How to Make a Handy Holder for Your Drain Bags

How to Make a Handy Holder for Your Drain Bags

One of the biggest post-surgery complaints mastectomy patients often have is that having drains is a huge pain. These drains are thin plastic tubes connected directly into the body to allow any excess fluid to escape into small bulbs called drain bags. It's a clever invention to keep incisions from becoming infected, but they're also unwieldy and awkward. They can even be painful if they get caught on something and tug on your skin.

Companies are now making drain bag holders to help deal with this issue—but who wants to spend 15-plus dollars on something you'll never wear or use again after a few days or weeks? So some mastectomy patients have devised their own necklaces, pockets, and other ways to hold their drain bags at little or no cost. And the one in this video is one of our favorites.

Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice

Below, Aniela McGuinness of the video blog My Breast Choice demonstrates how to make a super simple and inexpensive drain bag holder that's customized to fit your body. You don't even have to measure anything!

Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice

This option costs less than $5, and it won't cost you anything at all if you happen to have the things you'll need in the house already. If you're a craft-lover, you probably do!

Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice

You're going to need an old t-shirt you don't mind cutting up, a pair of scissors, enough elastic to go around your waist (or wherever you want your drain bag holder to sit), velcro, push pins, and a sewing machine. Hand-sewing is definitely an option for those who don't own a sewing machine.

Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice Photo: YouTube/My Breast Choice

Check out the video below to learn how to make your own drain bag holders and see how well they worked for Aniela after her mastectomy. This tutorial is going to save you a ton of discomfort!

[media height="270" width="480" provider="youtube" type="iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/inPmoeooTNM?feature=oembed" ad="true"]

Elizabeth Morey

Elizabeth Morey graduated summa cum laude from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI, where she dual majored in English Literature and Spanish with minors in Writing and Business Administration. She was a member of the school's Insignis Honors Society and the president of the literary honors society Lambda Iota Tau.

Some of Elizabeth's special interests include Spanish and English linguistics, modern grammar and spelling, and journalism. She has been writing professionally for more than five years and specializes in health topics such as breast cancer, autism, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Apart from her work at GreaterGood, she has also written art and culture articles for the Grand Rapids Magazine.

Elizabeth has lived in the beautiful Great Lakes State for most of her life but also loves to travel. She currently resides a short drive away from the dazzling shores of Lake Michigan with her beloved husband.

Back to blog