Waiting for call back from Surgeon's office

Rague
Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Short history - Sat. morn I woke up with swelling along the incision line (5+ weeks post - (last drain out 9 days prior) under arm (not in arm but along body). No heat, no fever, no pain (but then there's not a lot of 'feeling' in the area anymore), 2 different 'feeling' to the area - some felt like a pocket of fluid and the rest like a 'firm' swelling (like from a bee sting - sort of). Went to 'Urgent Care' at Ft. Meade to be told by the Dr. that I had probably 'slept wrong'. He did find a fluid pocket and pulled 5cc out to have cultured. Actually, I doubt it will show anything as it was clear, not cloudy or any blood in it, and a normal only slightly yellowish color. He then told me to just go to my next appt. with Surgeon on Dec. 17th because 'it' might be lymphadema because there's a pocket of fluid on my body - arm not affected - so tell him THEN.

So - I called surgeon's office and talked with his nurse and am waiting for a call back - I know that Mon. morn is one of his surgery times so he's busy. Hope I've made sense - it makes sense to me reading it but then I know what's happened.

Susan

Comments

  • Sunrae
    Sunrae Member Posts: 808
    #2
    Susan, so sorry to hear
    Susan, so sorry to hear about your problem and swelling. I can't offer you any advice, just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Others here will be able to come up with experiences and what will help. Hope the surgeon is helpful and will give you some way to have relief. Sending you best wishes.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #3
    Sunrae said:

    Susan, so sorry to hear
    Susan, so sorry to hear about your problem and swelling. I can't offer you any advice, just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Others here will be able to come up with experiences and what will help. Hope the surgeon is helpful and will give you some way to have relief. Sending you best wishes.

    Sorry. I hope you hear
    Sorry. I hope you hear soon. Sending positive thoughts.

    Sue :)
  • jennytwist
    jennytwist Member Posts: 896
    #4
    Ritzy said:

    Sorry. I hope you hear
    Sorry. I hope you hear soon. Sending positive thoughts.

    Sue :)

    Hope you hear soon -
    and that the news is good - try not to stress too much!
    keeping you in my prayers
    -Jenny
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    jennytwist said:

    Hope you hear soon -
    and that the news is good - try not to stress too much!
    keeping you in my prayers
    -Jenny

    sometimes the fluid buildup
    sometimes the fluid buildup is what is called seroma , sometimes it needs to be drained sometimes it absorbs only the surgeon will know. it was described to me like a water bed sort of wave action.
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #6
    It will be grand if you
    It will be grand if you truly did "sleep wrong"~ hugs to you and let us know what the surgeon says!

    Chen♥
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #7
    chenheart said:

    It will be grand if you
    It will be grand if you truly did "sleep wrong"~ hugs to you and let us know what the surgeon says!

    Chen♥

    I will be thinking of you
    I will be thinking of you and hoping that it is something simple like sleeping wrong.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #8
    Update
    Just talked to surgeon - he's not very surprised due to the amount of 'work' he had to do. He said that as long as no fever, pain, or a place opens up, to get an ace bandage and strap the area down like it was when I left the hospital (sort of like strapping cracked ribs). I see his PA on Thursday and am to call if anything changes for the worse before then.

    Feel better now that I got to talk with him.

    Susan
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #9
    Rague said:

    Update
    Just talked to surgeon - he's not very surprised due to the amount of 'work' he had to do. He said that as long as no fever, pain, or a place opens up, to get an ace bandage and strap the area down like it was when I left the hospital (sort of like strapping cracked ribs). I see his PA on Thursday and am to call if anything changes for the worse before then.

    Feel better now that I got to talk with him.

    Susan

    I did the strapping down
    I did the strapping down thing with ace bandages and it really worked. My husband had to help me and I had to have it on most of day. to me it was better than getting a drain though awkward.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #10
    carkris said:

    I did the strapping down
    I did the strapping down thing with ace bandages and it really worked. My husband had to help me and I had to have it on most of day. to me it was better than getting a drain though awkward.

    Glad you got to talk to your
    Glad you got to talk to your surgeon. Hope you feel better now!

    Lex♥

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