Brachioplasty Blues

Today is two weeks since I had my arms done. Last week there was a collection of fluid in my left arm. The PS said it would reabsorb or they would drain it this week. At the office yesterday, they stuck a needle in and nothing came out. I have a hematoma. They are again hoping it will reabsorb on its own or they are going to do another surgery to remove it.

I'm bummed. Last year, after my WLS I got what the drs said was the worst post-op infection ever seen. I had to have a second surgery to clean the wound, I had to go to the dr every day for two months to have the wound cleaned and packed,  I had a visiting nurse every night to clean the wound, then I spent 8 days in the hospital so the surgical team could clean and pack it and give me IV antibiotics.  It was a tough couple of months. My family was great, my sister took my dog and my mom came and stayed with me. I had WLS on June 30th and the infection was officially gone on October 1st.

Now, everyone from my mom to my boss is telling me "No more surgeries!" Which I probably won't listen to and get a LBL next summer. I'm just bumming that this surgery was more difficult than expected.

gail

Gail you poor thing, I can feel ya

Everytime I have something go wrong its the worst they have ever seen lol.  So when I woke up from surgery last Monday and they told me because of the severity of the ventral hernia they could not save my belly button I just laughed and said "of course it was, nothing but the most difficult for me".

For me well, my new moto for life is "what ever is most difficult" lol.  I still have 2 drains and I think the reason they are bothering me so much is I am moving around more.  I hope to loose those Monday but I will keep them if he says I need to.  I don't want a seroma.  

I hope your problem will go away soon.  I said no more surgeries but I would like my arms done and maybe my thighs.  We will see.   Good luck sweetie, it will get better or as least different with time.

Carla

Thanks Carla! My one friend said almost the same thing to me - "of course it wasn't easy for you" Luckily, I take it all in stride. Last year, during the infection the nurses at my surgeon's office told me they were waiting for the day I cracked because I was always pleasant, did all the tests they asked and never complained. I told them, "it is what it is."

I wish you a speedy and easy recovery! 

I had what I thought was a hematoma or fluid collection on one incision. I kept it wrapped REALLY tight for several days and eventually it started draining/reabsorbing.

I hope yours is an easy fix, also!

Wow!! I am so sorry to hear this!! I wish you a speedy recovery!! Hang in there!!

Laura

I had seroma in the area where drains were removed (R arm and lower belly).  I had my R arm seroma (fluid filled) drained twice with a 50cc syringe.  I kept ACE wrap on ams 24/7 for 2 months and the seromas went away.

The fluid accumulation in belly was only drained once.

I had tissue necrosis from TT incision and did irrigations & drain changes twice a day. (You can click on my name or avitar picture and see progress of open wound).  The wound is almost closed.  It never became infected.  I will have a wide scar and my belly is still tender and achy at 10 weeks out, but scars can be reduced.

Guess I was fortunate.