ALND people–how long did you have the JP drain? (yes, again!)
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ALND people–how long did you have the JP drain? (yes, again!)

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › ALND people–how long did you have the JP drain? (yes, again!)

  • Post
    • April 27, 2013 at 7:05 pm
    Bunmom
    Participant

    I'm 22 days post-op for complete axillary lymph node dissection, and my JP drain is still putting out 50-60 cc's per day. My surgeon was worried about infection and wanted it out last week, but I talked him into leaving it as I'm concerned about the output. I'm afraid that pulling it too soon will lead to a seroma or lymphedema. 

     

    I've read on some breast cancer boards that people have had them in for up to 4 weeks, but I haven't seen anything beyond that. 

     

    Did anyone here have theirs in a long time? 

    I'm 22 days post-op for complete axillary lymph node dissection, and my JP drain is still putting out 50-60 cc's per day. My surgeon was worried about infection and wanted it out last week, but I talked him into leaving it as I'm concerned about the output. I'm afraid that pulling it too soon will lead to a seroma or lymphedema. 

     

    I've read on some breast cancer boards that people have had them in for up to 4 weeks, but I haven't seen anything beyond that. 

     

    Did anyone here have theirs in a long time? 

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • April 27, 2013 at 9:24 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      I had mine pulled on day 25 and I was still draining way over the required amount.  It was pulled for fear of an infection.   Yes I did get a seroma (which Onc didn't want to drain for "fear of an infection") so it burst on it's own….that was sooooo much better, NOT!  And yes I do have some lymphedema but it can be easily dealt with especially if you get on it as soon as it pops up.  The one certainity I can tell you for certain is getting the drain out will be one of the happiest days of you life!wink

      Mary

      Stage 3

      • April 27, 2013 at 9:24 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      I had mine pulled on day 25 and I was still draining way over the required amount.  It was pulled for fear of an infection.   Yes I did get a seroma (which Onc didn't want to drain for "fear of an infection") so it burst on it's own….that was sooooo much better, NOT!  And yes I do have some lymphedema but it can be easily dealt with especially if you get on it as soon as it pops up.  The one certainity I can tell you for certain is getting the drain out will be one of the happiest days of you life!wink

      Mary

      Stage 3

        • April 28, 2013 at 8:33 pm
        mama1960
        Participant

        I went 7 weeks with mine and it never did get down to a decent level. Yes, I do have lymphedema, but i expect i would have had it anyway.

        • April 28, 2013 at 8:33 pm
        mama1960
        Participant

        I went 7 weeks with mine and it never did get down to a decent level. Yes, I do have lymphedema, but i expect i would have had it anyway.

        • April 28, 2013 at 8:33 pm
        mama1960
        Participant

        I went 7 weeks with mine and it never did get down to a decent level. Yes, I do have lymphedema, but i expect i would have had it anyway.

      • April 27, 2013 at 9:24 pm
      washoegal
      Participant

      I had mine pulled on day 25 and I was still draining way over the required amount.  It was pulled for fear of an infection.   Yes I did get a seroma (which Onc didn't want to drain for "fear of an infection") so it burst on it's own….that was sooooo much better, NOT!  And yes I do have some lymphedema but it can be easily dealt with especially if you get on it as soon as it pops up.  The one certainity I can tell you for certain is getting the drain out will be one of the happiest days of you life!wink

      Mary

      Stage 3

      • April 29, 2013 at 4:33 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant
      It took six weeks for the second drain to get down to the
      30-40 mL/day level needed for removal. Had been as high as 400 mL per day (when working on a floor, four weeks after the operation) Other drain was removed after only two weeks, was down to about 15 mL/day.

      No lymph-edema afterwards.

      Paid a lot of attention to keeping the area around the tube entry germ free. to prevent infection when the the sieve would get blocked from the mucous and then leak out around the entry point of the tube into my abdomen.

      • April 29, 2013 at 4:33 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant
      It took six weeks for the second drain to get down to the
      30-40 mL/day level needed for removal. Had been as high as 400 mL per day (when working on a floor, four weeks after the operation) Other drain was removed after only two weeks, was down to about 15 mL/day.

      No lymph-edema afterwards.

      Paid a lot of attention to keeping the area around the tube entry germ free. to prevent infection when the the sieve would get blocked from the mucous and then leak out around the entry point of the tube into my abdomen.

      • April 29, 2013 at 4:33 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant
      It took six weeks for the second drain to get down to the
      30-40 mL/day level needed for removal. Had been as high as 400 mL per day (when working on a floor, four weeks after the operation) Other drain was removed after only two weeks, was down to about 15 mL/day.

      No lymph-edema afterwards.

      Paid a lot of attention to keeping the area around the tube entry germ free. to prevent infection when the the sieve would get blocked from the mucous and then leak out around the entry point of the tube into my abdomen.

Viewing 5 reply threads
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