Internal Bleeding

IamHope
IamHope Member Posts: 58
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I had a bilateral mastectomy last week (7 July) with lymph nodes removed from the left side. I had the drains in for only one week. The right side was draining well, with less than 50ml the day they took it out. Problem was/is the left side. The drain still had more than 200ml in. They still took out both drains. I have gone back to the oncologist twice now so that she can drain the blood out with a needle. Last time the dr said that I might have to go for surgery because the blood was so thick that she couldn't get it out with a needle, she had to make a cut. Total taken out so far has been 500ml, and this blood-boob-baloon is growing again. Very uncomfortable and sore. Does anyone have any advice on this? Please?

Comments

  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #2
    Sorry
    I'm so sorry Iam, Please go to the doctor right away. I think they are the ones to help you with this one. Good Luck and God Bless. Diane
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537 Member
    #3
    HI
    Sorry about your complication with your drains. I had bilateral mastectomy in May and had my drains in for 3 weeks. The left side had less than 30 cc of drainage but the right side had 80cc. The plastic surgeon felt that keeping them in any longer could lead to infection so he did pull both. My left side healed well but the right developed a wound complication and opened up. I had to have the expander removed and a drain reinserted but it seems to be ok now. I would ask about the possiblity of reinserting the drain and also ask about and wound complications that can occur because of all the accumulating fluid there.

    Luck to you and let us know how you come out
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #4
    I cant believe they took out
    I cant believe they took out the left drain when you still had alot coming out. I am sorry that you have to go through even more now and possibly another surgery. Also, it was my plastic surgeon who took out my drains, not the onc. You definatly need to let them know how much discomfort and pain you are having. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

    laura
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #5
    Hey there
    I had this happen
    Hey there
    I had this happen to me too. huge hematoma from the nodes. The old blood built up til it started squirting out the sutures in the lumpetomy I'd had at first.It wasn't anything to worry about just really gross. I went to the emergency room and had them finish squeezing all the old blood out and eventually it went away . They may have to go in and clean it up for you, but it's probably not anything to worry about.
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #6
    Welcome, IamHope
    Glad you found us - we're all here to support and encourage each other.

    So sorry for the drains complication. I'll recommend that you contact your doctor as soon as possible.

    Best wishes to you.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #7
    Welcome Iamhope.....
    I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. Maybe a second opinion would be in order if you are not healing well. I hope it gets better for you. I did not have drains, so I have no advice, sorry. However, others here will be able to help you with very wise advice. :) Pammy
  • IamHope
    IamHope Member Posts: 58
    #8
    I contacted my oncologist,
    I contacted my oncologist, her advice is to let it be for now, see how long I can hold out. Sigh, this is not fun. Thanks for all the comments guys, helps to interact with others. Just after my diagnosis I joined a local blog here in South Africa. Just started talking about all the feelings and fears and thoughts. I'm now addicted to it. :) It is amazing to be able to share and to get it out.
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #9
    IamHope said:

    I contacted my oncologist,
    I contacted my oncologist, her advice is to let it be for now, see how long I can hold out. Sigh, this is not fun. Thanks for all the comments guys, helps to interact with others. Just after my diagnosis I joined a local blog here in South Africa. Just started talking about all the feelings and fears and thoughts. I'm now addicted to it. :) It is amazing to be able to share and to get it out.

    Here in the states, they

    Here in the states, they keep the drains in much longer. Mine were in until I had less than 30 ml drainage, with the exception of one that was plugged and draining 50 - 60 ml a day. Even though most of mine were in much longer, I also had problems with the swelling and had to have aspirations done. (For me, it was my abdomen, since I had reconstruction using my abdomen tissue). I know how frustrating and uncomfortable it is, and I wish I had some words of wisdom to give you. I hope you are able to hold out a little while longer and that it starts to resolve soon.

    I'm glad that you were able to find this group. I'm sure you'll find help and encouragement like so many others have found.

    Joyce
  • IamHope
    IamHope Member Posts: 58
    #10
    jk1952 said:

    Here in the states, they

    Here in the states, they keep the drains in much longer. Mine were in until I had less than 30 ml drainage, with the exception of one that was plugged and draining 50 - 60 ml a day. Even though most of mine were in much longer, I also had problems with the swelling and had to have aspirations done. (For me, it was my abdomen, since I had reconstruction using my abdomen tissue). I know how frustrating and uncomfortable it is, and I wish I had some words of wisdom to give you. I hope you are able to hold out a little while longer and that it starts to resolve soon.

    I'm glad that you were able to find this group. I'm sure you'll find help and encouragement like so many others have found.

    Joyce

    South Africa not so different
    I don't think SA is different from the states JK. I think the problem was more that it is a state hospital. The operation was brilliant and the scars look beautiful (errr.. you know what I mean) The after care not so good though. My hat of to the doctors and nurses at the hospital in anycase. In a country were more than 80% of the population live under the breadline, you can guess that it is not a pleasure visit to a state hospital.

    Sigh, right now I am considering taking scalple to myself to get rid of this. I could cope with everything, but this is starting to feel like a bit too much.
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    #11
    IamHope said:

    South Africa not so different
    I don't think SA is different from the states JK. I think the problem was more that it is a state hospital. The operation was brilliant and the scars look beautiful (errr.. you know what I mean) The after care not so good though. My hat of to the doctors and nurses at the hospital in anycase. In a country were more than 80% of the population live under the breadline, you can guess that it is not a pleasure visit to a state hospital.

    Sigh, right now I am considering taking scalple to myself to get rid of this. I could cope with everything, but this is starting to feel like a bit too much.

    I have no idea what this
    I have no idea what this must be like for you but I am so sorry and hope you get relief soon.
  • jk1952
    jk1952 Member Posts: 613
    #12
    IamHope said:

    South Africa not so different
    I don't think SA is different from the states JK. I think the problem was more that it is a state hospital. The operation was brilliant and the scars look beautiful (errr.. you know what I mean) The after care not so good though. My hat of to the doctors and nurses at the hospital in anycase. In a country were more than 80% of the population live under the breadline, you can guess that it is not a pleasure visit to a state hospital.

    Sigh, right now I am considering taking scalple to myself to get rid of this. I could cope with everything, but this is starting to feel like a bit too much.

    IamHope,
    Any chance you
    IamHope,

    Any chance you could go to another doctor for a second opinion, and possibly some additional help? It would be a shame to have surgery if there is another alternative; or if you really need additional surgery, maybe it could be expedited. I've found my primary care physician to be a tremendous help, also. If (s)he saw what you are going through, maybe he could refer you to another specialist. Or, any chance you could have a follow-up appointment with the doctor who did the surgery, since he did such a good job? My follow-up care has been almost exclusively with the surgeon. I'm sure this has to be very, very frustrating. If it's available, a second opinion might help.

    Joyce
  • kometlady
    kometlady Member Posts: 1
    #13
    jk1952 said:

    IamHope,
    Any chance you
    IamHope,

    Any chance you could go to another doctor for a second opinion, and possibly some additional help? It would be a shame to have surgery if there is another alternative; or if you really need additional surgery, maybe it could be expedited. I've found my primary care physician to be a tremendous help, also. If (s)he saw what you are going through, maybe he could refer you to another specialist. Or, any chance you could have a follow-up appointment with the doctor who did the surgery, since he did such a good job? My follow-up care has been almost exclusively with the surgeon. I'm sure this has to be very, very frustrating. If it's available, a second opinion might help.

    Joyce

    hope you're better by now
    Hello, I am excited to find you all here. I hope that your bleeding was resolved and that you on your way to a full recovery. My situation is a bit different, but this site is the closest I've found to anything like my experience. I had a right mastectomy and TRAM flap on May 6, 2009. Though I am physically recovered, I am struggling with the emotions of what happened. At 10:30 p.m. the night of my surgery I was bleeding internally--I don't know what the medical terminology is for what happened to me. I guess my veins collapsed (?) too because they lost the IV and they ultimately ended up doing a main line as they rushed me into surgery. It was VERY, VERY scary, though I was so out of it it was like watching a movie. There was a "rapid response team" in my room-- I asked a nurse if I was dying and she said, "We hope not." I ended up in another 3 hour surgery where they opened all the incisions to find the culprit. It was a long hard 8 weeks of recovery, and then I felt much better for awhile. Now, I am struggling with insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD. My description above does not describe well the magnitude of what happened.

    The good news for me is I had no node involvement and I did not have to have radiation or chemotherapy. I look great (flat tummy and nice breast), but I feel SO weird and unable to move on.

    Any ideas?

    Lee Ann
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #14
    kometlady said:

    hope you're better by now
    Hello, I am excited to find you all here. I hope that your bleeding was resolved and that you on your way to a full recovery. My situation is a bit different, but this site is the closest I've found to anything like my experience. I had a right mastectomy and TRAM flap on May 6, 2009. Though I am physically recovered, I am struggling with the emotions of what happened. At 10:30 p.m. the night of my surgery I was bleeding internally--I don't know what the medical terminology is for what happened to me. I guess my veins collapsed (?) too because they lost the IV and they ultimately ended up doing a main line as they rushed me into surgery. It was VERY, VERY scary, though I was so out of it it was like watching a movie. There was a "rapid response team" in my room-- I asked a nurse if I was dying and she said, "We hope not." I ended up in another 3 hour surgery where they opened all the incisions to find the culprit. It was a long hard 8 weeks of recovery, and then I felt much better for awhile. Now, I am struggling with insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD. My description above does not describe well the magnitude of what happened.

    The good news for me is I had no node involvement and I did not have to have radiation or chemotherapy. I look great (flat tummy and nice breast), but I feel SO weird and unable to move on.

    Any ideas?

    Lee Ann

    Lee Ann Welcome
    Hi Lee Ann and welcome. You might want to start a new thread introducing yourself and telling us about you. Sometimes you get lost in these other threads. Sorry for all that you have been thru. Have you talked to your oncologist about some meds? Anxiety pills or antidepressants? Or, talk to a counselor? We all need help, don't be afraid to ask for it.

    Hugs!

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