Drainage Problems after Mastectomy

reach4thesky
reach4thesky Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had a Mastectomy on May 5th of this year. I had a tissue expander put in. I am still draining. The doctors told me to wait another month, not sure if I have an infection or if it is just taking it's time to heal. I am concerned it is infected, the area hurts and the discharge is yellowish green. I am frustrated that nothing is being done. Any suggestions?

Comments

  • clight
    clight Member Posts: 5
    #2
    I'm an R.N. and I too would be concerned about the drainage as you describe it. Yellowish green thick discharge in any post-op wound usually indicates an infection of some sort. It's difficult to give an accurate answer without more information of course as there are MANY FACTORS involved here, so please don't freak out and get scared to death from my reply, everything may indeed be OK. Has your Dr. done a wound culture or a CBC (blood test on you)to check for a bacterial infection? How does your Dr. explain the drainage? If your Dr. seems unconcerned, you might want to get a 2nd opinion. I probably would, because the excess worry about a possible infection and more problems on top of my cancer, etc. would drive me nuts! So if I was not happy with my Dr. and felt bad on top of it I'd get the 2nd opinion, all that extra worry could really be taking a toll on how you feel too. I've found that old gut feeling that something is wrong is usually a pretty good indicator for me! A second opinion at least would put you at ease and you are going through enough stress, etc. without the added stress of worrying about an infection. Best Wishes for a speedy recovery! Carolyn
  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #3
    clight said:

    I'm an R.N. and I too would be concerned about the drainage as you describe it. Yellowish green thick discharge in any post-op wound usually indicates an infection of some sort. It's difficult to give an accurate answer without more information of course as there are MANY FACTORS involved here, so please don't freak out and get scared to death from my reply, everything may indeed be OK. Has your Dr. done a wound culture or a CBC (blood test on you)to check for a bacterial infection? How does your Dr. explain the drainage? If your Dr. seems unconcerned, you might want to get a 2nd opinion. I probably would, because the excess worry about a possible infection and more problems on top of my cancer, etc. would drive me nuts! So if I was not happy with my Dr. and felt bad on top of it I'd get the 2nd opinion, all that extra worry could really be taking a toll on how you feel too. I've found that old gut feeling that something is wrong is usually a pretty good indicator for me! A second opinion at least would put you at ease and you are going through enough stress, etc. without the added stress of worrying about an infection. Best Wishes for a speedy recovery! Carolyn

    I agree with Carolyn...get a second opinion. I don't think drainage this far after surgery is normal, especially not green-yellow. Only problem is who will you see? Most MD's don't like taking on a surgery someone else did, but I definately think you need to find someone to treat this and soon. Are you on chemo? running a fever? If so I'd say see someone as soon as possible.
    Hope this helps.
    hummingbyrd
  • reach4thesky
    reach4thesky Member Posts: 12
    #4
    hummingbyrd said:

    I agree with Carolyn...get a second opinion. I don't think drainage this far after surgery is normal, especially not green-yellow. Only problem is who will you see? Most MD's don't like taking on a surgery someone else did, but I definately think you need to find someone to treat this and soon. Are you on chemo? running a fever? If so I'd say see someone as soon as possible.
    Hope this helps.
    hummingbyrd

    Thank Humingbyrd. About 3 weeks after my surgery, I did have flu like symptoms, drainage, ect...and was given a wound culture and blood test. My General Surgeon said the results came back that I did have an infection with some "staff" in it. I was given antibiotics for 20 days. It seemed to help and the drainage stopped. Then around July 4th weekend the drainage started again. It has been draining steadily. The area near the pea size openning is red and tender. I have also been getting my expander filled with saline, both my General Surgeon and Plastic surgeon said that getting saline inputed should not affect it either way. And they both are very respected Surgeons, however, they are both unsure if it is infected or just taking a while to heal. Getting another option does seem logical, however, my insurance does not cover any more consultations to another physician and my financial situation will not support me to do this on my own. Overall, I am very lucky because I did not have to do Chemo or Radiation at this point, my problems are few compared to some. I just want to know where I stand with my drainage, Infected or not? I did ask my General Surgeon last week, at my last visit, can you take the dressing and send it for testing? His reply was that he could cleary see there was bacteria in it, the question is, is that harboring inside me? I feel fine otherwise, except for up and down energy levels and soreness & pain in the area. I was also denied antibiotics from both my General and Plastic Surgeon, they both said that won't help me at this point, just wait another month. Either I am just impatient or something is not right.
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #5
    Do you have a patient advocate or case manager through your insurance company? Call your insurance company and ask to speak with one. Tell them you want your case reviewed. I had an expander that got infected -- I didn't have drainage but had increased redness and pain. I'm like everyone else, the drainage is bothersome. You don't want to send the dressing for testing but ask for a reculture of the actual drainage. This is a reoccurence after antibiotics and I see nothing wrong with asking for a repeat culture - if nothing else for your own well-being. Don't be shy, 20 days of antibiotics is a long time for antibiotics, ask the doctor why he did 20 days and why he's unwilling to reculture. Let us know how it goes.
  • reach4thesky
    reach4thesky Member Posts: 12
    #6
    Future said:

    Do you have a patient advocate or case manager through your insurance company? Call your insurance company and ask to speak with one. Tell them you want your case reviewed. I had an expander that got infected -- I didn't have drainage but had increased redness and pain. I'm like everyone else, the drainage is bothersome. You don't want to send the dressing for testing but ask for a reculture of the actual drainage. This is a reoccurence after antibiotics and I see nothing wrong with asking for a repeat culture - if nothing else for your own well-being. Don't be shy, 20 days of antibiotics is a long time for antibiotics, ask the doctor why he did 20 days and why he's unwilling to reculture. Let us know how it goes.

    Dear Future, thanks for helping me also. Although that is a possible good solution, however, my limitations are not with being able to see another doctor. I have a limited health insurance plan that only allows 2 office visits per year. Everytime, I have visited a new specialist, it is $200-$400 per visit out of my pocket. My visits to my surgeons at this point have been all Post-Op which are included. Did your expander get removed or did the infection go away? How long after your surgery? I think tomorow I will ask my doctor to retest the culture. Thank you.
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #7
    reach4thesky said:

    Dear Future, thanks for helping me also. Although that is a possible good solution, however, my limitations are not with being able to see another doctor. I have a limited health insurance plan that only allows 2 office visits per year. Everytime, I have visited a new specialist, it is $200-$400 per visit out of my pocket. My visits to my surgeons at this point have been all Post-Op which are included. Did your expander get removed or did the infection go away? How long after your surgery? I think tomorow I will ask my doctor to retest the culture. Thank you.

    My expander was removed - when he took it out it was apparent that there was an infection. Now I'm in a holding pattern. Push for the culture - there are some type of infections out there that you just don't want - they are difficult to treat. If he refuses push and ask why -- keep repeating the question until you get an explanation you're comfortable with. You might want to consider bring someone with you, they can help validate what you hear.
    Let us know how it goes.
  • reach4thesky
    reach4thesky Member Posts: 12
    #8
    Thanks hummingbyrd, Future and Carolyn for your help again the other day. I went to my Plastic Surgeon today. My drainage was green on the gauge I removed with redness on my Mastectomy site. He finally confirmed it was infected. He scheduled surgery for me to have my tissue expander removed tomorrow. This is a good thing, hopefully I can get healed up now. Thanks again!
  • Future
    Future Member Posts: 133 Member
    #9
    reach4thesky said:

    Thanks hummingbyrd, Future and Carolyn for your help again the other day. I went to my Plastic Surgeon today. My drainage was green on the gauge I removed with redness on my Mastectomy site. He finally confirmed it was infected. He scheduled surgery for me to have my tissue expander removed tomorrow. This is a good thing, hopefully I can get healed up now. Thanks again!

    Glad to hear the surgeon is taking action. Ask him his plan of action for antibiotics -- he should culture the expander -- ask him how soon before he'll have the culture results. My surgeon is doing a WBC imaging 3 months after my expander was removed - they take blood and "tag" it with an isotope, reinject it and then 4-24 hours later they do a scan - if you have any remaining infection the White blood cells (WBC) will gather in the infected area. something to consider, depending how surgery goes.

    Let us know how it goes.
    mary

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