Here is what the tubes are. After mastectomy, a rubber tube is placed in your chest near your armpit to drain excess fluid. I had tubes on both sides, because my mastectomy was bilateral. The tubes exit between your ribs and are taped in to keep contaminates from getting into the holes where the tubes are. At the end of the tubes, you have balls that create suction to drain the fluids from your body. I had an especially hard time with the fluid build up on the side that my lymph nodes were removed. After my mastectomy, I talked my surgeon into removing my tubes after one week even though I was still draining quite a bit. I'll be honest, the tubes hurt. I didn't want them anymore. Big mistake. I had major setbacks, because the tubes were removed too soon. My chest filled up with fluid, I had fevers, and I was in immense pain. It sucked!
When you have your tubes removed, ask to have them both pulled out at once if you have them on both sides. My doctor did one side, and the nurse did the other side. After one is pulled out, you are so not going to want to have that other one pulled. Have you ever had your ears pierced and chickened out after one side was done. This is a thousand times worse. It hurts like giving birth to a tube baby through your rib cage. If you have them both pulled at once, it's a lot easier. However, once they are out, oh my gosh! The relief you feel! It's a little bloody, because of course, your body likes to build tissue wherever there is a wound. So, you get a little ripping of tissue when those tubes come out. Not a lot. A good bandaid or a little gauze and tape is all you need. The sweet relief is what you need to think about here. It's why I begged to get them removed.
Twice a day, you drain the fluid that collects in your balls and you measure it so that you can monitor the amount of fluid that is still draining from your body. Then you squeeze the balls to create suction and reattach them to your clothes. I like to have mine pinned to my pants so that I can tuck the tubes in, but you can buy shirts with pockets to hold your balls in place.
With my expander surgery, I also have two ports, because I have expanders on both sides. When you have your tubes, you can't take a bath. Sponge baths only. So, those candlelight baths in the evening that you have on your taking care of you list, have to be set aside. No bathing for a week. Gross! After about a week, you can shower. I just had my first shower today. Awesome! Water and soap. It's the little things in life. Happy sigh!
Something tubes have taught me . . . how to deal with disappointment. After the mastectomy tubes were removed there was the swelling, fluid build up, and pain. Thought I would be up and ready to return back to normal. This time, I travelled 4 hours ONE WAY to get my tubes removed. Unfortunately, I'm not healed enough, and I still have too much fluid draining. So, my awesome doctor's amazing nurse practitioner did not give in to my teary plea to take them out. That's not sarcasm. I really am so appreciative! Yes, I want them gone, but I remember the pain that was caused by getting them removed too soon last time. So, I got in the car, and we travelled 4 hours back home. In between the car rides, my cousin, his wife, and my mom treated me like a princess. Yep, took a major support team on this trip. They did everything they could to fatten me up by feeding me tons of yummy food, I got to see the Glendale Galleria and my stunningly beautiful niece. They made me laugh so hard that I can barely move today. I am truly blessed and truly sore.
But I still have bigger blalls than you. At least until Monday.