Fluid won’t drain under arm after sentinel node biopsy

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Phadley
Phadley Member Posts: 5
edited November 2017 in Lymphedema

I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy a week ago. No drain tubes but now I have a large pocket of fluid under my arm that won’t drain. It’s starting to get more painful. Anyone else have these symptoms or know how to get rid of the fluid

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Comments

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited November 2017

    Welcome here. You really need to address this to your surgeon or doc. Your still early out of surgery so they should still be able to help you with this. It may not be lymphedema but just part of the surgery aftermath.


    Either way you should get measured and educated by a well qualified lymphedema therapist where they can be a good judge and educator on precautions for LE.
    stepup-speakout.org is a great website that our girls here made and you can find a therapist near where you live on that website and learn lots there. Keep asking us questions if in doubt.
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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2017

    likely a seroma, which is a fluid collection, not blood. Also, not uncommon. Can be drained. You need to discuss with your surgeon.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited November 2017

    I had the same thing. Went to the ER. It was midnight before they saw me, so nothing happened then, but the surgeon took care of it the next day.

    Please call your surgeon. It's an easy--and necessary--fix.

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  • Phadley
    Phadley Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2017

    thanks I have a call into surgeon.

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  • Polly413
    Polly413 Member Posts: 124
    edited November 2017

    I had swelling after SNB in June of 2017 that turned out to be a seroma. It was uncomfortable but it drained without a doctor's intervention. I was concerned that the drainage procedure itself would trigger lymphedema. Your surgeon will be able to advise you on that. Have had no evidence of lymphedema to date.

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  • Phadley
    Phadley Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2017

    I had it drained yesterday the pressure just got to much for me to handle. However it filled back up so I guess I’m just going to have to tough it out till it goes away on its own. Thanks for responding!

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  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 726
    edited November 2017

    I had fluid build-up after the SNB. The oncologist said it was a seroma. The ultrasound showed it was a seroma. The surgeon said it was a seroma and drained it three times. When it came back a fourth time he surgically removed it. The pathology report showed it was a pseudocyst. It would never have drained away.

    Edited to say: This all transpired over the course of two years. So I gave it plenty of time to drain on its own, which it never would have done as it turned out. And the darn pseudocyst hurt on top of it all.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited November 2017

    Phadley, please contact your surgeon. S/he may think it best for you to tough it out, or may have another idea. In my case, he had to surgically correct the issue. (It was no biggie.)

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  • Phadley
    Phadley Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2017

    thanks for the info. I’ve not heard of pseudocyst before. I will check into it

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  • vampeyes
    vampeyes Member Posts: 1,227
    edited November 2017

    Hi Phadley,

    I am currently suffering with you, had mine drained twice now and each time filled right back up. Have you found any ways to relieve the pressure? I don't see my surgeon again till December 4th unfortunately. My family physician and the hospital ER doctors will not touch it, they say only the surgeon can drain it. Just give me the needle!! lol My SNB was done on October 18th, maybe not enough time has passed....

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  • Phadley
    Phadley Member Posts: 5
    edited November 2017

    I started doing a lot of lymph massage. There are videos on you tube and it started to drain after a few days.

    I still have a lump but not as bad. I did it about 3 times a Day also massaged my lymph nodes in groin area and deep breathing (which was like a vacuum pump). I tried running and it came back so for now just walking and massaging. Good luck!!! I feel your pain

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