Great question! After a mastectomy, showering with drains does require some care and planning.
For the first 48 hours after surgery, showering is not recommended at all. After that, here are some tips for showering safely with drains: - Wear a lanyard around your neck and pin each drain bulb to it so they don't hang loose Show Full Answer
Great question! After a mastectomy, showering with drains does require some care and planning.
For the first 48 hours after surgery, showering is not recommended at all. After that, here are some tips for showering safely with drains: - Wear a lanyard around your neck and pin each drain bulb to it so they don't hang loose and pull on your stitches
- Special post-mastectomy camisoles with inner pockets can also hold drain bulbs securely
- Some MyBCTeam members have used telemetry pouches (available from hospitals) to hold drains while showering
After showering, make sure to keep the skin around the drain insertion site clean and dry to avoid infection or irritation. Pat the area gently dry and apply a fresh dressing as directed by your care team.
Always follow your surgeon's specific instructions, as they know the details of your surgery best!
August 30
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