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DianneS · 09-30-2009, 07:23 PM

vlcarr,

Ouch.

I had double mastectomies Sept. 08 and had my little "Gucchi" bags hanging from both sides for at least a week. What do the docs mean by 'strip' the tubes 3-4 x a day? I do know it's important to keep those little plastic vacuum containers tightly closed for the suction to work right. Mine would occasionally pop open so I was checking all the time to make sure the tops were on good. When dumping the contents make sure you keep everything sterile. I would wipe the top(s) of the containers with an alcohol swab before I closed them. Otherwise you sound like you're healing as you should. Do you still have bandaid strips on the incisions? I kept mine on until I had the staples out, and also changed the strips daily & gently dried the surgery area after a shower. They said no baths allowed. Also, no one told me that when they take those tubes out it can be a little tender....actually it hurt a bit. They were longer than I thought. Hope you are taking it easy...

Wishing you a fast recovery!
Dianne

09-30-2009, 07:23 PM	#3
DianneS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 327	Re: Drainage Tube Questions vlcarr, Ouch. I had double mastectomies Sept. 08 and had my little "Gucchi" bags hanging from both sides for at least a week. What do the docs mean by 'strip' the tubes 3-4 x a day? I do know it's important to keep those little plastic vacuum containers tightly closed for the suction to work right. Mine would occasionally pop open so I was checking all the time to make sure the tops were on good. When dumping the contents make sure you keep everything sterile. I would wipe the top(s) of the containers with an alcohol swab before I closed them. Otherwise you sound like you're healing as you should. Do you still have bandaid strips on the incisions? I kept mine on until I had the staples out, and also changed the strips daily & gently dried the surgery area after a shower. They said no baths allowed. Also, no one told me that when they take those tubes out it can be a little tender....actually it hurt a bit. They were longer than I thought. Hope you are taking it easy... Wishing you a fast recovery! Dianne __________________ Three years and 5 months NED Dx: Aug 2008 right breast IDC with 50% of tumor DCIS, Stage II or IIA, tumor size: 2.1 cm Grade 3 8/9 Richardson/Bloom test ER+ weakly positive Alred Score: 4 (suggesting I would strongly benefit from hormone therapy) PR-, HER2 positive +++ No vascular invasion No lymph nodes involved Surgery: Sept. 9, 2008 -Modified radical mastectomy, right breast. I chose to have a simple mastectomy on the left. Began Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin November, 2008. Finished T/C March 2009. Finished #16 Herceptin Sept. 09. AI's and Tamoxifen made me sick. Began natural Tamoxifen which is Quercetin, I3C and a combo of other supplements. I am also a DES Daughter. There is now a link between DES exposure in utero and breast cancer!