Seroma Experts Needed!

Hello my friends! I am getting ready for week 6 coming up on Monday... My PS takes out all drains by week 6. For me, it is this Friday afternoon. SO EXCITED! However, I am leaving for a week long camping trip the next DAY, (Saturday). (so much for the long awaited shower!) My question is: how long did it take before YOUR seroma developed? How many days is it safe to go without draining it. I'm assuming it depends on how large it is. ***praying I won't need any of this information*** Thanks! Katie

Katie, I suspect you'll get as many different answers as there have been seromas. In my case, my first one developed while I still had 1 of my 4 drains after my LBL. It was deep inside and managed to find it's own way to the surface by coming to the weakest point (my incision line). It pretty much wanted to drain itself. I was 5 weeks out. I nursed that hole and allowed things to drain for over 8 weeks before the PS decided it wasn't going to close on it's own. In a short surgery, he cut away what was left of the hole and explored to make sure it didn't go anywhere then stitched things back up. He felt I didn't need a drain for this second minor surgery. A week later a tiny hole developed about an inch to the right of where the original one had been in part of the fresh incision from the repair. It drained a couple of weeks and the PS used silver nitrate sticks to make the tissue fresh so that it would close up. I hated that I dealt with either drains or holes for 4 months, but it's now a distant memory. How much are you draining right now? I think you mentioned the volume in another post at around 100ccs a day? Which drain is it that's remaining? My last one was the one on the right of my coochie. My PS says that some people are just naturally juicier than others. Beth

Beth, You're correct on the amount I'm still draining in one drain. My 2 remaining drains are the ones that wrap around to my back, (one left, one right) but come out of the top of my mons. The one on the left is producing 100-120 ccs per day even as of yesterday. The one on the right, I'm not as worried about. It's around 35-40 now from 50 a few days ago. I hope it stays down. Whats weird also is that today, the one on the left turned bright hot pink/red out of the blue. This happened to me one day last week in both drains. I wish I could see inside my body what was goin on in there! I realize I'm going to get lotsa different answers... I'm hoping to get an "average" from my poll.... not so scientific. I think its amazing that your fluid found its own way out. Our bodies are so interesting. Thanks for your help! Hopefully my PS will inject me with that "stop draining med". I can't remember what it's called. Katie

Hmm. what is your surgeons criteria for remvoving the drain? Mine had to be draining less than 30 ml in 24 hours. I followed that and had no problem at all with seromas. consider this as well. overdoing may increase the risk of seromas. Is camping the day after the drain is removed a wise idea? If it were me I would reconsider and stay home and rest and relax.

My PS' criteria is also 30ccs or less in a day, but she will not keep them in for more than 6 weeks. The risk of infection is too high at 6 weeks out. I'm almost there. Katie

Katie My surgeons rule is "if you poke it and it swishes it needs to be drained. If it doesn't swi**** is just swelling" Worked for me Sheryl

Hi Katie, My seroma developed the day after the drain was removed. It became infected almost immediately and grew to the size of a softball in 3 days. I had it drained and he took out 550cc's of fluid and gunk. I had an open incision for about 3 weeks which I manually drained and packed with gauze. I didn't have any reocurrence, it healed with a course of Levaquin. I'm concerned that you are still draining over 100cc's a day. That's a LOT. I understand your doctors feelings about taking the drains at 6 weeks. Many doctors don't want an infection to occur. I don't know though, if it were me I think I'd rather the drains stay in since they are obviously still doing a job. I know they suck, but they beat the hell out of a seroma. I don't know what she would inject you with that would stop a seroma but dang, I think all of our doctors would be trying it if it worked!!?!? I know you feel normal, so not going camping doesn't appear to be a good idea. But in the end you have to think of your health first. I know I wouldn't want to be in the woods with stuff hanging out of me, but that's just me. Good luck, please let us know what she ends up doing!!!

Hi, I just posted about this. i am 6 weeks out from TT, anchor cut and breast lift and implants and arms.. I had my last drain removed a week ago. BUT developed a seroma that i just found out about today..it was midlinebetween my sternum and belly button,,, on my incision line.. no open wound though..under the skin.. it was hard not squishy so the rule if its squishy its a seroma isnt totally true..this was hard as a rock as there wasnt much area in there and it was a baseball size.. he took out 150 cc of fluid today. It was all clean, no infection and no open wound..he used a needle and stuck it through and asperated it out. yucky for sure. i guess i have to see how it works out.. i will see him in a week or earlier depending if i get swollen again.. so weird. oh i cannot believe you have not been able to shower??why? i showered all along i had 5 drains.. i would be crazy with not being able to shower..poor girl! Good luck Tricia

Hi Tricia! My PS requires no bathing/showering with the drains in. Risk of infection is too high... we have open holes directly into our bodies and dirty water washing down into them is too risky. (believe me... I've gotten creative with a hand held shower head and a foot bath. I guess it isn't considered a "sponge bath" but my lower abdomen hasn't seen falling water in a long time)! I know... and now camping when I CAN shower?!? lol Katie

Hi sorry for your LONG period of drainage...I have had that happen in a few of my patients. Check out my earlier post on a new technique that I am excited about, and also consider asking your PS about "sclerosing" the cavity. This involves placing an antibiotic (doxycycline) through the drain that causes the fluid cavity and/or vessels draining the fluid to inflame and stick down. This closes off the cavity. It's an old technique, but in the opinion of those who have tried it, works well for problem cases like yours. Remember, that fluid contains proteins and "precious bodily fluids" that all WLS patients need and are in short supply of when healing ! My personal opinion is that high output seromas (over 100cc per day) can aggravate nutirtional issues because they contain protein your body needs...that's the yellowish color. I now have a 2 week max on my drains if it's draining simply clear fluid. After that I get out the medicine and pull all drains 2 days later. So far no recurrences! Hope this helps, John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S. Houston, Texas www.DrLoMonaco.com www.BodyLiftHouston.com