The nurse will continue to see you while your drain is in place. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Dry your hands with a clean towel. Take the plug cap out of the top of the bulb. Squeeze all the air out of the bulb. Put the plug back in the top of the bulb.
You may be asked to empty your drains two to four times daily, or whenever they become about half full. Note the color and consistency of the drainage.
Early on, it will be bright red, but this should change to a straw color after a few days. After emptying your bulb into the toilet, rinse it with water and gently compress it to make sure a vacuum is recreated when you close the system. It is very helpful to have someone assist you with draining your surgical bulbs, if possible.
If you notice an increase in the amount of fluid, think about what you have been doing that may be causing that. Increased drainage may be a sign that you've been too active and need to take it easy for a few more days. Keep the insertion site clean and dry by washing with soap and water and gently patting dry.
Having drains provides bacteria an access route to your body, and the longer drains are in place, the greater the risk of infection. Signs of a drain-related infection may include:. One of the most difficult parts of having surgical drains is managing both the tubes and the drainage collection ports.
Having a special drain management garment can be a lifesaver. There are special cotton camisoles designed just for this purpose. A good one has pockets or pouches where you can insert the bulbs to keep them secure, is sturdy enough to attach and reattach safety pins to control the lines, and minimizes seams that could rub against your incision sites and be uncomfortable.
This keeps the drains secure so they don't pull on your wound site or swing freely and possibly catch on things. Some camisoles even have pockets in which you can insert soft cotton breast forms. Other options include large, roomy blouses, and oversized sweaters or sweatshirts that open in the front. For some time after surgery, it may be difficult to pull clothing over your head, so keep this in mind when you shop.
When you go to sleep at night, pay attention to the location of your drains. If you are an active sleeper, you may need to sleep on your back or in a recliner to prevent dislodging them. It's far too easy to catch your drain tubes on something if they are not secure.
Stretching and pulling is also difficult for some time after surgery, especially with drains in place. Before your surgery, it's helpful to place commonly used items in a place where you won't have to stretch or bend to reach them. This is also a good task to give to someone who is looking to help during this time. After surgery, additional adjustments to your daily life will be needed. Surgeons differ as to recommendations about driving with drains, and some recommend avoiding this altogether.
When you ride in a car, you may wish to position a small, soft, but relatively flat pillow between your surgical site and drains and your seat belt. Your surgeon will let you know how long you need to wait to bathe after surgery. Healthcare Providers also differ with regard to bathing instructions. Some recommend you only do sponge baths until your drains are removed, though you may be able to use a detachable shower head to wash from your waist down.
Washing your hair can be a bit of a challenge due to limited motion in your arms, and it can be uncomfortable to lean over the sink. Some people find that treating themselves to a shampoo at a hair salon is a good option. Soaking in a tub or entering a hot tub is not recommended while you have drains in place. Problems that can occur with drains include:. Surgeons vary on the length of time they want drains left in place. Most recommend drains be removed when there is less than 25 to 30 cc total coming from a drain in 24 hours.
Your surgeon will remove your drains by cutting the suture holding it in place and gently pulling out the tubing. You may notice a pulling sensation, but this only lasts a few minutes. Most people do not need any pain medications for this procedure.
Once your drain is out, ask your surgeon what kind of undergarments he or she recommends. Your bras should be supportive, comfortable, and not too tight. Underwire bras should be avoided. You will have small scars where the tubing exited your skin, but these often fade over time. Post-surgical drains can be a nuisance, but they are an important aspect of healing. As the amount of your drainage decreases each day, think of it as signifying being one step closer to being cancer-free.
Strip and empty the drain as described above in steps 4 — 8. Pour normal saline on a clean Q-tip and cleanse around the drain. Wipe up the excess saline with gauze. Using another Q-tip put the antibiotic ointment or Polysporin around the drain site.
Place clean gauze over the drain site and tape it in place with medical tape. Use a safety pin to secure the bulb to your underwear. Do this once a day, after you shower. The bulb does not hold suction The drainage suddenly stops or turns bright red The tubing falls out or a lot of fluid leaks out around the tube There is sudden, severe pain and swelling that looks like the breast is growning back You notice signs of infection such as severe pain, swelling, warmth or redness larger than silver dollar The fluid in the bulb becomes cloudy, murky or has a foul smell Fever or temperature greater than Surgical Wound Healing You can start taking a shower 48 hours 2 days after surgery but do not take a shower without help.
Place a stool in the shower or just outside it in case you feel faint. Do not soak in a bathtub, pool, hot tub, lake or ocean. Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or take any illegal drugs. Do not let your pain become greater than 6 on a scale.
Take your pain medication if the pain is 4 or higher. Do not drive until the JP drains have been removed. Do not lift, carry, push, pull or move anything that weighs more than 10 pounds or bend over to reach your knees, feet or the floor.
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