come home with drains in (even if you’ve not been given the choice !)
I was given the choice and at first I said I’d stay in until the drains were out (a friend had terrible trouble with her’s and a nasty infection, so I was scared). However after 5 days I was so stir crazy I pleaded to be allowed home. So quick lesson in how to empty the drain (not pleasant, but ok) and I took them home with me. I think I was more afraid of the dressings than the drain - convinced if the dressings fell off I would somehow break in half! I kept sticking them back on with tape - looked like a badly wrapped parcel by the time I’d finished.
Whatever happens, just make sure you feel supported and have someone to phone if you’re worried.
Is everybody entitled to a District Nurse, e.g. is London covered by these? I wasn’t given the option.
Hi
I had my mx on 12 Nov, was in hospital for 8 days because the drain kept filling more than the 50 mls that they wanted it to. Eventually when I came home I had the drain in and the nurse checked it every day.
The drain was eventually taken out after 17 days even though it was still leaking. Since then everything has been fine and goodness knows where the fluid goes after the drain comes out because I’ve had no leaking at all since.
I went out with my drain in, as suggested in a little cotton bag which I wore under a coat and had no problems.
Good luck xx
For Jacqnotyetinthebox -
Don’t know about everyone being entitled to a district nurse, I suspect it depends on which health trust you’re with. I’m in London North West Hospitals Trust and it wasn’t called District Nurse, but HART (Health care and Rehabilitation Team)
I loathe hospitals and I’d have gone nuts spending any longer in than I had to - but I have no kids and a supportive partner, so I had the luxury of choice.
Lyn
Ive been sent home twice with drains and told to empty them myself! District nurse came when i was under 40mls to take it out. I was given alovely little bag to carry them around in and pootled around my local area quite happily with them. I have to say though that once they have been in a while they can feel sore. I had my last out 10 das after surgery, even though it was still draining 100mls as it was so sore. It was a huge relief to have it out and then i had the fluid drained off twice a week for a few weeks after that. (this was after recon though so fluid build up is more common)
what size are drains after mastectomy.
Hi All
Can anyone help me? I had my MX 6 days ago and my surgeon has a policy of no drains. I have quite a fluid build up and am pretty swollen and uncomfortable.
Can you share amy similar experiences?
Hello there,
Oh poor you, you must be ever so uncomfy just now! No big hugs then, but just a careful, gentle one winging its way to you right now 
I think it’d be best idea to phone your bcn in the morning, and explain how you’re feeling. Hopefully, they’ll ask you to come to the hospital for them to drain it off. Alternatively, do you have a phone number for a district nurse, cos they may be able to come out and assess you, and get you help if necessary.
My surgeon gave me a drain, and I had it out a week later by the district nurse. There wasn’t that much draining by the 5th or 6th day but she wanted to keep it in till day seven. My friend lives only a few miles away, but comes under a different hospital. She had a drain for three days, but then kept having to go back to the hospital for fluid draining off.
I think different hospitals, and even different surgeons, might have different beliefs on drains and draining off fluid, but I wish you all the best, and hope you get sorted with it really soon.
Luv, Shelley xxx
Thanks Shelley.
My surgeon told me to grin and bear it, and only ring them if it became unbearable, which, at the moment, it isn’t.
Their theory is that if they drain it away, then it only comes back again just as bad. If i can bear it, then at some point my body should start to absorb it. I just feel like i’ve got a balloon growing,and i can hear fluid sloshing around in it, and wondered how long it was likely to last. Mind you. everyone is different, so i may have to wait and see.
I’ve got an appointment to go back on August 2nd so i’m going to try and put up with it until then.
Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Joanne XX