Relief at last.
Since my surgery nearly two weeks ago I'd been aware of a slow build up of fluid around my wound. My armpit drain had been producing large amounts of fluid right up to the last minute before it was removed and the nurse who removed it did warn me that a seroma might form.
At first things seemed not too bad and the advice I was given was to try to tolerate any fluid if I could in the hope / expectation that it would reabsorb into the tissues. Some hope as it turned out!
I saw the surgeon for a check up two days ago and the fluid accumulation wasn't too bad. He jiggled things about a bit and - hey presto - the next day I had a "boob sized" soft jelly like lump.
Phoned for advice and - off to hospital again today where one of the doctors drained about 400ml of fluid. The procedure itself was OK but the sensations around the area are still quite odd at times and the whole thing just made me nauseous. Still - will sleep more comfortably tonight I hope. Lets hope it doesn't reaccumulate.
Marjory
Check out our article resource pages for more information on seroma and on life after mastectomy
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4 comments:
Developed seroma, which ruptured a blood vessel, requiring emergency surgery (3 weeks after reconstruction surgery). Then, 10 weeks later, developed seroma again, withdrew 250 cc fluid, put in a J-P drain, which is still draining 30cc/day after 5 weeks. Is their any end in sight? What else could possibly be done?
The doctor left my mastectomy drain in for four weeks before removing even though it was still putting out between 60 to 100 cc per day. She was worried about infection and so was I. I go twice a week to have the seroma drained for the past 4 weeks with no end in sight. The doctor has suggested another drain if I get tired of all this, but the drain is so much trouble, I would rather just try to put up with the aspiration for another few weeks. Current discharge averages 30 to 45 cc/day.
8 weeks after sugery still having two visits a week to drain fluid, 500ml at a time. Have been told it will take "a while", how long is "a while" So pleased that I found your site, thanks, helped me a lot
Next week is my one year anniversary of my mastectomy AND I still have a seroma. The drain volume is about 10-20 cc/day so I use cut up sanitary napkins to absorb the fluid. There is a hole in my chest which has healed open so that it is a permanent drain hole. I have consulted many doctors and a couple of plastic surgeons suggested moving either muscle or fat tissue into the seroma to see if it would heal. To last this long is a very rare happening. The fluid has been tested twice and there are no malignant cells. I don't want more surgery but what to do?
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