Ceroma hurting again

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Fallleaves
Fallleaves Member Posts: 806
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

It's been almost 6 months since my surgery, which was not major. I had a chicken egg sized seroma that kept me from jogging for 3 weeks and the area under my arm was tender for about a month. The seroma got down to quail egg size and was hard but not sensitive. Until...yesterday. Suddenly it felt like it did in the month after surgery. About a 4 out of 10  on the pain scale. This totally came out of nowhere. I haven't been doing heavy lifting, just jogged out to a lighthouse a couple of times (I'm on vacation in N. Cal). Is this normal? I feel very sore today, too. Will make an appt when I get back, but feeling upset right now.

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  • Fallleaves
    Fallleaves Member Posts: 806
    edited February 2014

    Well, you guys are no help...;)

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited February 2014

    Hi Fallleaves! I can't help very  much, but I hate to see posts go unanswered.

    I am so sorry you are experiencing this while on Vacation.

    I had a Seroma that had to be drained and then it filled up a bit again and finally dissipated on its own over time, but I never had any pain from it. It was more like a wave or a water bed right under the incision. I know different people experience things differently.

    I did have cording, which was sore and hard in places. Is that perhaps what you have? Or is this exactly what you had when Dx with a Seroma?

    I am not sure what it is that you are experiencing, but I'd get it looked at. It is likely nothing, but a bit of a bump in the road to complete recovery.

    Take care, enjoy yourself if you can, and let us know how you get on.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2014

    Hi Fallleaves.

    Until you get it checked, you can read some tips on Managing a seroma in the main Breastcancer.org site. 

    Hope it helps!

    The Mods

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited February 2014

    My seroma just was absorbed all on its own so I can't really help in that regard, but I know they can drain them manually as Ariom said above. Have the doctor look at it. Seromas are very common after surgery. Hope you can get some relief soon!

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  • Fallleaves
    Fallleaves Member Posts: 806
    edited February 2014

    Thanks for your replies! I'm sorry to be such a baby , but it was very dismaying to have something I thought was pretty much healed (except for the hard lump) go back to feeling like it did close to the actual surgery. I actually called my husband, who had to leave before me, but luckily he left his phone at work so I wasn't able to blubber in his ear. Anyway, it has improved over the past few days and is much less sore now. I'm actually more upset now that I misspelled "seroma"! I KNOW how to spell it. (Maybe I should be more concerned about early Alzheimers?)

    Ariom, I did have the cording, too, but that is one thing that has thankfully gone away. I wonder how long it will take for this seroma to go away. One MO felt it and said, "That is as hard as a rock, no wonder you are uncomfortable". 

    Anyway, thanks Ariom, Mods, and April485 for making me feel not so alone.

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  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 726
    edited February 2014

    I too have a seroma that causes problems.  Surgery was ten months ago but I didn't notice it until after rads and I was done with that seven months ago.  The seroma aches under the arm and halfway down the arm.  Sometimes it feels bigger than other times.  It's never been drained.  My MO says that the body should absorb it but no time frame was given.  She says that if I want it drained I need to see the surgeon.  I am willing to wait longer.  I've had enough of doctor appointments for awhile.

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited February 2014

    Hi Fallleaves, don't apologise, and you're not a baby. This is crappy stuff we have to deal with and no one wants to ever feel it is going backwards, only forward.

    This is the place to ask questions, to vent, and to seek support. We all understand how you're feeling. That's why we keep coming, we have all been supported and cyber hugged when we were low. Don't even think about the spelling error, who cares? We  all knew what you meant.

    These seromas can take some time to be absorbed, but I figured if my Surgeon wasn't too concerned, then I wouldn't be either. The cording was a bit scary for me,because it was quite extensive, but it went away on its own, just as I was told it would.

    Glad to see it is improving for you!

    Hi April, nice to see you!

    Hi Corky, sorry you are having to deal with this too. I understand the reluctance for more appointments! Take care!

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  • Fallleaves
    Fallleaves Member Posts: 806
    edited February 2014

    Corky60, I hope your seroma is reabsorbed soon (mine, too!) I know what you mean about doctor's appts.... 

    Ariom, thanks so much for your posts. When my Aunt had BC (she passed away in 2011), she said the kindnesses of strangers meant so much to her. I know what she meant now. 

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  • Ariom
    Ariom Member Posts: 6,197
    edited February 2014

    All the very best Fallleaves! Glad I could help!

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