Infection 4 weeks after mastectomy

Deamo1,

Sorry I cant help, but I hope it clears up with the antibiotic and you do not have to undergo any further surgery. Feel well.

Deamo1,

Darn it! I am so sorry this has happened. It happened to me at 4 weeks post surgery, but after my exchange surgery, not original BMX. I had exactly what you described (but without the milky fluid). I was also put on Bactrim and it did the trick. I was scared for sure, but it went down fairly quickly... and never returned. They said they didn't know why it happened but that it can and does. Be sure to rest up and eat well (get some probiotics in there with that Bactrim) and clean, and drink plenty of water. I took it super seriously and did not push it physically at all.

May you heal quickly and with ease. Sending much love and strength!

You bet, Deamo1! It is hard, as we are so on edge, particularly after such a big surgery, so any way you can soothe yourself (good eats, nice movies, comfy pjs... all that good stuff!) is helpful in the healing long run. Let me know how you are doing when you get up tomorrow. I am trusting the redness will have gone down some .

And I hope you get some nice restorative sleep! xoxox

I had an infection 5 weeks after surgery. Mine started with just some pink splotchy areas on the one side. A little swelling and a little warm. My PS sent me to the hospital. I was there for 3 days on IV antibiotics - so afraid they'd have to remove the implant. But a consult with Infectious Disease and a few rounds of strong antibiotics and things began to improve. I went home on 2 antibiotics for 2 weeks. No further problems.

I hope you're doing better very soon!

If there isn't infection then they may consider using a drain again. With infection - I would strongly recommend IV antibiotics and an Infectious Disease consult.

I can't imagine what a pain wound packing must be! Also - wound care specialists exist that have all kinds of better ideas for care sometimes.

You have my sympathies. Deamo. I had a similar path. I developed a large hematoma, followed by a huge seroma after my LX. Then it all got infected, had to open it up and put a drain in. I tell you what, the stuff that came out should never inhabit a human body! Two strong antibiotics for 6 weeks.

Then, after my BMX all hell broke loose. I had a large area of deep necrosis on the right (down to the chest wall, yikes!) and a 6-inch seroma on the right. Ended up packing the seroma daily and wore a wound vac on the right for months. What a mess!

I wish you the best. Hope your infection goes away soon and your wound heals fast, with no more complications.

Yeah, my PS and i saw each other 23 tines a week for months. Had my wound vac 8 weeks, followed by a special prescription dressing for another 8 weeks. Packed the seroma for 16 weeks. Fun times...

It was pretty traumatic. I'm just now able to go forward with reconstruction, 2-1/2 years later.

deamo, I'm sorry you are going through this. Seroma is a risk with different kinds of surgeries. I'm having my implant exchangeThursday. Excited but also nervous. It's important to keep the area drained and take antibiotics so your infection clears up. It's funny, a few people mentioned 'not to look' at my breasts after exchange. I'm sure it will look rough. I'm a firm believer in looking and reporting anything that doesn't feel quite right, inflammation, unusual tightness, swelling. That way if one does develop there's a greater chance it can be drained before infection occurs. Sometimes it just happened through no fault of our own. It can be such a tough road sometimes and I wish you speedy healing.

Deb, my PS made me look after she debrided all the old necrotic (dead) tissue out of my right breast. It looked like a wolf had bit a hunk of skin off my chest! My DH had to put his head between his knees when he saw it. It took my breath away, and I've been a nurse for 40 years! I needed a stiff drink after that.

Deamo I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. Very similar situation to me except my seroma didn't open up after all my surgeries . At times i needed to have it needle drained or had a JP drain for long periods placed again when the fluid just wouldn't stop accumulating. A few times I did end up with an infection requiring IV antibiotics and an infectious disease consult. But that is not the norm, and many people recover very well from seroma. Push for an infectious disease consult if there is any question of infection and it's not resolving. I am left with one implant, but i did lose the other after my TE to exchange was infected due to fluid. My case is not the norm and unfortunately I ended up with a wound vac after numerous debridements and other attempts at draining failed to heal. I am at the 4 month mark with my chest wound vac and hoping to be on the final leg of journey soon. A big gentle hug to you!

Mustlove* we must have the nurse curse eh? I am also a nurse and ended up with a wound vac and a pesky drug resistent infection down to my chest wall. I am so very sorry for all you have been through. Sending you also a very very gentle hug. Where are you at in the process? I have had this wound vac for 4 months. It is almost closed but we are not sure if this infection is fully behind us..a few different infectious disease groups are collaborating on the case and we are using all those big brains! We are hoping for the best, but they are thinking I need a muscle flap to help heal long term because I don't have much muscle left. This week I just feel like the end is not in sight and I'm feeling a bit exhausted from the journey. The infection has lingered for 2 years , 20 + surgeries, and has been more of a challenge than cancer. But we.are still here so that's something...