I still have a large seroma 5 months after my surgery

Hi Shartom

Welcome to the group

I'm not going to be massively helpful - I did have a seroma develop 4 months after surgery but it has gone now. My surgeon did not favour draining and told me to compress it - are you trying that? I wore tight sports bras and it was helping a little. I ended up with an infection there - really random thing that migrated from a throat infection so please don't worry about it happening - and an abscess so was getting it drained twice a week and it eventually healed up. It left me really bumpy and tender for a while so I'm not a fan. They were talking about another surgery if it didn't reduce, but thankfully I didn't need it. I would have just left it as it wasn't causing me any pain.

Let's call on  Kacang I know she has a tenacious seroma - I'm sure she'll reassure you!

R

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I can cope with it although very tight and uncomfortable rather than painful but they have just said to keep getting it drained but ive read conflicting info. Just dont want it to overfill but on other hand will suffer it if know it will eventually drain away naturally. Have just seen most people only have this for few weeks and not few months like this.

Hi Shartom 

Welcome to our lively group ...I had a seroma that burst through the wound ( think alien lol )a week after my op  ...is the fluid clear and  decreasing each time ? Mine carried on for three months and then started to settle ...a tip that I use everyday to get the lymphatic system moving is to use a long handled body brush and brush all over always to the heart ...my surgeon said that its friendly fluid working overtime !! I also wore tight sports bras and think this helped as well ....you will get there 

Never give up....Never give in 

Hugs and Rainbows 

Debs xxx

Thank you for your message. Unfortunately its not decreasing. Have heard about the brushing or massaging  so will try that. Just cant see an end to it after 5 months!

It must be very frustrating for you ...are you managing to do any exercises ? I'm not sure if this helps but I had a drain for a few days so the fluid didn't build up ...I wore dressings ( mepilex) very soft on the skin ...they were reluctant at first re infection but it did work ..sorry can't be more help 

Hugs and Rainbows 

Debs xxx

Hi,

I am 6 months post surgery now and still have a seroma too. They stopped draining it after a couple of months so my sounds slightly slightly different. It remained and went really hard after my radiotherapy and went like a tennis ball. I had some physio and it has shrunk slightly, plus I started some quite strong stretches and exercises to try and make it feel more comfortable. I was getting really frustrated with it. 

I has reduced a bit more now, so it's like a ping pong ball, but still hard. My consultant is going to try and drain it for the final time this Thursday and then inject some steroid. So I'll let you know how it goes, but he has warned me that the only next step is surgery if this doesn't work.

Hang on in there.

XX

Yes I do have the ultimate tenacious seroma thanks ronstar. Mine has been there since my mastectomy surgery in March 2016. I had it drained several times in the first few months but it always came back. I also had some compression garments, both light and heavy. The heavy one did squish it but it returned if I didn't wear the wretched thing. And boy did I hate wearing that - I could hardly breathe.

So now it just sits there and hasn't expanded or contracted. It doesn't hurt and isn't infected. I have spoken to my surgeon about it at my last check up. She thinks there's no point in draining it as it will refill. She also said that the pressure of the seroma prevents further leakage and will eventually enable healing. Once all the tissues are healed it should go away by itself. Waiting, waiting... 

I figure that while it's not causing any problems I'll just leave it. As someone said the next step is surgery but I have also heard (from one of my chemo nurses) that they can inject an irritant, like talc, into the space and that helps the two sides adhere together. 

Best of luck with it 

Thanks for sharing. As it just keeps filling up i think i will try and suffer it for a few more weeks to see if will go away as dont want to have aurgery if can help it

Thanks. Its just good to know im not on my own xx

Hi - I had reconstruction with LD flap and developed a big hematoma/seroma in my back above the scar. The Consultant had four or five attempts to drain it but when it got to the point (about three weeks after surgery) where I began to feel ill with it, I was whisked in for emergency surgery. Even after that, the second incision drained for about three weeks - I guess I just have a problem with fluid!  I don't know how you have stuck it out for so long - surgery was my solution and really helped, so don't be scared of it!