Hi
is there anyone out there who can reassure me? I had my first op on 5th July to remove my cancer (3.7 mm.) from my left breast. That was rather painful. My breast looked like it could feature in a horror movie afterwards, so swollen and covered in multicoloured bruises it was (ranging from yellow to red, to purple!)! On 26th July I had a second operation in which they did an axilla clearance (they found that my sentinel lymphnode was affected after my first op)and also carried out the latissimus dorsi mini flap at the same time.I am currently trying to recover from it. I am in considerable pain (I pop painkillers like smarties. And this is from a woman who previously refused to take any unnecessary pills)but what makes it worse is the gallons of serum my back is producing. I have had my back drained three times already, one in hospital at the weekend and twice by the BC nurse (I have never waited for a person to turn up with a higher degree of anticipation). The thing is as soon as it is drained it fills up again. 
IT is really quite disheartening as it is causing me a considerable amount of discomfort. I can’t sit comfortably anywhere and walking is an ordeal.
Has anybody gone through the same? How many times can I expect to have my back drained before it stops producing fluid? I know it’s normal considering the operation I have had but I was wondering if anybody can advise me on what to expect.
Thanks in advance!
Lulu60
hiya lulu,
it sounds like you are having a dreadful time. I havent any experience of it so cannot help but thought i could at least send you hugs and bump the thread up for you
hope someone who knows can help soon
Vickie
Hi lulu, sorry to hear about your seroma, I had my mx, ANC and ld flap in feb, I had three drains, the back one stayed in for a week and then I had a temporary one for another few days, after that they drained the seroma for another nine weeks, at first around 500mls at the end around 150mls. They stopped due to the Chemo, as piercing the skin is an infection risk. Mine has at last resolved itself, leaving a tender area behind. Some units give steroid injections into the seroma, sometimes that helps. Generally, you will be told that it will be left for your body to absorb the fluid by itself. Take the painkillers. It’s a big op to recover from. X tina
Hi Lulu,
I just had to check my calendar to see when you had your op, only 10 days ago! I was in hospital for 10 days after my recon with 2 drains in the back. The surgeon wouldn’t let me out until the wound was only draining 200ml/day. Even then I had the wound drained several times over the next month. It seems to me that it is still early days. I was also very bruised for all the time I was in hospital and took lots of pain killers, the best for me was diclofenic. I hope things settle down soon but be patient.
All the best
Louise
Hi lulu. Im so glad you asked this question as i am also feeling very uncomfortable with a build up of fluid following my ld flap op two weeks ago. I was in hospital for five days with three drains which were taken out on the day i came home but i had to go back to be drained off earlier this week and i can already feel it building up again. My bc nurse told me to expect it and said that it sometimes takes 8/9 sessions before it stops. I hope its not that long!
Wishing you a speedy recovery. X
Hi all
I didn’t have a reconstruction but I did have seromas both sides following my double mastectomy. At first each time they were drained they kept filling up - usually 400 to 600mls. It was horrendous and if I put my hand above the breast area I could literally feel the fluid running down inside from the shoulder area. Mine did carry on for a quite a while but that is unusual. I was told at the time that they can never say how long it will go on for or how many times it will need draining. It feels like it will never stop but it does eventually.
I am happy to say that it stop and it was quite sudden. I had it drained the last time and it hardly refilled. Then the whole area flattened nicely (remember I had mastectomy, no recon). The BCN was really surprised how flat and good it looked afterwards and so was I!
It is such early days for you. Try not to get too anxious. It is horribly uncomfortable and I think the pressure contributes to the pain.
take care
Elinda x
Thanks ladies
it sure helps to find out you are not alone in coping! Had my fourth draining session yesterday and sure enough it is filling up already! I think I have resigned myself to the fact that the serum production is part of the healing process and that I’ll have to be patient.
Keep smiling!!
Lulu60
Hi I had same op in March this year and still have seroma, all I can say is that it does get easier, I have been having physio which has helped alot, although I would’nt have said that last month, it really gets me down, I am now able to lie on my side and sleep quite well-snoring my husband says! My surgeon wont drain it as it has been done 3 times and keeps coming back, he assures me it will be absorbed through time.
Since MARCH??? Eeeek!! Oh dear… it would seem I’m in for the long haul then.
But it 's interesting how differently they do things in different places. I am getting the serum drained at regular intervals at home by the BC nurse ( I literally count the seconds to her arrival!)albeit she is gradually allowing more days in between sessions. I’ll be glad when it has gone for good and I can sleep once more!Snoring or not…
Lulu60
Hi Lulu, I had a left MX and ANC 6 weeks ago today and I’m in a similar situation. I’ve had my seroma drained 9 times and I’m going again tomorrow. It is really getting me down, it started at 500 and slowly dropped to 200, but then last week it was back up to 250 and 300. Although it does seem to have hardened and is a lot less painful this week. it will have to stop next week whatever happens as that’s when I start my chemo, so I’m praying it will stop by then. Can’t give you any advice I’m afraid just lots of sympathy, it is so disheartening to look down after they drain it and see it fill up again.
I hope it settles down for you quickly, take care.
Grace xx
Hi everyone
I have noticed, following yesterday’s draining session ( my fifth), that it hasn’t filled up as much. Still, I went to see my surgeon for a check up visit today and when I told him how uncomfortable I have been, etc. he suggested a steroid injection in the affected area to help things settle. Apparently it is a technique they use as standard in Glasgow (can anyone confirm this?) and they swear by it. The jury is still out on its benefits, according to my surgeon. Not everybody agrees that it actually works BUT he has suggested to give it a try in my case. At worst, he says, it won’t make any difference. Worth the shot, I say. I will let you all know. It’s scheduled for Thursday.
Best wishes
Hi I last posted in August about my seroma, well a month later my friend is still with me, has gone down slightly but still a pain in the back!!dont see my surgeon until end of month but think most of the pain is on the surgery area, I’m uncomfortable bending and lifting just seems to be dragging on forever. I go to the gym for a bit of general exercise but do find it a strain. I wish I could fast forward to next year-surely life would be better.No I’m not always moaning but its hard to be joyous all the time, especially with short curly hair aaargh!!.
Happy days.
Hi, I had the steroid injection after 5 drains, didn’t help unfortunately, I had another 4 drains and then went on with chemo, they wouldn’t drain during chemo. Just had a 6 months post surgery check up and there is still residual seroma there. Have been told that it may take a while to disolve completely, but at least it is not painful any longer! I suppose we have to hang in there…Tinaxxx
Hey Lynmac and Tina
just to update you about my blasted seroma. It is still there, albeit not as bad as it once was. I’m losing count of the number of times it has been drained now. Eight or nine I reckon. As having it drained was delaying chemo they have decided to leave it be. Although it’s a bit uncomfortable it is not as painful as it once was and I can deal with it. Unfortunately that meant I got the green light for chemo: first session on 22nd September. EEEEEK!
Cue in panic attack…:-0
Lulu
Lulu, dont panic, the thinking and waiting for the first lot of chemo is worse, once you get going and start counting down the sessions, you will be ok. Never thought I would say that, 8 weeks past last chemo, hair is starting to sprout again…Big Hug, Tinax
Thanks Tina!
Everybody says that: that the wait is worse than the actual thing. Still I can’t help feeling anxious, particularly about the hair loss (mind you: I will give the cold cap a go)!
Reading what other women are saying about chemo has helped me a lot and made me realize no two women are the same when it comes to side effects.
Fingers crossed then!
How are you now that your treatment is over? Resuming normal life?
Lulu X
Lulu, I used the paxman cold cap, unfortunately, it wasnt working very well and I lost most of my hair, but I contacted them and they said it could help with regrowth, it certainly seems to sprout.
Well the Fec/Tax combo pushed me into menopause, as is the case with a lot of the premenopausal ladies here. I didn’t really understand what that meant, but, here we are with flushes, sweats and bad sleep! My muscles are still sore from the tax and the nails are recovering. it takes time. I started chemo in April and that seems a lifetime ago now. Very odd, how quickly the time passed really looking back.
You are right, no two people are the same and be kind to yourself and take a day at a time.
Hope it goes ok. I really kept going with the normal routine, not missed one school run, moved house, renovated and went away to the seaside on holiday. Yes, losing the hair is hard, if you have very long hair, it might be an idea to go short. I wish I had, my hair was below my shoulders and when it fell out it became very tangled and I had to have it cut very short anyhow. If you are doing paxman, they have a very useful website. Best Wishes. Tinax
Hi Lulu, I had a mx and LD flap reconstruction in January of this year.
I also suffered from a seroma and had it drained 3 times. On my fourth visit the PS suggested that I leave it as everytime it is drained it simultaniously ecourages it to fill up again.
So I bought myself a mastectomy surgical bodice (from the internet) which gave me extra support to help with the weight of the fluid. It stopped it from ‘dragging’. It did eventually subside, the body re-absorbs the fluid, but took some time, about 4 months in all. So if you can bare it, I would suggest letting nature take its course.
Be kind to yourself and take lots of rest. Ania
Thanks Ania
I have now resigned myself to the fact it is going to take weeks and weeks before it totally disappears…
Tina: I followed your advice and googled the Paxman cold cap. Would you believe it: at the top of the Google page was the Paxman website but right underneath OUR thread! Quite funny reallY!
Lulu XX
Just to update you about my situation…
the seroma has FINALLY started to disappear of its own accord. About time too! This is now 9 weeks plus down the line. There is still some residual there but nothing visible (so it was a good call from the BCN to call the syringing a day). At least I don’t look like a camel anymore! 
I joked with my hubby about my hump! It was very unsightly (AND uncomfortable).
So don’t deapair you ladies out there plagued with the same thing. It will go eventually…
Now I’ll have to deal with the loss of my hair but that’s a different thread…lol
Lulu XXX