Burst Seroma

RedWeasel, that sounds so awful!  I'm so sorry!

I had a seroma between excisional biopsy (equivalent to a small lumpectomy) and eventual mastectomy -- it didn't burst, but it was very painful, and I think it developed in part because I immediately went back to work, and even worked an all-nighter 2 weeks after biopsy/lumpectomy.

I also had mastitis several times while nursing my son, 25 years ago.  The mastitis was DEFINITELY related to poor nutrition -- I got it 3 times, and each time was after a crazy day where I went 8 or 10 hours without eating -- NOT something to do when you're nursing!

Anyway -- I'm glad you came here -- don't apologize! 

And just because you don't have BC doesn't mean you don't need special treatment!  Mastitis is no joke, and healing from surgery isn't either.  I imagine in your job you do some lifting?  I really hope you can take it as easy as possible -- maybe get a little extra time off?

Just generally, healing from surgery and/or infection/inflammation requires good nutrition and plenty of good rest. Protein, vitamins, lots of water, lots of good nights' sleep, NO LIFTING!

Here's a little post-surgery nutrition info: http://www.hss.edu/24217.htm

I hope others will be along with more advice, but I just want to give (((gentle hugs))) and hopes that you'll be on the mend soon,

Ann

First did he doctor culture the fluid prior to putting you on antibiotics cause once you have that break infection is more likely?  If the antibiotic is not the right one, it is useless to treat any infection brewing. Generally once you start on any antibiotic it become more difficult to identify correctly any bacteria that may be present.  As a preventive antibiotic there are definitely certain types that are used.  Secondly if a drain isn't place any more accumulated fluid will drain at the path of least resistance and come out the breach already created by the bursting.  Therefore the most likely scenario is placing a drain and leaving it in until the drainage is minimal. I think I understand by what I have read that breast surgery tends to develop draining  by the nature of the area so this is why drains are frequently used.  I am clearly not any type expert and only became interested because of my own experience with bursting seroma.  So sorry you had this happen and will hope that your current treatment works even though it ,in my opinion only , doesn't follow standard therapies.  Again I hope this approach works for you even though I think it may be a bit unusual.

Also:  yes, it could leak until you heal again.  Be sure to always keep some sterile bandage packets with you.

 They should have given you a post-surgery sheet that told you how long you should avoid lifting - so that's kind of annoying of them - but my surgeon said 6 weeks.  I do lift a litte in my job, so I didn't left any thing for 2 months.  If you feel a twinge AT ALL - stop lifting.

 Also, be sure to do the post surgery breast exercises.  If they didn't give you a copy of these, call your doctors office and make them mail you one - pronto.

Should also add that the surgeon who sutured me today says a major contributing factor in the sentinel-node skin incision opening (along its entire length) and the seroma gushing (almost as much as breaking water during labor) is probably the extreme size (and weight) of my breast. Mind you, I am overweight but not obese--but you probably have NO idea how tough it was to find post-surgical bras in my cup size (and non-underwired bras in general) with a band small enough to provide support and not ride up. I am currently kicking myself for letting my husband and previous doctors talk me out of breast-reduction surgery back in the day--because I was not having backaches and was able (with effort) to find appropriate and pretty bras, I considered it a purely cosmetic procedure, frivolous, and not worth putting myself through the risks of surgery. (My husband is a cardiologist, had two emergency operations--hemicolectomy w/o an ostomy and herniorrhaphy--over the summer and cheerfully dictated to me his advance directive and last wishes in case he were to “wake up dead” before "going under" both times).

So I wonder if this stupid thing will ever heal and STAY healed. On the other hand, I now have a sure-fire built-in party trick.......

I developed an enormous hematoma after my lumpectomy in August 2015. When my BS tapped it, she got 150ml (5-oz.). On the way home from her office, we stopped off at the pharmacy to pick up bandaging supplies when suddenly the hematoma broke open. OMG. So much blood. I looked like I had been stabbed! Thankfully, it was all old blood, so a pressure dressing did the trick. But, really. Yuck!

A week later, I went back to surgery for a re-excision, plus evacuation of this huge hematoma--the BS got another 350ml (11-oz.) blood from the breast. About 5 days later, I could hear and feel a sloshing in the breast, which, of course, was a large seroma. It was big as a lemon under my arm. I went into the office and the BS removed 300ml (10-oz.) of fluid. Two days later, it suddenly burst open and lymph fluid came gushing out like a small fountain. Thankfully, I was at home! All I could do was just mash as much fluid out as possible and slap on a pressure dressing. Three days later, I woke with a 103+ degree fever and the seroma fluid looked absolutely disgusting--majorly infected. I felt like the walking dead. Sigh...it was very stubborn to heal, partly because I still had a lot of fluid in there. The BS finally had to put in a drain. I had to take 3 rounds of powerful antibiotics to finally start feeling like a normal person.

The drain came out 2 weeks ago and there is still some fluid in the seroma. There is a small open area in my incision which sometimes feels a little wet, but it's not wetting my bra or shirt. The BS has already tried suturing the opening, and it did get smaller, but there is still that small open area that will just have to heal from the inside. I start chemo in 4 days, so I'm really crossing my fingers and toes that this thing doesn't get re-infected.

Hi to all !

Im just a new member here . I am almost a year searching some cases same as my mother . And I am pretty sure this is it .As I read some comments it given so much hope .

My mother is 60 years old widow, Last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer it so very sad because were just a poor family in Philippines. My husband try to help my mother as the best he can but we still couldn't afford and continue her treatment because have more important things that my mother spend the money that we send to her.

Anyway , She has some treatment but now she stops cause of financial issues. Her other side of boobs bursts have some fluid coming out .Sometimes she feels disgust of the smells. Sometimes shes scared and I am more scared too because I feel useless. I wish I am rich to help her more and I am far away from her. My youngest brother and sister take good care of her .

I want just to ask some people that have good idea how to treat like this case at home naturally. How to give my mother a hope and give her some inspiration words .

Thank You So Much !!

God bless You all😘