Seroma = Speak up and until you are heard!

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LauraW68
LauraW68 Member Posts: 100
edited November 2014 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Well I knew I felt swelled under my arm area. I mentioned it to my plastic surgeon's nurse last week who said it was normal. I knew what I was feeling wasn't normal.

I got in to see my surgical oncologist who did an ultrasound on the spot I was complaining about, which was more on my side under my right arm area. Turns out yes I did have a seroma (something like a blister inside) that needed drained. She numbed the area, put in a needle and syringe and drew out about 3/4 of a cup of light yellowish fluid that resembled urine lol. Her words. lol

What a relief! It felt better immediately.

She said if it started bothering me again, which it shouldn't build up fluid again, but if it does, she will gladly drain it again. She said if it was bothering me by the time I have my port put in on the 21st just let her know and she'd drain it again while she had me under putting the port in.

I also mentioned how my right arm hurts and she assured me it wasn't lymph edema setting in but just normal nerve endings soreness where they were cut.

Moral of the story... Don't give up until your voice is heard by the medical personnel working for you!

I really am happy with the medical team I have but that doesn't mean I have to stop being my own best advocate.

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Comments

  • Su-CQ51
    Su-CQ51 Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2014

    I'm glad you got some relief Laura. I think that I must have a seroma myself. I don't know what else it could be. The swelling has gotten worse since I saw my PCP last Friday and was told that body would reabsorb it in time. It feels like a new boob is trying to grow under my UMX incision and then has decided to grow more along incision and underside area especially. It is so painful and I've tried light massage to move fluid but definitely not helping. Is draining the only way to get relief from pain? Isee my BS tomorrow and will beg her to drain it. I also have the arm/underarm pain as well.

    Good luck with your port placement and hope you don't have more seroma issues

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  • LauraW68
    LauraW68 Member Posts: 100
    edited November 2014

    Doc told me that draining gives you the fast relief as your body can absorb it but it can take a while so I chose for her to drain mine. I feel so much better.

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

    I had a seroma that looked like a waterbed under my incision line. If I tapped it at one end it would undulate across my chest. I had mine drained onece, but it filled again and my Surgeon decided to let my body absorb it. He said there was more chance of introducing an infection with the draining. It did resolve by itself, but it took a while..

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  • Manu14
    Manu14 Member Posts: 153
    edited November 2014

    I've had a small seroma for over a year. None of my doctors see a need to do anything other than keep an eye on it as long as it's not infected or painful. They say there is more risk of infection with draining and that the seroma is actually serving a purpose. None will make a guess as to if and when and might resolve by itself.

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  • Su-CQ51
    Su-CQ51 Member Posts: 137
    edited November 2014

    I had a large seroma area drained today at my post op appt. It was causing so much pain and pressure that I can't imagine having to wait for body to absorb it. My BS said if it returns and causes pain again then I should have it drained again. Otherwise she's hoping body will reabsorb it

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  • Early60s
    Early60s Member Posts: 13
    edited November 2014

    Hi. I had a lumpectomy and Intrabeam two weeks ago and had a resultant seroma aspirated last week, maybe about 60 cc or so. The seroma refilled within a day, although not as much volume as previously. Compression seems to help. I can't even consider using heat as some suggest, because the seroma is directly under the 2-inch incision and I am a wimp!

    The incision and seroma are sore, but I'm trying to figure out what they'll be like around the holidays. Has anyone flown with a seroma? If so, was it badly behaved or benign? (My flight would be around 6.5 hours, plus a 1-2 hour layover.)

    I will also be starting either tamoxifen or an aromatese inhibitor right after Thanksgiving. That means I'll have been taking it for around four weeks by the time I would fly. I know some people get nauseous and some people get leg/bone cramps.

    I just don't know whether flying is advisable or not with a seroma (which I anticipate may be smaller but not gone) and the new medicine.

    What do you guys think? Total wimp city on my part, or reasonable concerns? I can't tell!!!

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts! :)

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

    Early60s, Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry to hear about the complications after your surgery. There are many on these boards who can answer questions and offer personal experiences. If you don't get any answers here considering starting a new topic to address the additional questions that you have around hormonal therapies. Here is some information on Seromas from our site. Let us here back from you. The Mods

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