Large seroma on left side after bilateral mastectomy

Hello

Sorry to hear about your troubles with the seroma. I developed one after my first lumpectomy so i sympathize with you, luckily mine didn't become infected but was more painful than the wound from surgery. Although i did have my drain in for the full 2 weeks after my mastectomy and it drained well over 50ml each day (it needs to be less than 50ml to be removed) so i think this possibly helped.

I found sitting with a cushion under my arm which took some of the pressure off helped too and taking ibuprofen took the pain away. It took a couple of weeks but eventually it disappeared. 

I noticed you hadn't had any replies to your question so hopefully now I've responded it will push it back up to the top and now there are a few more people around.

Does your specialist/Surgeon know about you problems or is it the breast care nurses that sort it for you? Just wondering if they actually realize how much trouble you've had if they don't look at your back story.

Hi TheScriptFan.

Thank you for your reply.  I did have a small seroma the first time I had BC.  That was drained and never came back.

This one is completely different.  The surgeon has drained it 4 times now and its bigger today than it's ever been and very itchy.

It worries me because I wonder how it's going to heal.  It's so big and now very firm.  

I have my results appointment tomorrow so I intend to ask some questions as to what can be done for this problem.

Best wishes to you

Hello Bichonpoo

I had bilateral in June, and developed a seroma.

I didn't know it was at the time, I had pain on the left in the night and then lots of swelling, so rang the breast care centre at 9am the next day. I  was called in which then meant I unexpectedly was returned by my consultant  back to theatre just over a  week after my mastectomy, so sympathy going out to you.

I ended up on Abx again and then at a consultant outpatient appt 10 days later I had more fluid drained off under Ultrasound, still not quite gone yet,  but I guess was lucky not to have any infection that needing dealing with. and no more Abx  but on Iron tablets.

I would advise speaking with your breast care nurse, as it might need to be left for your body to "deak with " that's where I am, it's still a bit tender and a liitle bit swollen but very slowly getting less.

Take care, I'm not enjoying the heat :-( I'm a winter loving gal !! xx

Morning  Country Girl Liz

I too am a winter person.  Prefer to be wrapped up than trying to cool down.

Thank you for sharing your experience.  My left side is now almost as big as the breast that was removed.  The district Nurse came yesterday and said she thought there was still some infection there.  It's still painful especially in the night when I try to lie on it in my sleep.  

I've spoken to the BC nurse once or twice about it and she's made appointments for me to have it drained.  

Today is results day for me so I shall ask what can be done to relieve the seroma.  I suspect that like you, I shall end up going back to theatre.  It has already been mentioned. 

I hope you are feeling good today and managing to keep cool.  

Love Bichonpoo xx

Bichonpoo, Hello there

Hope today goes well for you, do try to be strong and have this sorted, or at least move forward !                                                    Better to be prepared for Theatre, as I only went back to Breast Care to see what was going on and didn't get home, poor hubby was suddenly on visiting duties !!

My Left is still oddly swollen/ shaped and sleeping was a pain, I used a pillow behind me so I was slightly on my side but not, it was better tho not "comfortable " be patient every day is a step forward :-) 

I'll be thinking of you today,staying indoors, stocking the fridge with jugs of water, be cool ....

hugs, Lizi xx

Hi Liz.  Yesterday I saw the surgeon who examined my seroma and said if he drained it again it would o my fill up again, better to lea e it and let my body deal with it naturally.

My results weren't what I expected, is been told that the tumour was 13mm and grade 2.  In reality it turned out to be 2.5cm, grade 3 and triple negative .  Chemo is the treatment plan.  I'm not sure at all so I shall gather some information and wait to speak to the Oncologist in two weeks before I make a decision about chemo.

Went to bed last night with that on my mind and the aero.a burst in the early hours.  So back to the hospital today.  All appears ok but the district nurses will be calling every day again for a while.

I feel as if I'm taking two steps forward and two back at present.  

I hope you're managing to keep cool.  It's been difficult today it's been so hot.  

Love and hugs.  J xx