I had a double mastectomy 11 days ago and had a lot of fluid in my drains post op. I saw the Consultant on Weds to have last drain removed and had developed a small seroma on one side. He drained this.
Since then I’ve been getting more fluid building up there but also quite a bit of fluid on the side where he took out the last drain.
I don’t know whether to go to A&E to get both drained or try to grin and bear it. The breast care nurse said that in A&E the doctors don’t always know about seromas and think you have to go back to theatre. I live miles from the nearest A&E plus I really don’t want to be hanging around A&E for hours and trying to explain what they need to do when I’m trying to recover from operation.
Has anyone else had this? How much is a lot of fluid? Is it okay to leave?
I’ll be seeing the consultant again on WEds - should I wait until then?
Elinda
Hello - I am sorry that you are having some discomfort but wish you all the very best in dealing with it.
I had a mastectomy 3 weeks ago and all I can say is that I found that the fluid does go up and down. I found that if I do a lot -one day I walked further than before and got fluid rattling around - the seroma was a pain but if I took it really easy then the fluid wasnt much of a bother so I learned to balance what I was doing.
After one week without the drains in I had to return to BC nurse to have it drained and they took two syringes - to me it wasnt a lot.
The other thing is that it felt to me a lot but obviously it wasnt.
I have been walking in cornwall to get my strength up and have managed to get a bit more seroma under the arm and to the front and have had that for one week. Iwill phone when I get back to London on Monday.
I havent found it to be such a problem but if your not sure then I would suggest you ring NHS direct and see what they say.
Try to rest up as it may help you, as it did me, to reduce the fluid. We always have to push ourselves dont we. Please take care of yourself and hope you are feeling better soon. It really does go away in the end so hang on there.
feet up, tea, cream cake or whatever your fancy and watch a good film. haha
God bless
Delphine
Dear Delphine
thanks very much for your reply - it’s very reassuring. I haven’t been doing a great deal although I did go for a 35 minute walk today.
I think this heat isn’t helping as it’s making me more conscious of the seromas. I will definitely rest up and see if I can hold out until Weds.
I think I’m probably thinking about it all too much.
Glad your recovery is going well. Take care and thanks again
Elinda
Hi Elinda
Our publication ‘Your operation and recovery’ contains some information about seromas which you may find useful to read, you can do so via this link:
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/100
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Elinda, sorry you’re having post op problems. I too suffered with fluid build up and remember spending one weekend feeling like I had a ballon of water swooshing about, it’s very uncomfortable in the heat I know.
Can you ring your BC nurse Monday morning and ask advice? The only reason I suggest is that I ended up with fluid seeping from the wound causing a tear, which took about a month to sort out. I certainly don’t want to scare you but just to be aware, it would be worth a trip to get it drained if it’s really bad. I’ve heard of people having a litre of fluid removed so as long as there is no weakness in your scar it should be fine.
Good luck and keep us posted.
I had a bilateral mastectomy in Jan and remember the seromas all too well - my first one after getting home for weekend post surgery that got drained was 1300ml… I had to go back and fore 2x per week to get them drained by breast care nurse. Felt like it was never stoppping and then over just a couple of days about week 5 post op, it just went down enough, under 150ml, and that was the end of it. It had started to get to me, and then so suddenly sorted itself out.
Just thought this might help. The breast care nurses are the best - I had a general surgeon manage to miss the seroma, only draw blood, get me panicking it was blood filled, then bcn comes along and within 20 mins I was comfortable and amazed at her skills!
Hi Elinda
I had my MX in February and post surgery had my drain in for 2 weeks because the fliud just kept coming. Eventually the surgeon insisted it was removed because of the increased risk of infection. A seroma formed more or less immediately and I spent the next few weeks back and forward to the BCN having it drained. The amount of fluid did decrease every time until eventually it reduced to an amount that was deemed OK to leave.
I finished my rads 5 weeks ago and suddenly a seroma has appeared again. Evidently, although unusual this can happen so once again I am making trips to the BCN for draining. I am assured that this is of nuisance value nothing to worry about health wise. When I asked if there was anything I could do to stop the seroma forming I was told to take things easy
It will all work out for you
Take Care
Andie
Thanks so much for the replies to this.
Unfortunately my wound opened up on Sunday. I went to A&E and they drained 230ml and the wound was slightly open. After they drained it, a 2 inch gap opened right up. I’m now left with a gaping hole (I can see right down into the chest cavity). They gave me a spare dressing in case and my poor husband had to redress it that evening as the whole thing was saturated. Thank God he isn’t squeamish.
I’ve rung the breast cancer nurse who doesn’t seem to worried and says to get it redressed at my GP practice. Until I see the consultant on Weds I’m left with a load of fluid sloshing around and seeping out on the dressing. I can’t sleep because whichever way I turn it’s uncomfortable.
Piper - how did your wound resolve in the end? Did they leave it open and let it heal itself?
I feel utterly miserable and really low and worried it will delay my chemo. I feel like a body that isn’t working and not like a person at the moment.
Elinda
Hi Elinda, I’m so sorry this has happened to you. My wound opened as yours did but it wasn’t as big a hole. I know the BC nurses see this all the time but to us it new and terrifying when it happens.
My OH just couldn’t face the dressings so I did mine myself using a mirror. Anyway, eventually it stopped but I was going twice a week to get it drained, the hole was left (about 1cm) and fluid kept seeping but I had really thick absorbent dressings to put on between appointments. At the weekends when it was bad I would also use a thick old fashioned sanitary towel which was more absorbent than the hospital stuff - the BC thought this was a good idea, it was a case of needs must.
Please don’t get too down, it is cr@p I know but it will stop, and it is better out than in, mine took a few weeks to clear - with yours being such a big hole they may re-stitch it, I don’t know. I had 30 of the little tape/butterfly stitches on mine one day and they were soaked and gone by the time I got home so I just concentrated out letting out all the fluid I could.
Gentle hugs and take care, Love D1 xxx
Thanks Piper. You’re right it is really unnerving for us but not for the nurses. Had it redressed today by the practice nurse but didn’t do such a good job as my hubby!
I’m seeing consultant on Weds and I’ll be asking about stitches etc.
It makes me feel disgusting as it’s constantly seeping and air gets into the cavity making awful squelchy noises.
It’s reassuring to know that yours did resolve albeit in a few weeks. Thanks again for your postings.
Elinda x