How Long Did You Have Your Drains in After Mastectomy?

I had drains in for two weeks . With both the mastectomies and implants. I had very small breasts(AA). I understand the drains stay in according to your size. I know someone who was large and had them in for 6 weeks. I was told they help in preventing infection. It does get better.

Hi Marybe - I did not have mastectomy. However, after my first lumpectomy, I did not have drains and wound up with several hematomas that had to be drained 4 times. On my second lumpectomy with partial mastectomy/mastopexy, I had 2 drains placed which stayed in just over 2 weeks. Yikes, those puppies hurt and it was difficult to continually strip them. My husband helped me the first 2 weeks because I was so tight from the stitches. After that, I was able to tend to the tubes and drains. Then I also wound up with an allergic reaction to the tubing! You can get through this. Just go one day at a time. I would mark each day off of my calendar and kept telling myself that I was getting closer to having them removed. You can do it...best of luck.

Thank you for your replies. I actually had to take half a hydrocodone last night (the first I’ve had to take since my surgery!). I keep telling myself, just two more days until Friday. It’s just so sore and tender. Ugh.

You can do it - it will get better, day by day.

My husband discovered the reason for the pain-my stitches are pulling away from the drain site! I called Roswell and they can’t do anything. I have to call back tomorrow at 8. I asked if I could go to a local ER and have them taken out and Roswell said no, they wouldn’t approve that! Wth 🙁

Actually, mine kind of did that and they put those clear "window" bandages on it to hold it down. That may just do the trick...I wish you well.

I had mine in for what seemed like an eternity... Finally I told the doctor and nurse navigator that I had made plans and needed the drain out so I could start chemo. They said, "you might have a seroma where the drain is..." I said I would own that. The doctor conceded, the nurse pulled it out, and I was ever so happy. I agree with you that the drain is incredibly annoying and for me was more painful than the recovery from surgery. My issue was my activity level was very high and the drain volume wasn't going down. I wasn't willing to back off all of the stuff that I was doing so I negotiated...

I had bilateral mastectomy. To me, the drains were the worse part of the surgery. Very sensitive at the sites. My husband had to clear the tubes because I couldn’t reach them. Had to leave them in more than originally thought. I had reconstructive surgery and had the dreaded drains again! I wore pants with pockets to work, so I could place the bulbs in the pockets. It worked! I kept telling myself this was just one more step toward healing and it would end soon. Hope you are improving.@marybe

They were able to fit me in today, one day early! My stitches were ripping out and so painful. The Dr taking those drains out was such a relief. I couldn’t believe how long they were! Now on to healing, then chemo and radiation. Thank you everyone and all the best

Update-the reason my drain sites were so painful was that I had a massive infection, which my surgeon DID NOT notice. By Friday morning I was lethargic and basically unresponsive, my husband called the ambulance and they took me to Strong Memorial U of R Wilmot Cancer Center where three days of strong IV antibiotics brought me around. I have fallen through the cracks at Roswell Park Cancer Institute too many times and I will be doing my remaining cancer care with Wilmot