Anyone had experience of Seroma under node scar?

[riversidedawn]

Nanny, I suffered with seromas from a week or so after my masectomy and was advised that draining led to risk of infection but it built up so much I was being aspirated every day for a couple of weeks.My mum accidently leaned on my drains and pulled them out too early!

Unfortunately the downside is that 12 weeks later I have been fighting infections every 3 weeks between chemo and it's never really gone away, which resulted in an emergency operation last Friday. The surgeon can only relate it back to the repeated draining having discussed with colleagues.

So go with what is advised by the specialists, but avoid too much drainage. I was told the body will adventually absorb the fluid, but my stitches burst because of the build up so you have to weigh it up.

Don't want to be pessimistic, but feel you have to have both sides of the story.

Hope all turns out well for you x

[Brewster]

Hi Nanny

I have seromas too under both mastectomy scars and haematomas under both armpits. The hospital have looked and advised to leave it alone, as they fell draining it will cause the fluid to build up again and can cause infection, so practice is different everywhere.

It's awfulmyou have had such bad luck. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in and help. Maybe if they left it for a while it may settle?
Maggie I think is the expert on this though !!

Hope you get better soon

[maggie59]

Hi
Mine too became a nasty infection and I had two days on IV before coming home yesterday with 24 tablets a day to take!
I don't know how many times they aspirate but think the chance of infection goes up with physical intervention. Might be worth asking what else can be done at your appointment.
Good luck, keep us posted.
M x

[2nannynoo97]

I had a mastectomy on 19 Nov. and have had trouble ever since.  First I had a heamotoma for which I had to go back into theatre to have it rmoved. Since then I have a recurring serotoma for which I have to keep going back to the hospital to have it drained. It must have been done around 6/7 times so far and I may need it again at my appt. tomorrow. I have also been back to hospital for a 5 day stay to be given IV antibiotics as I have an affection. I came home on Tuesday and now taking oral antibiotics.  I hope this might help to realise we are not on our own but I am new to this site and feel I need to find someone who has also experienced this and can tell me when I might see the scar beginning to heal. (Sorry but my serotoma is underneath my mastectomy scar, not lymph nodes). I am hoping there is someone who can tell me of their experiences.

2nannynoo97     

[maggie59]

Thanks Ladies

It seems a little less red this morning and I still have no temperature so I have called the hospital and spoken with the nurse. She asked the doctor and they checked which anti-biotics I am on and  said that if I feel unwell or develop a temperature to call them and go straight there - any time day or night. It is only 10 mins from my home and I have family here who can give me a lift.

I have an appt with the consultant tomorrow eve and I think they will be reluctant to do anything without his knowledge but at least I am reassured that help is there quickly should I need it.

Meanwhile keep taking the antibiotics and I have a new 'best friend' which is with me at all times - the Thermometer!!!!

I even sent husband out to get a new one because ours was in F and everyone talks in C now. It dated back to the year dot when the boys were young!

Maggie

[riversidedawn]

Mine's always at the weekend too - why is that?! I guess as I have chemo on Fridays my blood count drops the following weekend. Get yourself checked out Maggie and keep on top of it x

[jillybee]

Had to add to this.This was me last winter,and always at weekends....first time I got OOH,another time,A and E,and I between, the ward where I had the op,and in the week,BCNs and Practice nurses.....If red,and you have no temp,still get it looked at.I had 2 infections,no temperature!!Maggie,I feel for you,as you do get in a state...but,you will get better.Gentle hugs.

[maggie59]

Yes I do. The trouble is that I had surgery in the new private wing of the NHS (very good, all profits go back to the NHS trust) but the chemo is done in a different BMI hospital.
Will call the wing where I had surgery tomorrow as they are very helpful and have had me back when wound bled. Might also have a hot line to surgeon.
How did I get in this state??

[riversidedawn]

Maggie don't wait til Monday. Do you have an out of hours doc service?

[riversidedawn]

I can only advise on my experience Maggie! Unfortunately not all good experience but we seem to be on a similar path for complications. Keep safe, infection is the worst and you must keep on top of it. I've been so careful but look where I ended up. Scared now for a repeat. Surgeon and nurse keeping a careful eye on me.

[maggie59]

Thanks Dawn. Ouch!!!!that must have been painful...
Will go back and see on Monday. No temp now but redness seems to be spreading further across breast now so not sure what to do and whether I need to go somewhere before that?
You have been giving me some good advice!

[riversidedawn]

I had huge repeated seromas 1-4 weeks after masectomy. Drains we're accidently pulled out early by my mother. I had to go back to hospital daily at one point for it to be syringed, also had it done under ultrasound as fluid was behind implant. 70-150 ml each time.

Unfortunately repeated syringing can lead to infection. And I have had 2 infections post start of chemo - resulting in removal of infected implant yesterday, so beware of too much interference the body will absorb the fluid if it's not infected.

[Annie25]

Good news Maggie and great timing !
If you're going to have an enforced gap / wait - then Christmas / new year period could not be bettered! Annie x

[maggie59]

Thanks Ladies

I am starting to think that you are right Jane. I feel SO much better today, this has obviously been building up and my body has been fighting it until it couldn't any more. I haven't felt well for a while but it is only now that I realise it.

I don't think that they will let me have anything until the infection is clear and there is no further swelling. Will know more on Monday but now not in such a rush. What the hell, guess a few more weeks won't hurt and at least I can party over Christmas.

Yes, the January thread will be awesome!!!!

Off out for a curry now. Cancer, what cancer? Lol

Maggie x

[Katherine62]

Maggie

I should think it's critical to make sure there is no infection at all before you start chemo.... starting in Jan won't make any difference to efficacy of chemo, but your body's been through a lot. A nice break and recouperation from all the stress can only be a good thing to my mind. They wanted me to start the week between Christmas and New Year but i said no until the first week of January... absolutely fine with them. They thought it would actually be a very good thing for me to have a couple of weeks without stressing about tests, apppointments etc etc, and I'd be in a better mental state after it. And anyway, the Jan Chemo thread is going to ROCK!

big hug my friend, and look after yourself

jane xx

[chascat]

Hi Maggie, I had a seroma where I had my ANC, it was like a golf ball and I had it repeatedly aspirated. My surgeon eventually decided to let my body sort itself out which it did. I started chemo 5 weeks after my op. Take care CC x

[maggie59]

I have an infection in my breast and under the arm and down the side of the breast is red and swollen.

I went to see the surgeon and he aspriated over 50ml of fluid from under the node scar which has eased the discomfort substantially. I am still on the antibiotics.

Has anyone experienced this and if so did it come back and have to be repeated? I am 4 weeks post op.

Cant start chemo etc until it is sorted out.

Thanks

Maggie x