Does anyone have experience of infected seroma? After mastectomy and removal of 25 lymph nodes, 6 of which were cancerous, I developed a large seroma which was drained on my follow up 13 days after my op and found to be infected 2 days later (Thurs) and drained again. I had been told that it was not a good idea to drain too often as it encourages further build up of fluid. Antibiotic was prescribed. I rang Monday to say it bore no relation to the golf ball under the arm mentioned in the notes but more like a cushion strapped to my chest but was advised that if I was O K with that not to worry I had no idea whether I should be O K with it or not . However the following day it leaked and I ended up having 800 ml removed in the S A U.It was drained again 2 days later and again 4 days after that. 3 days later cellulitis was mentioned and the wound was opened and a stoma bag fitted etc. I was eventually regarded as fit to go forward for radiotherapy 9 weeks after the operation. My questions are should an infected seroma be treated differently to and drained more often than one not infected? Did I take the instructions too literally and did the people treating me think, though obviously they didn’t say so - Fancy waiting till it leaked before doing anything about it? Incidentally I took Flucloxacillin for 30 days and eventually sailed through 15 radiotherapy treatments without any skin problems or fatigue and am in good health. I walked on air for the first two weeks after the op (I had known about the lump for 7 weeks before) but felt I was trudging through wet snow for the next 7 weeks. When I can stop asking myself why things went so awry perhaps I can move on ?
Dear Anenome
Build up of fluid is our bodies natural response to injury / trauma / surgery. Usualy our Lymphatic system carries the fluid away, even when it’s infected. They are right when they say draining the fluid increases further build up, it is our bodies natural reaction. It is just getting the balance right and unfortunately you had an infection. So it is no more necessary to drain when there is an infection and it makes no difference (other than creating another puncture where bacteria can enter). It is the Antibiotics that clear the infection and it sounds like you were right to give them the opportunity to do that and unfortune that the skin broke and leaked fluid.
To be fair it sounds like you had more than your share. I had seroma drained twice following surgery and ANC i still have a pocket of fluid, small golf ball size, under my arm and some mild odema in my chest and back two years on. I find massage of the whole region plus down my arm (remains corded) is helpful, as is swimming. I had three lots of surgery to same side so my skin struggled to heal, ongoing antibiotics and lots of dressings… from Breast Care Team for about two months. I then had honey therapy (Friend in Tissue Vialbility Nursing). Flucloxacillin, by the way, is the most appropriate antibiotic in tissue / skin infection.
It really does sound like both you and your care team did everything possible in what was a difficult recovery but so pleased that you sailed through Radiotherapy.
Wishing you good health. Take Care Butterfly. x