Non healing open wound after lumpectomy

gina417

I had a lumpectomy on my right breast almost 4 weeks ago to remove a large tumor. My surgeon stitched the incision up internally and applied dermabond over it. But 1 week later, I woke up from a nap soaking wet, covered in blood and fluid. I was so scared cause I didn't know what was happening. After speaking with my doctor, he had me apply pressure and ice packs until my appointment the next day. He examined me and said it looked fine and told me to keep it covered at all times. A couple days later it happened again, but this time I had a fever. He told me to go the the ER and while I was there they did an ultrasound and found a 5x2x1cm Seroma. My wound was infected and they started me on antibiotics. A couple days later, the Seroma burst yet again and I was at my wits end. I saw my dr again and he had me start packing it with packing strips and referred me to a wound care specialist because it was now considered a non healing open wound. The wound care specialist recommended a wound vac for me and alginate packing strips until my insurance approves the procedure. It's been a month now that I've been out of work. I can't do anything rigorous (I used to work out 6 days a week) and I'm basically confined to home because my lack of finances. I'm in constant pain everydayI've been getting very emotional about the smallest things and I feel a bout of depression coming on. I don't know what to do anymore and wondered if anyone else out there has experienced this since my surgeon said I fell in to the 2% of people that this happens to. Any advice or words ofencouragement would help so much. Thank you...

treelilac

I am not trying to give out medical advice but it sounds like you might need a drain. I had drains put in during both of my surgeries so I wonder if drains can be installed AFTER the surgery is already complete. I Googled and found this woman's experience. It appears possible.

I hope someone more knowledgeable can answer soon. I hope you find relief soon, through wound care specialist or the JP drains.

Moderators

Hi gina417, we wanted to welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and our BCO community. We're sorry for what you're going through, and we hope you find the support you'r looking for here. As you can already tell, you're not alone!

If it helps, take a look at the article "Seroma" from our main site, where you'll learn more about it and some tips on managing this condition.

Hope this helps. Please, let us know how you're doing.

The Mods

Moderators

Hi Gina,

We're just checking in to see how you're doing -- has the seroma gotten any better/worse?

We're thinking of you!

--The Mods

gina417

Thank you so much for your concern. I had the wound vac put on me this past Tuesday. However, it didn't seem to help with the draining at all so I was advised to remove it until my follow up appointment this Friday. The Seroma is just as active as it was before. Starting to lose faith that I'll ever heal up completely. It's been about 6 weeks that I've been out of work and I am beyond broke. I am getting paid disability now, but it's not enough to pay my bills. Just hoping and praying that the doctors get to the bottom of all of this so I can get my life back.

aqua2

Gina, I had a lumpectomy last year and it took many months for it to dry up. It was never infected, just leaky. My doctors said it can happen and were not concerned. It finally healed, if it is not infected, be patient, be meticulous with your hygene and it should eventually heal.

gina417

I've been dealing with it infected for a few weeks now and have been on many different antibiotics. (My culture just came back for staph coagulase positive.) I'm constantly washing my hands and changing the dressings and packing strips.

sas-schatzi

Gina , sorry you are going through hard times--sucks. This link is to a wound care thread I worked allot on. Read it through and see if anything helps.. I have some threads that are helpfull that I'll Pm you.  Just click on each thread >>click on Favs>>>then hit the back button to take you back to the list. Use them when you need them. BTW Silver alginate----wonderful product. Does amazing things for wounds. So does wound vacs. Just make sure they teach you what to do if the vac loosen or leaks. Tell them you want to know "how to do a patch". This will get you through until you are seen the next day.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/44/topic/754935?page=1

 

gina417

Awesome, thank you. Yes, silver alginate is what I have been using and it works so much better than the other packing strips I started with. I am also using lidocaine for around the wound when I'm packing it as it is still very very tender and sore to the touch.

sas-schatzi

Gina good you got it already. You're probably wandering through the PM list. If there's something I can help with and I haven't stopped by PM me. Did they teach you anything? Any Medical/nursing background?

sas-schatzi

The silver alginate is bactericidal--"kill those buggars". They're is plain alginate---it just soaks up fluid, but it has nothing on them that helps kill bugs. Would you believe the dressing material came from stuff that was developed years ago for oil spills.

gina417

I kinda had to learn on my own how to pack my wound lol. Luckily my boyfriend is a MA and is able to help me through it all. It hasn't been easy. The first time I had to do it, I almost passed out.Funny thing is, I'm going to school to become a nurse so at least I'm getting some hands on experience, just not the kind I was expecting.

sas-schatzi

Gina If there's a chance your boyfriend can go with you to learn how to do a patch on the vac. They can be tricky. Four hands are better then two. Loved vacs. They can heal up wounds lickety split. When you see the technology. It's the same concept as sucking air out of bag. The sucking pulls red blood cells and all the wonderful white blood cells. The wound is well oxygenated with all the little garbage collectors and pac men(macrophages) that just eat up the bacteria.

While I'm thinking of it. This very important. When they send you the equipment. Don't open all the boxes. You will be charged for what you use. Unopened boxes can be sent back. Once the vac comes off YOU call the company and tell them. Your charges stop with that phone call. Even if the nurse says they are going to call b/c if they forget, you are stuck with a hefty bill. The company will give you instructions on how to ship back.

Do you have a Home Health Nurse assigned? Even if you can go to the wound center, you can have HH nurse. Call BS office tomorrow and ask them to make a referral. It's covered by insurance.