What is the difference between a seroma and le?

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kimber_1616
kimber_1616 Member Posts: 99
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

long story as short as I can make it....

I have had a bilateral mastectomy and have le in my right arm. Occasionally (long travels, or exercising) I feel a heaviness in my breast and a pocket under my breast appears. (Over the ribs) I had my yearly MRI they make me do, which I think I'm done with! Got a call back for an u/s and possible biopsy. Was stressed, took a Xanax before I got there. Once I got undressed they told me I needed a mammo first, which I have never had with le or since the removal of my breasts! I was literally in the machine being squeezed when the tech realized I hadn't signed the waiver. She stopped and had me sign while in place. I went out front to wait for u/s, mammo pics weren't good enough back in round two, repeat till four times. Had u/s looks like possible scaring have to go back in six months. A few days later I started noticing a change in my under arm area. It has enlarged and the breast shape is not the same. I slosh when I move certain ways. I went to my surgeon on Monday, who was FURIOUS!! I am waiting to have another MRI to see if the pocket broke or if I have a leaking implant. The surgeon said it appeared to be a seroma and he is hoping over a few weeks it will reabsorb. I had been doing mld, and we thought it was lymph, but after drainage it never changed in size at all. I have been told not to do anymore mld until we get this sorted out, which makes sense. So, with my short long story lol can you tell a difference between chest le and a seroma? I really would rather it be a seroma to be honest. The thought of truncial le as well really really upsets me. I'm also pi$$ed that I told them I had le and apparently a mammo should not be done if you have it :( 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2014
    kimber Im in no position to advise you but I can say Im SO sorry you had to go through this. What a dreadful runaround youve had. Gentle hugs. Im sure our knowledgeable ones will be along soon to chime in.
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  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited March 2014

    Kimber, it sounds like  you and I are in almost exactly the same boat (minus the mammogram--I can't imagine how painful that must have been!). I am seeing my surgeon Friday and he is planning to refer me to a lymphedema clinic. I hope you will update with what happens with you!

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited March 2014

    Kimber--yikes! That's really a horrible story--I hurt just reading it!  :-(

    If it's any comfort (and I sure hope it is!), LE doesn't "slosh." The fluid present in LE is distributed throughout the tissue, kind of like it would be in a really good sponge. A seroma, on the other hand, is a puddle or pool, so it can slosh. A seroma can be drained with a syringe (and generally that doesn't hurt, because the nerves have been affected by the surgery). Lymphedema can't be drained with a syringe because the fluid is "hiding out" among the cells, which is why we do MLD to encourage the lymph fluid to be picked up by the lymph vessels.

    Ask your doctor if it's okay to use some light compression (a sports bra or sports shirt) to help support the fluid weight and keep down the discomfort. And do keep us posted on how you're doing! 

    Women with LE do have mammos, by the way. Maybe not four at a time though! It takes some prep: making sure any swelling is reduced as much as possible beforehand, and arranging to see the LE therapist for some professional MLD afterward in order to get everything back in control.

    Be well!
    Binney

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  • kimber_1616
    kimber_1616 Member Posts: 99
    edited March 2014

    thank you everyone, it was definitely not comfortable! Bonney, the sloshing makes sense that it would not be le. Wonder if that implant is leaking.... Still waiting for SOMEONE to call back to get insurance approval. I even called my case manager with my insurance company. I hate waiting! 

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  • samrodun
    samrodun Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2014

    Hi to all. kimber...So sorry to hear all your trouble with the seroma or whatever it is. I'm new to this site forum so about the only abbreviations I'm familar with so far are the mastectomy ones...so please don't mind.

    I had a right mastectomy on 2/20. I immediately noticed this huge (about 2"x2") swelling about 3/4" above the incision on the front of my chest right where my armpit starts....making it almost impossible to wear anything other than a very loose top with sleeves. I tried a wider strap stretchy sports bra type thing only because I was going out for my birthday and I had to wrap gauze all around the strap part. It's still there and doesn't seem to be any smaller to me even though my surgeon thinks it is as of last week. She, and my oncologist, think it's a seroma. Surgeon said it could also be a combination of seroma and hematoma. It is very tender and prickly feeling too (but then my whole area surrounding the incision is numb and prickly). When I push in on the swelling it only goes in a little. It's not too hard or too soft. It doesn't "slosh" at all like "kimber" said. I had a good size hematoma from my core biopsy that became a hard lump....didn't go away until they took it away with the MX.

    Anyway, my question is....how do they really know what the heck it is when they can't see inside it? My surgeon says seromas usually dissipate over time (I read somewhere that sometimes they don't), and that she really doesn't want to try and drain it because of chance of infection....I'm thinking, why, wouldn't it be done in a sterile environment :-)  She said she wouldn't even consider draining it at least until I see her in 4 weeks.

    Have any of you girls had something like this, and if so...did it ever go away & how long did it take. 

    Thanks for reading....hope you all are well, Sam

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited March 2014

    I'm glad sam brought up the risk of infection with seroma. While waiting for it to drain, be aware of any warmth, redness or fever you might develop and get seen right away. There are a couple historical threads on these boards you could read for more background. 

    I will also suggest my usual, all-purpose deep breathing & hydration remedies: both work for impatience/anxiety as well as helping to clear stagnant fluids. Easy to do in pursuit of health and healing!  

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  • samrodun
    samrodun Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2014

    vlnrph....you mentioned other threads regarding a seroma? I'm new here and don't quite know how to get to specific threads, so could you help me out on which thread? Thanks, Sam

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  • vlnrph
    vlnrph Member Posts: 1,632
    edited March 2014

    You'll want to use the search function (one of the blue panel lines at the upper left of the screen) and put in a key word. 

    I recall a recent one named "Sick of My Seromas" because it sounded like it could be a title for a country song...

    Also remember that everyone's experience is different and sometimes the boards here attract those of us with more significant problems. So read with a discerning eye in order to glean what might apply to you - or not! Just knowing others have down a similar road can be encouraging.

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  • samrodun
    samrodun Member Posts: 20
    edited March 2014

    vlnrph: Thanks so much for the help and referral...I'll search for it. Hope your reconstruction was a success and you're doing great.

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