Seroma

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Had my mastectomy on 23rd March, drains were not used as rather the body absorb it. Yesterday morning I could not put my arm down it was so swollen and painful going round my back, all in top of chest. So went to a&e ,was there 6 hours,bloods showed no infection and they said it was very large, but were reluctant to drain in case he caused infection. They finally got hold of my swomeon ho told them to drain it as I was in so much pain

So they drained it and they was surprised at the colour, it was ' milky' as he put it and looked like pink grapefruit juice! They said it could have been infected after all even though bloods showed nothing. Has anyone else had a colour like this? Xxxxxx

  • Hi musicmumma, I am so sorry to hear that your seroma has caused you problems like this! When my cancer nurse drained mine it was like diluted watery blood, also I am sure it does have that milky looking too. I had mine drained 3 times in the end, but it didn't get as bad as yours bless you. Without sounding bossy, if it starts to swell again and your cancer nurse is a bit reluctant just tell her your sorry but you need it done! Hope it feels better now. Mine used to.feel.a bit achey afterwads and tight but OK. Hope this helps. Sending strength and love xx

  • Hi Jenflower

    Thankyou for reply,Heart I couldnt getbin touch with nurses as it was a Saturday  so A&E was my only option. I have been told to contact the breast care team tomorrow . I have left a message on the Macmillan nurses number explaing what happened, hopefully they get back to me tomorrow. Much love xxxxx️

  • Bless you. Just a thought, maybe if it happens again over weekend, fingers crossed it won't, maybe try out of hours doctor? Xx

  • Well apparently not everyone e is trained to do it, so I don't know who else would be. It's swollen anyway but I can I feel and see it getting bigger. I have my gp nurse appointment tomorrow to see if dressing can finally be removed,I'll see what she says, but last week i went Thursday for dressing and she said it wasn't that big, 2 days later I'm having it drained!

    I have my follow up a week Friday so maybe my surgeon will do it again, I know they are hesitant because of infection. It's not been 2 weeks yet since my operation and it feels like forever!!. I will also find out next week the results of other lymph node tests to see if I will need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, yippee! The joys!! Xxxxxxx

  • Hi musicmumma 

    I am so sorry for late reply, I have been trying throughout the day and it wouldn't let me message or anything! Also,so sorry you seem to be having so much trouble getting drained. Not sure if your GPS can do it but I was given a card for my cancer nurses at my local hospital and I used to phone them and whoever answered would make me an appointment.  Do you not have a number for them? I wouldn't let it go too long as you Want to avoid the a and e scenario again! Bless you. It does feel like a long haul at times. Fingers crossed for your lymph nodes results and I hope they remove the dressing OK. If they are hesitant to drain again I would tell them it's more troublesome maybe than what it is xx

    So sorry you seem 

  • Hi, I had a lymph node clearance with a drain inserted. The drain was removed after 2 weeks. I then had my seroma drained once a week for the following 6 weeks. The colour varied from a straw colour to a more red colour. The nurses were never concerned by the colour and said it was normal. It was drained by the nurse practitioners at the breast institute where I was receiving treatment. All I had to do was ring and they told me a time to turn up. They offered to drain the seroma purely based on comfort and said if it wasn't drained, the fluid would eventually be absorbed back into my body. I honestly didn't think it would ever stop filling back up, but it has, and this is the first week I haven't needed to go back and have it drained. I suppose it depends on the hospital you are attending, but I have to say the nurses where I attend have been brilliant and very supportive. I mentioned the possibility of infection and was told there is always a risk whenever a needle is inserted into the body, and the risk is no higher when having a seroma drained. As I said, mine was drained 6 times and I was fine. I hope this helps put your mind at ease. 

  • Thankyou for your reply. They really are most reluctant to drain where I am,and would rather it be absorbed. As I was in a lot of pain and discomfort, they did drain it,but it is swelling again,I actually look like I have a new pert breast with no nipple! I have my follow up appointment with the specialist who did the operation next Friday, so I will ask about getting in touch with someone if I am in discomfort.  We will see what he says. Xx