Underarm seroma ?

veeder, sorry to hear about the seroma. With your history of seromas, you may want to contact your surgeon's office asap and see what they have to say. I experienced an underarm seroma after lumpectomy but it went away during rads when it broke open and drained (not recommended!). I had also had it drained by surgeon before rads. Because it was under my arm, my surgeon had me wear a mass, like several pads or wadded dressings by taping or under clothes in the arm pit area--just to gently compress area. Unless yours is in a different spot, I don't think a sleeve would have helped me.

I have had seroma difficulties for the last 8 months. I've had them drained several times and finally found a wonderful physical therapist who, with massage, sleeves, gloves finally got the seroma under control. Twice a day, I use a compression machine for 1 hour. I wear a heavy duty sleeve and glove during the day. At night I wear a puffy compression sleeve, wrapped in several layers of Ace bandages and I wrap my hand and fingers in an elastic gauze. Everything I do, I learned from my wonderful physical therapist. I suggest you you speak to your dr. And get into physical therapy. All the best to you. -

Veeder, my oncologist referred me to a therapist who specializes in lymphedema care. The therapist referred me to a fitter at a shop that carries compression sleeves, gloves, wigs, etc. A Lymphedema pump costs about $5,000 so I doubt insurance would pay for one related to a small seroma appearing within days of surgery. I hope all goes well for you.

Lyn

I'm glad that you're being proactive. My seroma got infected when the surgeon drained it. I ultimately had to have a PICC line and IV antibiotics and chemo was delayed a month so, yes, nip it in the bud!

I was told to wear my sleeve and glove for two hours before and five hours after flying. I don't know if that's a universal recommendation.

Best of luck, Lyn

Hi all, so many good questions here. I'm a newbie on seromas so sorry I can't help.

Your therapist will recommend garments if you need one. For a lymphedema sleeve and hand garment or other compression equipment etc you get a doc note saying you need one for management of lymphedema. Then you get a fitter to measure you to get a custom fit. Sometimes a PT or lymphedema therapist is experienced in this tricky job otherwise they will recommend you to someone who has taken a fitters course. Start off by wearing a hour or two a day till you get use to it and increase time till your comfy.

You can get a off the shelf garment cheaper but the key is it must fit like a second skin to work proper. Brightlifedirect.com is a site us girls use here for off the shelf productsbecause they have excellent returns.

For those trying to prevent LE while flying. Put on arm and hand garment a hour or two before flight and wear a couple hours after. No lugging heavy luggage please. Get strong cute man to lift so you don't set off a le flare! For those with LE already, wear as usual, first thing in morn till just before bed daily. I have trunk and breast le so I wear a super tight compression tee to contain swell and bit of discomfort. All This varies a bit. I wear my gloves and sleeves 12 hours dailybecause that works for me.

For those not knowing about wrapping. This is for trying to get a swell down and your arm to a smaller size to get fitted to a garment or a flare control. Your fingers are usually wrapped in gause and your arm in bandage liner, foam padding and short stretch banadages specially made to drain fluid. NEVER ACE bandages, those are incorrect and dont let anyone near you with those. You will wear fo 24/7 for a three weeks or so to get arm small as you can and a few days or so to control a flare.

Drainage machines are usually reserved for those who can't manage their le with just standard garments, MLD and self drainage exercise and wrapping. It's a great tool but expensive and not always necessary. Your therapist will tell you if you need it. Usually it's if you've tried all the tricks above with no success and is an additional tool in your kit.

If you ever have symptoms such as achy flu like or redness around a wound and it grows quickly it could be dangerous cellulitis. Go to ER asap and say you have lymphedema and are prone to cellulitis an extremely dangerous thing. They will put you on strong antibiotics. This is no joke make ER understand.

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