Sloshing Sound after Lumpectomy

JudyAnnW
JudyAnnW Member Posts: 28

Hello Everyone -

I had a lumpectomy on May 13.  The doctor feels he has removed all of the cancer with

clear margins but I am waiting for the pathology report.  I am curious if anyone has heard

the sloshing sound in he breast where fluid has filled the breast where tissue once was.

The doctor tells me this is normal and the fluid will be absorbed by the body eventually.

I just had to share with everyone what a crepy feeling it is to hear this sound !  Was

wondering if anyone who has heard this can share how long it lasted for them.  And, if

they agree it is a pretty weird sound to come out of your breast.

Many thanks and best wishes to everyone.

Judy  

Comments

  • PiscesMoon
    PiscesMoon Member Posts: 206
    edited May 2010

    hi judy

    i didn't have a lumpectomy but a mastectomy and i can relate to the sloshing sound.  lol  i had my surgery in feb and have had to go back every two or three weeks since my drains were removed to have the fluid asperated.  it doesn't hurt or anything but i tell them all the time when i call that i have a waterbed on my chest. ;-)  i guess it's different with a lumpetcomy in that the surgeon will allow the fluid to be absorbed?  anyway i wish you luck in your recovery!

    ~M

  • jan-m
    jan-m Member Posts: 88
    edited May 2010

    A friend of mine had a sloshy breast after her lumpectomy & it just got absorbed by her body.  I had fluid build up (quite alot) after my mastectomy & alnd drains were removed but my surgeon wouldn't aspirate it.. said it was best to let my body absorb by itself.  3 weeks later the fluid (seroma) is almost gone :)

    Wishing you a speedy absorbtion & recovery!

    jan

  • PT6
    PT6 Member Posts: 76
    edited May 2010

    After my mastectomy not only did I have sloshing, you could see waves going across my chest. Very weird. My drains fell out early, so I had a lot of fluid build up which had to be aspirated. Eventually my body absorbed the fluid.

    ~P

  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited May 2010

    I had the sloshing for about a year, it never reabsorbed.  A year after surgery and rads it got infected, and had to be drained every couple weeks for months, then opened up surgically, then wouldn't heal due to radiation damage, so I finally had a mastectomy to stop the pain and to not have to deal with open holes in my breast.  Keep a close eye on it. If you seen ANY pinkness, redness, warmth or if you develop any amount of fever at all have the area looked at right away and get on antibiotics ASAP, especially after radiation.  I was told this is a "common" complication.  The BS said it's common complication of radiation, the rad onc said it's a common complication of lumpectomy (yes even a year after both).

  • gsg
    gsg Member Posts: 3,386
    edited May 2010

    I haven't heard the sloshing, but I do have the fluid...it's called a seroma.  My surgery was in Sept '06, the seroma suddenly appeared the following January...it was drained once and immediately refilled and it's still there 3 1/2 years later.  Since it doesn't hurt, I'm not going to have it drained again.  Have no idea why the fluid isn't reabsorbing, but it kind of fills the dent in from the lumpectomy so I'm okay with it being there.

  • geebung
    geebung Member Posts: 1,851
    edited May 2010

    In 2007 I had a lumpectomy towards the end of March and a mastectomy on the 20th April. During the week after the lumpectomy, I developed a very "sloshy" breast. My surgeon told me it would reabsorb. I suppose it lasted for at least a couple of weeks and the sloshing had gone by the time I had the mastectomy.

  • chargergrl55
    chargergrl55 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2010

    i just had lumpectomy surgury two weeks ago May 24th, and by thursday I heard the sloshing it freaked me out and I read online that it was normal. And that is how the body heals itself. It is now June 7 and I do not hear the sloshing anymore the doctor was happy to hear that I heard that and now I don't hear it but I do feel the side of my breast getting hard where it was numb before. It is still sore in the area and unver my arm.

    stage 1 with negative in the lymph nodes.

    Next step is radiation...

  • cybermab
    cybermab Member Posts: 25
    edited May 2014

    I can't tell you how happy I was to see that others have this weird sloshing noise. Had a lumpectomy and Snb on May 21st, and heard the sloshing this morning when I got up.  Called my surgeon's office and left a message, trying not to laugh as I described what I was hearing. So glad to know that this is common. Hope it doesn't have to be drained because that would require putting another hole in me of some sort, and even just a needle stick sounds scary at this point. Just want to heal and move on to radiation  or whatever is next...

    Thanks to all of you sisters who have traveled this path before me, and are willing to share their experiences. 

  • caralex
    caralex Member Posts: 35
    edited November 2014

    I had a lumpectomy three days ago, and started hearing this sloshing last night. It IS weird, isn't it! Lol! However, from what I've read here, it seems to be normal, and will be reabsorbed by the body. Did anyone have lasting lymphedema?

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2014

    The fluid that 'sloshes' for some/just builds up for some is a seroma. It is a pocket of fluid that fills up where the layers have not reattached to the one next to it. (Sort of like a blister but deeper.) It can be drained via a needle. It is not to be confused with LE (Lymphedema) which is fluid build up IN the tissue and can not be drained via a needle. Once LE (lymphedema) developes it is thereand has to be managed from then on. If you are interested in learning about LE, come to the LE Forum here.

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited November 2014

    The fluid that 'sloshes' for some/just builds up for some is a seroma. It is a pocket of fluid that fills up where the layers have not reattached to the one next to it. (Sort of like a blister but deeper.) It can be drained via a needle. It is not to be confused with LE (Lymphedema) which is fluid build up IN the tissue and can not be drained via a needle. Once LE (lymphedema) developes it is thereand has to be managed from then on. If you are interested in learning about LE, come to the LE Forum here.

  • quiggy
    quiggy Member Posts: 315
    edited December 2014

    Ok, sorry my sister's have had to deal with "sloshy" boobs but glad I found this info here.  Totally thought I was going looney!  Had a lumpectomy 5 days ago and sloshing started on day 4.  Strange in deed!    💦💧

  • Ktduck
    Ktduck Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2015

    I was so relieved to read these posts, I thought I was going crazy hearing the sloshing sound from my right breast. My daughter said I sounded like a hot water bottle lol.

    Really pleased to read that it's a fairly normal occurrence and I hope my body absorbs it soon.

    Only had a lumpectomy 5 days ago though, so it may be a while!!

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2015

    Hi Ktduck! Welcome to Breastcancer.org We're sorry that you have to be here, but we're glad you joined and decided reached out!

    As you noticed this thread has not been active in awhile and that may impact your receiving responses from the members who posted here. If you want you can start your own thread to share your particular situation. Under this same forum should be fine. Just click above this page, in the title of the forum, and then click on "Start a new topic". Add a title, write your comment, and when you are ready to post your new topic, click "Submit".

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    The Mods

  • tfelicity39
    tfelicity39 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2016

    after my lumpectomy, I noticed this when I am walking that my breast sloshes as if I were carrying a jug of water, so strange. I am glad to hear that this is normal, they didn't warn me about this, but when I see my doctor next week I will mention it.

    thank you.

  • tfelicity39
    tfelicity39 Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2016

    mine was 7 days ago and I still have some "sloshing". I too was relieved to find out that this was a normal occurrence. We already feel so strange and to have this sound following you around is a bit overwhelming! Hope yours calms soon.

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2016

    Hi tfelicity and welcome to Breastcancer.org!

    We just wanted to drop you a note and thank you for posting! Please peruse the boards and ask any questions you may have while you heal from surgery. We're all here to help and support you.

    Wishing you a speedy recovery!

    --The Mods

  • Cassia101
    Cassia101 Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2016

    I am currently 4 days post op and I noticed the sloshing sounds 2 days post op. I am very relieved that this seems to be a common occurrence.

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