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Chelee · 09-30-2009, 05:27 PM

I do know you don't want to have those drain tubes removed too soon. While it's true they say when it's under 30 cc's they can be removed. But in one wks time that's pretty quick to have them out? I'm in the world record book for having drain tubes in longer then anyone else. Even after they were finally removed I ended up with a hugh seroma that is still there. (Very uncomfortablel!) It was drained a few times but it came back anyway. As a last resort they said they could do surgery and go back in and place the drain tube back in there. (I didn't want to do that)

I just wanted you to know it can turn into a nightmare if you remove those drains too soon. Plus I had days were the amount that drained was low...then a few days later it would go back up. Those tubes do get blocked...you can kind of pull on them...stretch them and it will unblock them. They are very annoying to have it but I wouldn't have them out until your breast surgeon says it's ok. And the bruising and purplish streaks are normal. I was pretty sore in that area for a while but it will get better soon. That's alot of trauma to your chest. You've been through alot & your doing all the right things. Hang in there it all sounds normal to me. If you get too concerned about anything...just go in and see your surgeon for peace of mind.

Chelee

09-30-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Re: Drainage Tube Questions I do know you don't want to have those drain tubes removed too soon. While it's true they say when it's under 30 cc's they can be removed. But in one wks time that's pretty quick to have them out? I'm in the world record book for having drain tubes in longer then anyone else. Even after they were finally removed I ended up with a hugh seroma that is still there. (Very uncomfortablel!) It was drained a few times but it came back anyway. As a last resort they said they could do surgery and go back in and place the drain tube back in there. (I didn't want to do that) I just wanted you to know it can turn into a nightmare if you remove those drains too soon. Plus I had days were the amount that drained was low...then a few days later it would go back up. Those tubes do get blocked...you can kind of pull on them...stretch them and it will unblock them. They are very annoying to have it but I wouldn't have them out until your breast surgeon says it's ok. And the bruising and purplish streaks are normal. I was pretty sore in that area for a while but it will get better soon. That's alot of trauma to your chest. You've been through alot & your doing all the right things. Hang in there it all sounds normal to me. If you get too concerned about anything...just go in and see your surgeon for peace of mind. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.