[StillHere]

Emelie
I had a bi-lat mastectomy 10/05. The right side for tumor, the left side prophylactic. Had 4 drains. First was out in hospital, 2nd the first week, but the last two I could not get the drainage to be less than 30cc/day. By the end of the 2nd week, I cheated and told my surgeon the drainage was less than 30cc/day. He removed them. I went back to work the next week. The hospital I work at happens to be connected to my surgeons office building. I had to go back into his office every 2 to 4 days to have both sides drained by needle aspiration. Since I had no feeling in the area they aspirated, it was not painful, just time consuming. I did feel much better w/ the drains removed and I was lucky I could just hop over to his office whenever the swelling became too uncomfortable. This went on for about 2 months. I guess some of us are just juicier than others.

I also had a freeflap reconstruction in 6/06. I had 6 drains (2 on each breast and 1 each on right and left abdomen). These were removed on my first post op visit with no problems after. Side note: I did mortify my daughter taking a sponge bath outside on a lawn chair. We have a privacy fence, so I got naked (except for my 6 drains of course) and poured pictures of soapy water over my bottom half while sitting on on the lawn chair. It was a little ironic that birds were chirping at the birdbath a few feet from where I was taking a birdbath. My daughter Nicki, (Age 25 who took unpaid family leave to help me out - bless her sweet giving heart) washed my hair while laughing hysterically over my lack of modesty.