dealing with drains after surgery

[ceresvulcan]

So it looks like my top surgery is happening in about 3 weeks, and this doctor uses drains (my first choice didn't but my insurance fell through) and I'm a bit concerned about dealing with them. Mostly A)when sleeping...are they in the way?? And B) Can I keep them hidden or confined or something, or do they just hang there? Any tips for taking care

Comments

[colestainedpage]

I was wrapped up for a week after surgery and my drains were pinned to the outside of the dressing. I wore a baggy button down shirt so it was easy to put on & take off, and the drains were easily hidden under the shirt.

I also spent that week sleeping in my recliner as it was the most comfortable option for me and made it easy to get up.

[tonyinabag]

same - slept propped up on lots of pillows rather than a recliner, but the drains were pinned to my post-surgical binder and, while awkward, weren't terribly in the way.

[tonyinabag]

ha! actually remembered i had a photo. linking rather than posting since it's kinda gross?

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a242/tonyinabag/drains.jpg

[mrmikeyman]

What kind of drains does the surgeon use? My surgeon didn't use the bulb drains, just a couple of drain tubes that stuck out and drained into the absorbent Chux I had under the post-op binder and padding. I didn't even notice them at all...except when they were removed. Sleeping with them wasn't an issue, since like the poster above, I slept in my recliner afterwards, although I think I actually did 2 weeks in the chair.