drains

hi all

so having my reop in less than 3 weeks, EEEEEEKKK but my surgeon has said he will be using drains this time, for 2 reasons, 1, I had alot of fluid build up in my left breast last time and 2, he said he always uses them for a reop

So this is the one major thing that is freaking me out

Can anyone put my mind at ease and also if you had a bad experince feel free to share, I feel the need to know what to expect lol

Can I move around with them etc etc xx

I had no issues with mine whatsover, could move around you just had to pick up the bottles and carry them to the loo or whatever, and no pain taking them out at all.  all fine - don't worry!

omg im so squeemish lol Im worried about having to look at them lol xx

i know what you mean...i hardly had any blood collected in  mine though...also for the majority of the time you are in bed and they are on the floor and you don't even know they are there x

Hi tink :)

I had drains! I thought I would be grossed out by mine esp when walking to the loo but it was actually ok! You will have a drain in each boob but going into one bottle (I expected a bottle either side) there will be hardly any blood in there and the tube is long enough to just sit on the floor next to you so you don't even have to see it! I was also worried about blood just pouring into the bottle but it doesn't at all...you wont feel it there at all :)

In the morning the nurse came round to take them out. She told me to take a deep breath and it was over in like two seconds. Its a suction feeling when they pull it out...it doesn't hurt but it does feel weird! its hard to know but ild say there was about 4cm of tube inside so it really is quick!  The nurse said I turned a little white haha but that was more so because I was worried about her taking the cannula out next!

So although I didn't laugh like some surgery stories here it didn't hurt at all and will be over really quickly :) xx

I've never had them as I am pre BA, but I can tell you I've removed them. The one thing patients always say is that is didn't hurt, more of a tickly sensation. They may tell you to breath a bit more deeply when removing it, but tell your nurse your worried and she should be able to reassure you, maybe even schedule your pain relief to just before having it done to ensure that you wont be in pain (although I think pain on removal isn't something I've seen the girls on here talk about).
Its also very quick in removing them so will be over before you even know it!
Hope this helps a little bit, try not to worry too much about them.
xxxxxxx

I had them for my first op, you can move around but you have to carry 2 big glass bottles filled with blood and fluid around xx

ah so the tube is long not really short!! thats good

thanks girlies im super worried about this haha

Charliee thats good to know that you have removed them, cant they get stuck and what happens to the whole they are going into xx

I didnt have drains first time round but I did for my second op.i asked my surgeon if they hurt wen taken out and he replied depends on how nice the nurse is!! But as it happens it was on a nerve and wen she took it out it sent a horrible pain down my arm and side of my left boob where the drain was :( it really hurt :( and still havnt got much movement in my arm yet cus its still quite sore to move.sorry if its really negative hun but I defo didnt have a great experience with a drain but im hoping urs goes ok xxxx

The hole is very small though and closes on its own xxx

Ive not known them to get stuck hun, and like Natty said, the cut they make to put them in is so small that it heals on its own, may just have a small dressing over to protect it from infection while its closing.

Maybe ask if someone can be the opposite side to talk to you (distract you) basically, either your OH, family member or another nurse if it helps.

xxxx

U will be fine tink try not to think about it.i honestly didnt think about it til they took it out and it did come out really quick xxxx

The hole is seperate from the actual incision isn't it? I have two tiny scabs but they arnt connected to my incisions? Xx

Yes its seperate from ur incision jen xxx

Ok good lol, I thought they were going to be in the same place and wondering wether it's just dried blood haha!! Thank you!! Xx

aw no natty I want all exoeriances so that I know what can happen, I had a drain after my section but was so numb I never felt the area for over a year

Im going on my own so will need to be a wee nurse distracts me, that and the needle going in for anesthetic stresses me out but I have all over my notes i need magic cream lol lol xx

Hiya, no experience of having drains yet, but my surgeon uses them for all his BA patients. I also have to look after women with post surgery drains at work, and remove them, and I think they look a lot scarier than they actually are xx

Yeah I think im in the small percentage of people that has had a bad experience with drains hunni.im sure u will be fine and how come u will be on ur own?? The nurses will look after u im sure so u wont be alone xxxx

cause i need to travel to manchester and we cant get babysitters for 2 nights, well we could but Id rather ask for help afterwards when im home, so im flying down the sunday night having the op the monday and peter will drive down on the tues and get me to go home,
xx

Im meant to be having one tomorrow. Ill let you know how it goes x

aw that would be fab, honest just tell me as it is lol xx

Its good that someone is picking u up xxxx 
Good luck nik for tomorrow xx

I came home with my drains in following a heamatoma...had one for 24 hours and the other for 48 hours. They caused no pain at all and never felt a thing when they removed them

thanks girls thats good to hear from some of you

yeah Natty the hospital wont let me home until someone come gets me or I would head home myself lol xx

Tink, I know this is an old thread......How were your drains hun!?!???? Some of us January buddies would like to know

Thank you xx