Lula 

I lso had this last July 

the stinging I had for about 6 weeks or more it wasn't a infection either just think it's a side effect after six node clearance .

the Seroma I had I never had drained as as soon as you get it drained it fills back up , my advice would be to let nature donors own thing and the seroma will go naturally after some time I would say 8 to 12 weeks before mine fully went .

I wasn't in pain though so I'm not sure if yours could be something else I just had the sting bad and the Seroma was uncomfortable but not painful .

I hope it settles down soon my lovely 

good luck love Lara ️

Hi Lula,

It is not uncommon to get seroma after surgery.  Surgeons try to allow them to settle naturally, but where they are causing problems, they do drain them. Have you phoned your breast care nurse? This is usually the best thing to do. You will find that you seldom get an immediate answer, but if you leave a message, they get back to you as quickly as they can. Not all GPs are accustomed to dealing with many post-operative seroma, whereas your breast care nurse is.

It doesn't sound as if you are ready to go back to work on Tuesday. I'm not surprised with the meds you're on. Talk to your nurse about this too. Could you consider a phased return to work? This might be more 'doable'.

I hope that you hear from your nurse soon and that this settles down.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Lula 

like the lovely jolamine said , I wouldn't push back to work just yet I would take the time off as you will probably go back and then have to go sick again take all the time you need if you can , I worked from home through my both operations only took 2 days off but as I said I was working in my pjs at my desk totally different to going to the office .good luck ️

Hi Jolamine, hope you are keeping well xx

I'm fortunate as my job allows me to work from home so when im not falling asleep in the day I will be ready to go back and I only work 3 days a week. Its pc based and calling out with information about our houses so it needs a sharp mind which I just dont have at the moment. My body will tell me when.

See the consultant on the 20th and go from there xxx

Hi Lula,

I am delighted to hear that your job allows you to work from home. I have been on the meds that you are on and I'm not at all surprised that you have difficulty in functoning well. Listen to your body.

How is your seroma - did you get hold of your breast care nurse today?

I hope that all goes well for you on 20th. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi lovely, sorry for not replying sooner.

I saw the consultant on the 20th and she drained a further 530ml! Its back again and just the is same again (when its full thats when i get the arm pain and underarm / shoulder pain. I have full range in my arm and not sure if the booklet excercises they give you do anything to help with the fluid. I was able to move my arm straight away. I will have to wait now till clinic opens in Tuesday but if it stays the same size I may wait a bit longer.

I have to go back on the 7th March for more surgery as the perimeter guidelines they use are too close to be sure, so they just need to take a bit more surrounding tissue to be on the safe side. They took 31 Lymph glands and 2 were infected. I do have to have chemo and radiotherapy Once this 2nd op results are in.

I hope you and everyone here is staying strong and as positive as you can to get through this.

Much love and best wishes to all. Xxx

HI Lula,

Thank you for your update. I am glad to hear that you have had your seroma drained. Sadly, they do tend to fill up fairly quickly gain, which is why the doctors are not keen to keep draining it. The good news is that the amount of fluid will gradually decrease as it settles down. 

I am sorry to hear that your margins were not clear and that you need to have more surgery. I'm sure that you're glad to know that you don't have long to wait for this. The fact that only 2 of your lymph nodes were infected out of 31 is good news. Do try to perservere with your post-op exercises. These really do need to be carried out regularly to try and avoid any further complications.

I shall be thinking of you on 7th March and hope that your margins will be clear this time.

Please keep us updated.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi huni

Thank you for your lovely message. 

I will continue with excercises if these help with fluid do you think?;

Im hoping that the perimeter margins were showing no cancer and that they just want to take more to be sure. I would like to think that if there was any concerns (i.e need to mastectomy rather than just more tissue removal) they would have said, I would hate for the tissue results coming back and then being told I have to loose the breast and more surgery. Praying this won't be the case. 

I have a wheat bag that you heat up in the microwave (always test its not too hot under the good arm) and this eases it, just a pain having to keep re heating lol.

Have a wonderful weekend xxx

Hi Lula, 

I expect that the exercises should help to disperse some of the fluid. If it gets too sore though, please phone your breast care nurse for advice.

Because they are just doing another lumpectomy, it sounds as if they just need to take a little more away. If there were any major concerns, you would have been offered a mastectomy already. Surgeons often have to carry out a second small operation to remove a bigger margin.

You will find it helpful to write down any questions you have for your consultant, as it is all too easy to forget something important during your consultation.

I hope that all goes well on 7th March.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I used a wheat bag too and found it quite soothing.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx