Tubes & Evil Grenades

After a mastectomy, tubes are coiled up in the cavity left by the removed breast tissue in order to drain the fluid that collects in the space. These tubes stick out through holes in your side and are stitched into place. There are two tubes on each side. They extend (in my case) about 18 inches outside the body, with a drain bulb attached to the end. The medical staff called these bulbs "grenades". The tubes must be stripped or "milked" and the bulbs collapsed and sealed so that a reverse suction is achieved in order to draw the fluid out of the chest. The fluid has to be drained four times per day so that a seroma does not form. Seromas can be partially absorbed by the body, but would otherwise need medical intervention to remove the fluid, hence the drain tubes.

Depending on your doctor's preference, the standard is that the fluid from each bulb must drain anywhere from 20-50 ml of fluid in a 24 hour period before they can be removed. My doctor wanted my bulbs to each be under 30 ml and I wound up keeping mine for nearly three weeks as a result. After a time, the tubes begin to form a crust around the skin at the entry point. I found this crusty scab-like formation to be helpful in keeping my tubes from twisting while I slept. Of course I didn't realize this helpful aspect until the first time I removed the crust and found my tubes beginning to twist in odd directions, making the site sore.

I'm thankful for the drains, though I must say they were a pain in the rear. Anytime I wasn't wearing clothes, I had to find some way of preventing them from hanging so that the bulbs would not fall off the ends of the tubes. The collected fluid in the bulbs sometimes made them heavy enough to detach from the tubes. Sometimes I would put the bulbs in my pockets (if I had pockets). Without pockets, I would often attach them to my bra or the lapel of my shirt. Several times when I was using the bathroom just before getting in the shower (to wash from the waist down), I found I had to hold the bulbs under my chin so that I could take care of my "business" without them dangling.

There was also the threat of babies pulling on the tubes, or catching one with a foot if they were climbing on me. I kept covered around them or placed a pillow between my body and theirs to minimize the likelihood of this type of thing. It was hard to have to avoid the babies sometimes. My heart was burdened when I couldn't lift them or let them climb onto my lap. Sometimes it just hurt too much. Thank God for my husband, son, sister, mom, and step-dad at this time! Without them I couldn't have done it.

The tubes were removed today, July 6, 2010. I am thrilled to have them gone! It is so much easier to function. Holding the babies the first time was exciting. For once I didn't have to worry about guarding myself so heavily. I could actually fully embrace them! Now all I have to worry about it lifting them. I'm not supposed to lift them until I'm 6 weeks post-op. My weight limit is 10 pounds and they are each over 25 pounds.

One day at a time...for now I'm just happy to have lost the tubes. Good bye tubes, hello freedom. Once my holes close-up, I can finally have the shower I've been longing for. Ah...