Seroma - too painful to drain, what do I do?

Hi,  MoominAncestor 

I had a mastectomy in May, developed a Seroma as drain fell out after 4 days, can completely sympathise ! Consultant said wouldn’t aspirate due to risk of introducing infection and it would settle eventually. still swollen and sloshy  but definitely improving, if have you haven’t already invest in a cushion, cancer. co. Uk do lovely heart shaped ones, prop that on your sofa cushions under your arm/ pillow, it was a god send. Make sure you do your exercises too however hard. I have cording as well which has been really painful but eases during the day. Try and wear your bra too as compression helps x 

Thanks, Parisa. Sorry to hear you've been through that too. The sloshing is ever so weird, isn't it. I've got a similar purpose-made cushion although it's not as fat as I would like, so I've repurposed a U-shaped neck cushion to keep the top of my arm well away from my side. I'm quite bruised and swollen below the armpit so the top of my arm keeps brushing against it, and it's quite tender. Hope you mend well 

MoominAncestor

I know, so sore you don’t know where to put yourself do you ! I’m not really numb either just sensitive, quite a few fleeting stabbing pains too which I was told to expect. Each week gets easier, Although it’s still tight under my arm, worse in the morning but eases, I’ve still got a persistent crease where my breast was and a small boob still but  I’m doing most things now ie housework, driving and allowed to pick my grandchildren up. Try and wear your bra but I found a couple of hours at first was enough and such a relief to take off but support has helped x

I only had lumpectomy but I built up seroma to the lymph nodes removal site in the second week . It became so painful that I could not do the exercises. The surgeon aspirated it but even before trying to connect the seringe, a flow of hot liquid came out. It was the most painful thing I had to endure until now. Three days later I felt that is building up again. Then I read about what you can do to make it retreat sooner and I used hot padding and pressure (warm moist towel pressed on the wound, drinking loads of water, reducing the difficulty of the exercises). I went for a second aspiration and there was virtually nothing there and now it disappeared. I hope it helps. 

Thanks claraada. So heat can help? Sounds good.  Is that definitely safe, though, do you know? 

I told the surgeon and he didn't say it was not. He asked me if I thought it helped and I said yes. He said it might have help with the general state. A bit sarcastic but I was not given any advice so I followed what I found. It clearly helped me. I was left out in the day of the surgery with virtually no advice and no check up before I told them I think I have seroma, 12 days later. So, if you think it will work for you, I wasn't advised is forbidden. You can ask though. 

Hi, my sympathies go out to you, I know the trials seroma can bring! I had to have mines drained by needle 4 seperate times and every time I was on the verge of vomiting and passing out, it felt so horrendous having it done! I asked for diazipam from my doctor and they readily gave me it because I had no other option than to have it drained as they were worried about it causing infection. Unfortunately it just kept filling back up again. But after 4 times it was over and I can honestly say that taking diazipam along with some strong pain killers helps. I would have loved to have them knock me out but they said that wasn't an option :D 

Good luck, I really hope it drains naturally but if not I would suggest calling your gp for medication to support you through the drainage. 

Best wishes of healing

Hi, it’s been so interesting to me to read your posts about this, I’m about to go and have mine drained for the second time tomorrow and so hated the first time ! I just covered my face and tried to disappear! I’ve had conflicting advice about the exercises two people said to do just the first week exercises twice and two others said do all the exercises as normal. I’m confused ( it doesn’t take much!) what did you do ? 
thanks 

Hi Fiona. Well, the nurse just gave me the leaflet and told me the seroma will probably get worse as I do more exercise. She didn't tell me to avoid any of the exercises. So I am doing what I can - the first week exercises of things like shoulder shrugs I'm doing several times a day. And the harder ones for week 2+ I'm doing twice a day. They're a palava because I have to do them undressed, any fabric moving across the skin that side is very painful, (even before the exercises stretch the wound and the tissue deep inside (which is also sore))

I've no idea if that is what I should be doing or not. I dont think the fluid is going away. Under my arm I think it's increased but it looks like there's been no change to the large boob-like bulge. Some of the yellow bruising is fading but I dont think the black bruising is fading yet. 

I don't know how to judge what's right. I'm still taking much needed painkillers round the clock. I just wish the pain would ease more. I would really like to be numb, sods' law that hasn't happened to me. 

Thanks for sharing, I really don’t know how I would cope without this site ! I will press on with exercises too. I really hope your pain level starts to settle down because that sounds really tough, it sounds like you are doing so well! Keep going !!! Let me know how it goes, I’ll be thinking of you.