I’m 5 weeks post surgery, having had 2 wide excisions in breast and some, then all lymph nodes removed. This week I’ve developed a seroma under my armpit. Has anyone else experienced this and if so how long did it last before it got re-absorbed into the body. Is it unusal to get it so long after surgery as my breast nurse seemed to think that most people get it quite soon after having drain removed. My onc seems loathed to drain it at this stage as I’m starting chemo next week and he says it could cause infection? just wondering if my arm will ever feel normal again as it’s really affecting my physio excercises?
Had to keep having mine drained for 6wks after surgery - although I must admit that it didn’t effect my mobility unless it had really built up! There was still some there when I started chemo but my body soon re-absorbed it…good luck with the chemo.
Hi
Don’t want to alarm you, but I still have mine 17 months later! But that is through choice, they can be drained completely if necessary, but they can be reluctant to do so because of the risk of infection. I had mine drained once, so that they could do a mammogram and ultrasound. But then it filled itself up completely. Mine sits right where my lumpectomy was and is the size of a small satsuma, when they drained it my breast was all saggy ‘caved in’ and deformed. My consultant advised me in my circumstance to tolerate it, as it was my bodies way of filling a space and means I don’t have to have any further reconstructive surgery at this moment in time. So I am the opposite to you I am dreading mine being absorbed back into the body, which is apparently what happens as I will be left with a deformed breast. But I can understand how upsetting yours must be, I had a swollen raised area under my armpit for a while, which was where the drain site had got infected and it took ages to heal, I was really sick of all the dressings and discomforts, but it did heal after about a month and my arm was almost back to normal within a couple of months.
Good luck with the physio, it is worth it!
Nicky
My seroma - under the arm - developed about 10 days after WLE and ANC. It was drained 4 times altogether and the amount of fluid they got out of it was less each time.
I started chemo 5 weeks after surgery and there was still a little fluid left under my arm but they didn’t want to drain it again because of the risk of infection. After that it gradually disappeared although my underarm area is still uncomfortable 2 years after surgery.
I hope you start to feel more comfortable soon and good luck with the chemo.
Anthi x
Have been browsing the forums here for a while but this is my first posting.
I had an LD flap reconstruction 5 weeks ago and have had problems with a seroma in my back which I’ve had drained 3 times. Last Thursday when I woke up I was lying in a puddle as the fluid had found its way out through my wound. It also seeped through and soaked two changes of clothes before I was able to get to the hospital. I had the remainder of it drained but the fluid has built up again. Feel anxious that obviously the wound has not fully healed yet either. HELP! Has anyone found a solution to this problem - would wearing some sort of corset help prevent the fluid coming back?
Woolly