Hi all
I had surgery 11 days ago. I had a lumpectomy and axilla clearance with all lymph nodes out. All was fine until last Thursday when I got a swelling. It wasn’t painful and team had a look on Friday and said was a seroma but no infection. It’s still not hot to the touch or red and I don’t have a temperature but it’s really uncomfortable and painful along the wound line and a little tender to the touch. Is this normal?
Zx
Hi newbie
I’m in the same boat, mine blew up yesterday and feel like I’ve a tennis ball under my arm. I’m going to ring the team in the morning until then I’ve been putting a hot water bottle on it. Im 10 days post axillary clearance and dressings due to come off this Wednesday.
I’ll let you know if they give me any advice tomorrow. What did they suggest you do?
Best wishes
Jackie x
Well at the time it wasn’t particularly painful but now it is! They suggested painkillers and watch for an infection which is what I’m doing. I will ring them again in the morning as I feel rough as well but no temperature x
I’ve just taken some paracetamol but feel really uncomfortable. I’ve stopped doing the exercises as the leaflet said not to do them with a seroma don’t know what’s right or wrong to be honest. I tried to sleep upright last night with a cushion under my arm, it seemed to go down abit this morning, but swelling up again this evening
Oh the joys of being a woman
Xx
Ugh it’s miz isn’t it! I had quite a smooth recovery, felt sick and dizzy for a few days post General but no real pain. And now… yes it’s very uncomfortable and feels it’s tight and pulling all round armour and breast too. I feel very heavy on that side when I walk do you?
I do hope painkillers help x
Armpit even!
I originally had slnb and lumpectomy and then six weeks later the full clearance. Was absolutely fine with the first op but not this 2nd one. The back of my arm feels really sore and like I’m walking round with a hard lump towards the back of my arm pit, I’ve taken my bra off as that was rubbing against the dressing.
I’m hoping having the dressing off May help as it feels like it’s all tight & pulling against that too
X
Do you have pain with it at all? Not sure if it’s normal to have pain who knows. I’m sorry you are having a rough time of it at the moment.
I keep getting panicky whenever anything pops up which is most annoying as now is the time to be stoic! X
Twinges more than pain, but to be honest feel quite paranoid about every pain & twinge I get at the moment. I got very sharp pains in my arm last week which seem to have settled down and not so often now, feels like pulling down the side of my breast, feeling sorry for us both
Hi , the area under your arm is very sensitive and so it’s very uncomfortable to have a seroma there pushing on your stitches . I had mine drained once but it filled up again straight away, the relief only lasted one day ! They don’t really like to drain them as there’s a risk of infection. Mind disappeared overnight about 2.5 weeks after surgery , hope you both feel more comfortable soon .
Thanks Jill!
Yes I’m with you on the pulling! Hideous when I bend down
I had a seroma develop about 10 days after my lumpectomy & 4 lymph nodes being removed and woke up in the early hours of that New Year’s Day with my chest wet through where it had leaked and it was painful too. Fortunately I only live 5 minutes drive away from where I was treated and it was drained on the 2nd. It wasn’t infected. Then it started to heal properly,
Hi newbie1
I had exactly the same after lumpectomy. Quite a large swelling which I was told was a seroma - over the phone no examination! I had it for about 4 weeks it was quite uncomfortable but was told it would absorb back into my body and advise not to have it drained as they fill up again. I just left it and eventually it disappeared.
It is worrying when these things happen as we just don’t know what to expect after surgery! I also had an infection had antibiotics, but everything settled down in the end and I had radiotherapy as planned…
good luck with everything and rest as much as you can.
Sparkle0103
Hi - poor you 
But yes, totally normal. I had exactly the same procedure 3 years ago. I had the seroma drained a couple of times a week for a few weeks. The fluid was clear (I looked). Do use a special underarm cushion when resting or sleeping. Unfortunately I then developed lymphoedema (bigger risk after full axillary clearance) but it’s manageable. Follow all the advice on post-op care and good luck 
Hi Newbie
I went and saw a nurse this morning at the clinic. I’m to carry on with the exercises and to massage the area and see if it goes down on its own, I’m not even 2 weeks post op so she said it’s very early days. Mine doesn’t need draining as yet & hopefully it won’t get to that. I slept much better last night with a small cushion under the arm.
Hope your doing okay today
Jackie xx
Hi Jackie I went in today and they drained it as it was so large. Also had an infection so on the antibiotics. Thank goodness for modern medicine . Hope you sleep tonight xx
Oh you poor thing, no wonder you were in pain. Hopefully it will settle down now for you xx
Thanks so much for lovely message x
Am hopeful it will all calm down! Part of post op joys x