Hi Clare, awake at mo cos ANC causes my arm to hurt in bed. Having ANC for me was the harder part the lumpectomy x 2 was easy. You have a drain approxaimetly from 7 To 9 days depends on your output from it, normally when under 50 mls a day thwill ill consider taking it out. I couldn't have drivennsafelybfor perhaps first 2 and a half weeks. Or maybe more. It's quite a sore feeling, completely numb under arm with a strong sunburn feeling on inside and back of arm, basically a nerve or two are cut to remove lymph nodes and it takes sometime to repair. Your shoulder , quite stiff and you have exercises to do as you will find it difficult to reach up as you used to. Also they advise you don't overuse arm in first few weeks and monitor for swelling, once you've had ANC arm care becomes everybody important as high risk of lymphodema. I was due to drive approx 300 miles few days after and glad I cancelled. Have plenty of pillows to get comfy in bed, v pillow good, also moisturiser for arm keep skin supple, cut free. It's not the pleasantest of procedures but worth it for some piece of mind and although takes a awhile my arms feeling loads better than it did. Other people might have felt a lot better than me we are all different. Good luck hope it goes ok, I found the worst thing was the drain, big relief when that was removed. Take care xx ps it's Scotland I was due to go to but from Swansea x