anyone react badly to blue dye?

zha-an

hi everyone!

I had re-excision and SNB on 10/1. I had a terrible localized reaction to the methylene blue dye used to locate sentinel node (along w tracer). The area is still very swollen and the 3 1/2" hard lump approximately 1" deep is still angry and sore as all get outs (as in requiring Norco sore) . My surgeon has never had a patient have this reaction so is little help in predicting outcome or resolution. Last week he told me to prepare for skin sloughing as he thinks tissue will possibly die. Yipes!

I started massaging it (ouch) trying to break it up and based on blue pee in mornings guess it's helping although lump seems just as big to me! I also had a hematoma form 9 days post op so my poor girl is more than a bit battered! But one very positive thing...my incisions didn't fall apart this time like w lumpectomy! Wahoo! Had my surgeon use dermabond...did the trick. So relieved as I lost lower half of areola due to incision failure.

has anyone else dealt w a bad reaction to the dye? Any hints, suggestions appreciated.

I hold the image of our perfect healing...

zha-an

moni731

Hi Zha-an. Yes, I absolutely can sympathize ! I also had a reaction to the dye. They said it would not hurt but I had an immediate intense burning sensation, flushing and a sensation of not catching my breath,  that continued until they did the surgery about 3 hours later. I had all kinds of ice packs and was in tears! The pathology report stated 'extreme inflammation' to the tissue. When I stated the pain rating, I know they thought I was nuts and kept poo-pooing it. I will never let that be used again on me.  There is also a cross allergy to a related drug of which I cannot recall right now, but I'll try and find it.  So sorry you had this (but glad I am not alone or crazy!) and hope this resolves soon for you.

zha-an

moni731

thanks for letting me know I'm not alone! My injection was done in surgery so didn't know about reaction until I came to...crying. Fortunately I had a big dose of IV benedryl on board as I had allergic reaction to the vancamycin given preop. Can only imagine how much worse it would have been. I didn't want the dye used as I am chemically sensitive w lots of drug allergies. But my surgeon said it would really help find the sentinel node - which it did do .... But at what cost? Did you get the big lump along w the inflammation? If so, how long did it take to resolve? I'm supposed to start radiation in a couple of weeks and really cannot imagine asking my poor breast to cope with that insult on top of this and the hematoma! I started rubbing coconut oil in a couple of days ago and that seems to have brought some blood supply to the surface area...before it was white and cold and showed no capillary refill which is why I guess surgeon thought skin might die. So I guess something is happening...just hope it's the right something.

moni731

Zha-an, I did not get a lump. I think they took all the dye with the surgery. I also have lots of reactions to drugs, environment, foods, etc. Mine was used only for the tumor and the one positive lymph node. I had the same reaction when they injected the first and second time about two hours apart. It does sound as though you have some extravasation of the dye into surrounding tissue. If that is true, it will slough off. So sorry, you really don't need anything more!

zha-an

saw the surgeon Mon and he did US. Good news is that no sign of necrosis. Bad news...dermal layer twice as thick as normal from inflammation and large area of difuse fluid in surrounding tissue which explains why my girl is twice as big! So radiation simulation delayed for 3 wks w hopes that

reaction will subside. Surgeon agrees that radiation on such inflamed tissue would greatly increase risk of lasting side effects. Also just got Oncotype score...12...low risk, no chemo, time to let dye reaction resolve! Wahoo!