fluid build required draining

KayNYC
KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I ended up with an uncomfortable build up of fluid under my arm and outer quadrant of my breast.I went in to the breast center to have the fluid drained. It helped a bit but it was recommended that I pad the sports bra to increase the support and compression. The NP suggested I contact her by Friday if I need further draining. Otherwise, I am doing Ok and getting out and about.I am doing the arm workouts too. Anyone have other helpful suggestions? Just a little pebble on the road I guess. :)
K
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Comments

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #2
    You might want to ask about
    You might want to ask about seeing a lymphademologist. I had problems with a large seroma that was drained twice but Dr didn't want to do it any more as everytime a needle is inserted there is potential for infection.
  • susanleeann
    susanleeann Member Posts: 58
    #3
    Rague said:

    You might want to ask about
    You might want to ask about seeing a lymphademologist. I had problems with a large seroma that was drained twice but Dr didn't want to do it any more as everytime a needle is inserted there is potential for infection.

    sounds like a seroma, a
    sounds like a seroma, a build up of serous fluid in the pockets that sometime develop after just about any type of surgery. usually your body reabsorbs the fluid over time. if it becomes painful or more than a little uncomfortable don't hesitate to ask the surgeon to drain it. i've had mine drained 3 times for 800 cc total, first time was over 400cc. yes there is a risk of infection which is why you try not to drain it but sometimes you must. eventually it stops accumulating and the problem goes away, usually sooner rather than later.
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #4
    Rague said:

    You might want to ask about
    You might want to ask about seeing a lymphademologist. I had problems with a large seroma that was drained twice but Dr didn't want to do it any more as everytime a needle is inserted there is potential for infection.

    Dear Rague
    Yes, I talked to my surgeon this morning. She said we will discuss this further when she returns from her trip this week. We are going to see if this continues to be a problem. The NP said that this happens fairly frequently after lymph node removal. I didn't expect this since I only had four nodes removed. I am trying to refrain from carrying anything heavy in my left arm and doing the arm exercises too. I don't have restriction of my arm movement and can raise my arm as high as the other. The swelling has caused my sports bra to bite into my flesh when I sleep at night so I purchased a few new ones, one band size up, to wear for sleeping.
    K
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #5
    susanleeann said:

    sounds like a seroma, a
    sounds like a seroma, a build up of serous fluid in the pockets that sometime develop after just about any type of surgery. usually your body reabsorbs the fluid over time. if it becomes painful or more than a little uncomfortable don't hesitate to ask the surgeon to drain it. i've had mine drained 3 times for 800 cc total, first time was over 400cc. yes there is a risk of infection which is why you try not to drain it but sometimes you must. eventually it stops accumulating and the problem goes away, usually sooner rather than later.

    Yes, it is a seroma
    Dear Susanleeann,
    Thanks for your encouragement and info. The NPs went over this with me today. Guess I never thought about it happening when only a few nodes were removed. I worked as a nurse for many years however, lumpectomys were rarely done "back in the days" I had seen this after radical mastectomy quite often and remember my mother having this problem early in the post operative period.
    Again thank all of you for your support.
    K
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #6
    KayNYC said:

    Dear Rague
    Yes, I talked to my surgeon this morning. She said we will discuss this further when she returns from her trip this week. We are going to see if this continues to be a problem. The NP said that this happens fairly frequently after lymph node removal. I didn't expect this since I only had four nodes removed. I am trying to refrain from carrying anything heavy in my left arm and doing the arm exercises too. I don't have restriction of my arm movement and can raise my arm as high as the other. The swelling has caused my sports bra to bite into my flesh when I sleep at night so I purchased a few new ones, one band size up, to wear for sleeping.
    K

    Me too!!
    This is happening to me, too. Last Tuesday the surgeon drained 85 cc's. She said it's very common, will probably happen again, and she may have to put in a drain. Yuk. She suggested ice which I've done, but I have an appointment to go back tomorrow for more draining. This will be the third time. Last week the lump was poking me and somewhat uncomfortable. This week it's just big. (About the size of Texas:)

    It's just kind of weird looking and feeling. Otherwise, not that big a deal.

    Victoria
  • susanleeann
    susanleeann Member Posts: 58
    #7
    KayNYC said:

    Dear Rague
    Yes, I talked to my surgeon this morning. She said we will discuss this further when she returns from her trip this week. We are going to see if this continues to be a problem. The NP said that this happens fairly frequently after lymph node removal. I didn't expect this since I only had four nodes removed. I am trying to refrain from carrying anything heavy in my left arm and doing the arm exercises too. I don't have restriction of my arm movement and can raise my arm as high as the other. The swelling has caused my sports bra to bite into my flesh when I sleep at night so I purchased a few new ones, one band size up, to wear for sleeping.
    K

    sounds like a plan!

    sounds like a plan!
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #8
    susanleeann said:

    sounds like a plan!

    sounds like a plan!

    I had seroma after surgery,
    I had seroma after surgery, doc wanted me to limit my movement so it would "tac" down. also needle drained then wanted to reinsertthe drain. I whined so he decided to wrap my chest in an ace bandage, and it worked.!!!1
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #9
    whining
    My appointment with the surgeon is half an hour from now and she'd mentioned putting in a drain and I really don't want that. She, too, Ace wrapped me last time, but it didn't work. I'm gonna take it with me, though, and suggest she try again if she mentions a drain.

    But now I know, Carkris, what to do: WHINE. I'll just sit there and whine.

    If this is the worst thing I have to deal with this week, it will be a wonderfully happy week!! Still waiting on Oncotype test results. Yikes. Makes me nervous.

    Victoria
  • Diana77
    Diana77 Member Posts: 16
    #10
    I also required draining
    Y surgery was jan 25th and i also hag quite a bit of fluid build up they drained it twice but i was also having some pain and range of motion issues. When i finally went to physical therapy that made all the difference in the world. I started at three times a week not expecting much help. But ny the end of the second week i had a huge improvement. It was done in a private room and they dud myofacial? Massage especially for cingestion and muscle repair
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #11
    aisling8 said:

    whining
    My appointment with the surgeon is half an hour from now and she'd mentioned putting in a drain and I really don't want that. She, too, Ace wrapped me last time, but it didn't work. I'm gonna take it with me, though, and suggest she try again if she mentions a drain.

    But now I know, Carkris, what to do: WHINE. I'll just sit there and whine.

    If this is the worst thing I have to deal with this week, it will be a wonderfully happy week!! Still waiting on Oncotype test results. Yikes. Makes me nervous.

    Victoria

    It's the size of half a grapefruit now
    All of my bras, no matter of size/style are cutting into the swelling under my armpit. I have been using shoulder pads inserted into the underarm portion of my bra to alleviate some of the pressure on the thin skin there. Since it is numb, I do not feel it until it is pretty bad. The night before last, I removed the sleep bra to let the skin heal up a bit. The skin is looking so much better. I have been using warm compresses and applying Bacitracin to the abraded skin, several times a day. The area of swelling is unchanged and uncomfortable- limits movement somewhat. The nurse practicioner in the Cancer Center invited me back if I need to have another draining tomorrow morning. I don't want anymore sticks as they increase the opportunity for infection but the little they were able to remove, earlier this week was such a relief.
    I thought of using an ace bandace but it will also put pressure on the swollen area under my arm. I am using a bra only during the day. It is so irritating that I can't wait to remove it at bedtime. I see the doctor on Monday. I am seriously open to a drain placement if that is what it takes to decrease the swelling and the discomfort.I am feeling very irritable, for the first time since my surgery last Wednesday. The venting helps a little but I am going to go out this afternoon and run a few light errands to distract myself.

    Hope you are feeling better Did you retry the ace bandage? Using ice just wasn't effective for me.
    K
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #12
    Diana77 said:

    I also required draining
    Y surgery was jan 25th and i also hag quite a bit of fluid build up they drained it twice but i was also having some pain and range of motion issues. When i finally went to physical therapy that made all the difference in the world. I started at three times a week not expecting much help. But ny the end of the second week i had a huge improvement. It was done in a private room and they dud myofacial? Massage especially for cingestion and muscle repair

    Hi Diana77
    What kind of exercises did the physical therapist do in addition to the massage? I am scheduled to see my surgeon on Monday morning so I will mention this to her. I would rather go to PT than have a drain inserted.
    Thanks for sharing your experience.
    K
  • ppurdin
    ppurdin Member Posts: 1,181 Member
    #13
    Fluid buidup
    Hope you feel better soon. Pat.
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #14
    KayNYC said:

    It's the size of half a grapefruit now
    All of my bras, no matter of size/style are cutting into the swelling under my armpit. I have been using shoulder pads inserted into the underarm portion of my bra to alleviate some of the pressure on the thin skin there. Since it is numb, I do not feel it until it is pretty bad. The night before last, I removed the sleep bra to let the skin heal up a bit. The skin is looking so much better. I have been using warm compresses and applying Bacitracin to the abraded skin, several times a day. The area of swelling is unchanged and uncomfortable- limits movement somewhat. The nurse practicioner in the Cancer Center invited me back if I need to have another draining tomorrow morning. I don't want anymore sticks as they increase the opportunity for infection but the little they were able to remove, earlier this week was such a relief.
    I thought of using an ace bandace but it will also put pressure on the swollen area under my arm. I am using a bra only during the day. It is so irritating that I can't wait to remove it at bedtime. I see the doctor on Monday. I am seriously open to a drain placement if that is what it takes to decrease the swelling and the discomfort.I am feeling very irritable, for the first time since my surgery last Wednesday. The venting helps a little but I am going to go out this afternoon and run a few light errands to distract myself.

    Hope you are feeling better Did you retry the ace bandage? Using ice just wasn't effective for me.
    K

    a little better
    Hi there,

    I saw the surgeon yesterday and she said the seroma is now a hematoma. She tried to drain it, but not much came out. She put me on antibiotics and I go back next week. It's smaller now, and not bothersome. She says it's all normal.

    Hope you get some relief,

    Victoria
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #15
    KayNYC said:

    Hi Diana77
    What kind of exercises did the physical therapist do in addition to the massage? I am scheduled to see my surgeon on Monday morning so I will mention this to her. I would rather go to PT than have a drain inserted.
    Thanks for sharing your experience.
    K

    Dranined the seroma again on Thurs
    Seeing my surgeon tomorrow. The Nurse Prac. drained 110ccs from the seroma on Thurs. It felt great until it filled back up this weekend. I have full range of motion and I am using the left hand and arm but not lifting anything heavy.It is now about the same grapefruit sized lump under my arm as it was last week. I've been told that this is normal although inconvenient and uncomfortable by the staff at the Breast Cancer center; they have been helpful and very supportive. I guess if this is all I have to gripe about, I will be pretty lucky.hOping to return to work on Wednesday when I will be too busy to pay too much attention to the seroma.
    K
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #16
    ppurdin said:

    Fluid buidup
    Hope you feel better soon. Pat.

    Thanks
    Thanks Pat. I look forward to the disappearance of the seroma and getting on with treatment. I see the surgeon for the pathology report tomorrow, medical clearance to return to work on Wednesday and referrals for oncologists. With this seroma, my husband has been recruited to help me make the traditional Easter bread this week. I won't be able to do the kneading with my left hand/arm so this year, he gets to help with the baking... and with cooking in general since my surgery.
    K
  • susanleeann
    susanleeann Member Posts: 58
    #17
    KayNYC said:

    Thanks
    Thanks Pat. I look forward to the disappearance of the seroma and getting on with treatment. I see the surgeon for the pathology report tomorrow, medical clearance to return to work on Wednesday and referrals for oncologists. With this seroma, my husband has been recruited to help me make the traditional Easter bread this week. I won't be able to do the kneading with my left hand/arm so this year, he gets to help with the baking... and with cooking in general since my surgery.
    K

    i still have my seroma a
    i still have my seroma a month out from surgery. had it drained 4 times. the nurse practioner who has done it a couple of times says it can be a real struggle for some. while it does seem to be slowing down, not reaccumulating as fast, i can't wait for this "little" inconvenience to be over. but then who am i to complain? here's to hoping this is my biggest problem to deal with.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #18
    KayNYC said:

    Thanks
    Thanks Pat. I look forward to the disappearance of the seroma and getting on with treatment. I see the surgeon for the pathology report tomorrow, medical clearance to return to work on Wednesday and referrals for oncologists. With this seroma, my husband has been recruited to help me make the traditional Easter bread this week. I won't be able to do the kneading with my left hand/arm so this year, he gets to help with the baking... and with cooking in general since my surgery.
    K

    Hope you feel much better
    Hope you feel much better soon!
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #19
    susanleeann said:

    i still have my seroma a
    i still have my seroma a month out from surgery. had it drained 4 times. the nurse practioner who has done it a couple of times says it can be a real struggle for some. while it does seem to be slowing down, not reaccumulating as fast, i can't wait for this "little" inconvenience to be over. but then who am i to complain? here's to hoping this is my biggest problem to deal with.

    aspiration of seroma again
    Met with my surgeon yesterday. She was very happy with my healing and reassured me that this is "normal" for many patients. She aspirated 100 ccs. She suggested, I return by the end of the week for another manual aspiration before the holiday weekend. She says this too will pass, over time. After getting my pathology report ( All siz nodes were negative for cancer and the mass was only 3mm =Stage I), it made it easier to accept and tolerate the seroma. I am still doing the exercises they suggested and my range of motion is good. I am planning to return to work tomorrow and to a return to the breast center on Thursday or Friday, if necessary. I have an appointment with theh medical oncologist on 4/22. Hope you are doing well and the fluid continues to decrease.
    Hugs,
    K
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #20
    survivorbc09 said:

    Hope you feel much better
    Hope you feel much better soon!

    feeling better and dealing with seroma
    Thanks Survivorbc09. After getting my pathology report yesterday (All six nodes negative, mass size = 3mm with clean margins, Stage I) it made it easier to tolerate the inconvenience of the need for aspirations of the seroma twice a week. Yesterday the surgeon drained 100 ccs down from 110 last week. Guess the decrease will be very gradual.I have an appt with the medical oncologist on 4/22. Movin right along and looking forward to the end of radiation treatment when we hope to be able to get away on vacation to Florida and a visit with family before Fall.
    K
  • Cher123
    Cher123 Member Posts: 8
    #21
    KayNYC said:

    feeling better and dealing with seroma
    Thanks Survivorbc09. After getting my pathology report yesterday (All six nodes negative, mass size = 3mm with clean margins, Stage I) it made it easier to tolerate the inconvenience of the need for aspirations of the seroma twice a week. Yesterday the surgeon drained 100 ccs down from 110 last week. Guess the decrease will be very gradual.I have an appt with the medical oncologist on 4/22. Movin right along and looking forward to the end of radiation treatment when we hope to be able to get away on vacation to Florida and a visit with family before Fall.
    K

    Seroma opened up after Mammo
    New here so, hope I'm doing this right. I had a lumpectomy with mammosite radiation and at my 6 month mammo I feel she squeezed me so hard it created a problem. Was told I had a Seroma at the tumor site, well 2 days later it became red,hard,and inflamed. Two days after that it opened up and all this fluid came out. The surgeon enlarged the opening (ouch), and I had to pack it for 2 weeks while it healed. I was feeling pretty good at the 6 month mark, and this was a major set back. Any one else ever heard of this after a mammo? My doctors have not seen this happen after having a mammo. Needless to say, scared to have another mammo!!

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