Hi, I am 9 days post op lumpectomy and SLNB. Up to two days ago, felt fine. Pain was manageable and day 5 dressing change showed scars were healing nicely. Two days after dressing changed, I have developed what I believe is a seroma in armpit. Spoke to outreach nurse and she agreed. Said to use hot water bottle and massage area which don't seem to be working. Can't see anyone until Monday.
However, the swelling and pain from this seroma is awful. Worst I have felt in the whole experience so far. No relief from pain at all, despite taking painkillers. Swelling is so big that I can't even put my arm down flush against my body and anything touching it causes pain and discomfort. Have had to take bra strap down to avoid it touching the dressing. The wound/ scar site, still under dressing, is so sore, swollen and tender to touch which is worrying. I haven't slept as can't find a comfortable position. There are no signs of infection that I can see.
Is this normal for a seroma to cause so much pain and discomfort??
Thank you
Oh than goodness I found this. I’m 8 days post op ( mastectomy with SNB and implant reconstruction) healing well no pain. Then yesterday afternoon really started to hurt when I leant forward and felt pressure on wound. Phone BCN who wasn’t available but secretary rang back having spoken to clinician and said they were not concerned, as no pain while lying down, no redness, no weeping no tightness or excess swelling no dressing movement etc.. but no explanation given. They will evaluate on Monday if still causing concern. After call I could feel small amount of fluid movement and had convinced myself my implant had burst! Having read this post ( and actually reading the post op leaflet I was given!) seroma makes sense and would explain everything. I now have hot water bottle tucked under arm and feel much better. Don’t know what I’d do without this site and you guys x
Hiya, I’m going through exactly the same atm I had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy two weeks ago - 6 days after Op I developed a small golf ball size lump and then after a couple days it was the size of a tennis ball. I had it drained last Thursday which felt amazing woke up Friday morning and it was the size of a golf ball again just very uncomfortable- I’m using a warm water bottle regularly - I’ve got another appt with my BC nurse Thursday to drain again - BC nurse advises they don’t like to keep draining due to infections etc but this is very common after the Operation - and I will be starting radiotherapy so they need it clear asap.
i do know what your feeling right now ladies - it’s not very nice fingers crossed this swelling for us all will go very soon
Hi
I had this after surgery and then a couple of months later the area got so painful and hot and swollen that I couldn’t touch it , it was so painful . They ended up draining a load of pus ( sorry !) and I didn’t feel great at all , low grade fever but felt really agitated and out of sorts , I had cellulitis which took almost 8 weeks to clear . We are so susceptible to infection and I got mine from a paper cut !
Most of the time seromas clear up themselves with massage etc so I’m not saying this to panic anyone only to say don’t put up with a lot of pain , if anything feels off get checked out asap
huge hugs xx
Hi I'm 12 days post op. Lumpectony and full axillary lymph node removal. Also have seroma. My bcn said to leave it for now and hopefully it will get reabsorbed but like you can't put my arm straight against my body as it catches. Not sure whether to carry on doing the exercises I'm supposed to be or not as arm keeps catching on seroma! Hope you feel better soon. Its so sore isn't it?
Hi all, update to original post. Went to see BCN and it is a seroma. Tried to drain it but mine has solidified so nothing came out!!! Have to wait for body to reabsorb it itself, BCN said this can take weeks. In the meantime, paracetamol, heat for about 15 mins at a time with hot water bottle or similar and massage to try and deal with it and encourage drainage. BCN said to keep doing arm exercises as far as seroma allows to prevent shoulder stiffening and at points during the day to let arms rest, for example, on a pile of pillows to give the shoulder a reprieve. The arm should not go above shoulder height when doing this. She said I was carrying tension in my shoulder and posture was being affected as I was trying to protect my arm due to the pain and because of the position of the seroma, which is putting pressure on my scar site. BCN said to be aware of posture and to ensure shoulders are back when sitting and not hunched. Also to limit repetitive arm movements as much as possible, even such as arm swinging when walking, and I have been doing lots of walking. BCN said I've probably done too much too soon!! Hope this helps.
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