It’s been 12 days since I had a mastectomy and grade 3 lymph clearance and since the drain was removed, 5 days ago, I’ve developed an absolutely disgusting seroma across my chest and under my arm.
It’s so uncomfortable all the time, and painful some of the time - when I put my arm against my side, it balloons out at the front! No one can do anything until Monday and the GP scared me when she said the skin couldn’t heal to the chest wall because of the fluid and I’d be left with a pocket between tissue and skin in which fluid would just keep on collecting.
Has anyone else had this problem? I’m so worried this is the start of lymphodeoma and it’s stopping me from doing my exercises because it feels as though it might pop. Ugh.
Jane
Hi Jane, What a pain! always happens at the wrong time! was wondering if you could go to A & E? they only drain it with a needle!
Perhaps a phone call to the A & E or NHS direct?
we don’t want you going ‘pop’
Sandra xxx
Hi Jane how uncomfortable for you and worrying too. Did they give you a contacts sheet from the surgical ward you were on? I expect if they did you would have contacted them? Otherwise i agree with Sandra try AE. I think your GP is not very well informed. Some of the ladies on these threads post about having their seromas drained more than once but they do settle down. I only had a small one in the axilla and it really is a case of putting a needle in and withdrawing the fluid with a syringe.Perhaps one of the ladies with more info/experience will post. Good Luck. Jackie
Hi I agree with Jackie contact your surgical ward or district nurse. My seroma leaked out of my wound once at the weekend and I phoned the ward. They told me to come up a redressed it and swabbed it for infection. But your district nurse may also be able to help. Dx
I had a mx, lypmh node clearance and LD flap reconstruction on 1st of March. I still have a seroma on my back. Fluid does collect between skin and muscle. My surgeon is not concerned and says this could go on for a year. I get it drained regularly by my BCN.
If it is really uncomfortable I would go to A and E to get it drained. It doesn’t hurt and takes minutes but the relief is great.
If you don’t want to do that wait until mon and ring your BCN and she should arrange for someone to drain it that day.
Cat
Thanks for replies, I feel slightly reassured. I did speak to a friend who’s a vet and she said were I a labrador, she’d say not to worry, it will go on its own!
I was specifically told by the surgeon not to go to a&e with any complications because they wouldn’t know what to do (!), otherwise I would have been up there Thursday afternoon… but if it gets worse tomorrow, I think I’ll risk it. Otherwise I have an appt at the clinic on Monday.
I had a seroma after my WLE and had it drained 4 times before it settled down. My surgeon and BCN were adamant that it was nothing to worry about. I promise you the minute it’s drained you’ll get relief from it.
I left mine full for a week when I went on holiday and I didn’t pop. It did get uncomfortable but was still the same as soon as it was drained felt better
I have a seroma - had full node clearance 19 days ago, drain came out on day 5. I was told by ward before leaving to give them a ring if I needed any advice/help and if I filled up with fluid then to give them a ring - I didn’t !! I soldiered on till I was in clinic this tuesday and the skin was so tight I could hardly move, I was in alot of pain but it was MY fault. Anyway the doctor in clinic drained it and it felt so much better)only took a few mins), they got 600ml out no wonder I was in pain - we have enough to cope with, without putting ourselves through needless worry/pain etc PLEASE ring the ward, they will be great and prob tell you to nip in tomorrow - honestly you dont feel a thing, mine is filling up again so going back to clinic for bcn to drain again on monday.
I had problems with a relatively small seroma in the axilla and had to have it drained 6 times (twice a week for 3 weeks) on the breast surgery ward. As it was getting near the time I was to start chemo, they eventually decided to inject a steroid into the cavity and it instantly dried up, so they don’t always settle on their own. I wish they’d put it in earlier, whats the point of keep draining it?
Hi
I also had a seroma following mx. I had to have it drained every other day for the first 2 weeks each time collecting 500 + mls then afer 3 weeks it suddenly got less till after 5 weeks it didn’t need draining anymore. The relief you feel when it is drained is instant. Ring the ward if they can’t help you they will have a surgeon in a& e who will drain it for you. I had to use this once as we had gone away for the weekend thinking it would be ok till the monday but i was in alot of pain.
Hope this is useful and you feel better soon
Chris x
Hi
Don’t know if this is of any help, but I had a seroma under my armpit after lymph node removal. I had to have it drained a few times as it was so painful but of course the fluid tends to collect again so it just kept on filling up. After a few explosions by itself, which were not very nice (but oh the relief!)and when it was deflated, I tried a pressure bandage and it seemed to reduce the amount of fluid that could collect. The layers of tissue then healed together very quickly and I never looked back. I don’t know if this would help for you, but it seems awful that for some people these seromas go on for so long.
I’ve been told that getting a seroma is not a regular occurance after breast surgery but like the other people writing here on the subject it is more common that we think. Mine started after the first week with internal bleeding, no known cause, then the fluids which I’ve had drained twice a week for the past five weeks. Glad to say it is slowing down but still not right. The surgeon told me that they do not like to leave the fluids inside and I have to contact him if it gets too painful and full.
The Oncologist won’t start radiotherapy until the wounds are properly healed. She had a look a week ago and told me there are too many lumps and bumps to plan and mark up for radiotherapy. I have been pleased that she recommended a CT Scan which is not always done. I asked about an MRI which I read is more detailed but that is not the norm where I live. I offered to pay for it but there is a long waiting list and they say the CT Scan is just as useful. Reading all the guff on the Web the MRI scan is more effective than the CT Scan so I’m not sure why it is not being offered. Maybe shortgage of trained staff ? Anyone else told about scans ?
I have seen a second Oncologist as I felt the first local one did not want to give me the information I wanted. When I consulted another for a second opinion I was amazed at the difference in the way I was treated and the lengths the doctor went to to explain everything. The first one did not mention scans at all and said that after the radiotherapy and drugs I would only see him after twelve months. This second Oncologist says she does a regular two monthly check and likes to have regular scans. I am glad I went for a second opinion outside the area in which I live.