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Post Mascetomy Incision infected after 5 weeks
Hi!
I had double mastectomy done almost 5 weeks ago. The incision on the left breast is becoming infected, plus I seem to have developed more fluid in that breast. I had immediate reconstruction done. I always had a build up of fludi from the beginning, but my plastic surgeon said it would be absorbed by my body. I can take care of the infection myself, but wonder if anyone else has had their fluid aspirated without fear of puncturing the implant?
Thanks
Diana
I had double mastectomy done almost 5 weeks ago. The incision on the left breast is becoming infected, plus I seem to have developed more fluid in that breast. I had immediate reconstruction done. I always had a build up of fludi from the beginning, but my plastic surgeon said it would be absorbed by my body. I can take care of the infection myself, but wonder if anyone else has had their fluid aspirated without fear of puncturing the implant?
Thanks
Diana
Hi Reninati!
How are you feeling now since the double MX in March! Maybe the next chemo will be better as my body gets used to the anti nausea meds.
No fun, thats for sure! I will certainly ask for EMEND, that is, if they have something like that here in Canada? They gave me prescriptions for 3 anti nausea meds, one having a steroid in it, but once I swallowed them before chemo even started, they were making me feel sick. The ER doc gave me a prescription for some meds to put under my tongue that work very quickly, so I will try them for sure.
I didn't get expanders, I got immediate reconstruction with implants and alloderm. As it is at this moment, my FOOB is contracted, feels uncomfortable and defintely has more fluid in it than yesterday. Hopefully on Tuesday, she will drain it.
Thank you so much for your email and for your hugs I appreciate all the help I can get!
Hugs back to you
Diana (Rondee)
How are you feeling now since the double MX in March! Maybe the next chemo will be better as my body gets used to the anti nausea meds.
No fun, thats for sure! I will certainly ask for EMEND, that is, if they have something like that here in Canada? They gave me prescriptions for 3 anti nausea meds, one having a steroid in it, but once I swallowed them before chemo even started, they were making me feel sick. The ER doc gave me a prescription for some meds to put under my tongue that work very quickly, so I will try them for sure.
I didn't get expanders, I got immediate reconstruction with implants and alloderm. As it is at this moment, my FOOB is contracted, feels uncomfortable and defintely has more fluid in it than yesterday. Hopefully on Tuesday, she will drain it.
Thank you so much for your email and for your hugs I appreciate all the help I can get!
Hugs back to you
Diana (Rondee)
Hi Sue!
Thanks for your email once again and your helpfulness. The drains were taken out only a week after my surgery because I was having horrific pain on my left side which was caused by fluid build up in my lung. S-o-o-o-o! my surgeon seeing me in so much pain decided to remove the drains as the fluid coming out of them was under 30cc's. Almost immediately i started having fluid buildup in both reconstrutions, but the left one has been persistent. Now my darn FOOB feels contracted and hard like a rock, not comfortable in the least. I see my plastic surgeon again on Tuesday to see what will be the next step.
As for EMEND, thanks for the tip! i will surely tell my Oncologist about it.
My chin is up and I value your imput so very much!
Hugs to you
Diana
Thanks for your email once again and your helpfulness. The drains were taken out only a week after my surgery because I was having horrific pain on my left side which was caused by fluid build up in my lung. S-o-o-o-o! my surgeon seeing me in so much pain decided to remove the drains as the fluid coming out of them was under 30cc's. Almost immediately i started having fluid buildup in both reconstrutions, but the left one has been persistent. Now my darn FOOB feels contracted and hard like a rock, not comfortable in the least. I see my plastic surgeon again on Tuesday to see what will be the next step.
As for EMEND, thanks for the tip! i will surely tell my Oncologist about it.
My chin is up and I value your imput so very much!
Hugs to you
Diana
Sorry to hear you're going through all this. I had the double Mx in March of this year, and followed with chemo.
I' with Sue in that it seems your drains were taking out too early. Have they started expanding you? I stopped having fluid build up after expansion started - those were delayed because of a nipple sparing surgery gone bad. The GOOD news - when I was tapped for excess fluid in my breast or my back it didn't hurt one bit, and it relieved me a lot.
As for chemo/vomiting - the EMEND was great for me. I was prescribed EMEND along with other anti emetics (prednasone and something else), but I believe the EMEND helped the most. The other good news is that, at least for me, the first chemo was the roughest. For me it wasn't as bad as you, but I had issues post day 3, and I was given some extra anti-emetics. After the first chemo your oncologist should know how to help you best. Big hug, you'll get through this :)
I' with Sue in that it seems your drains were taking out too early. Have they started expanding you? I stopped having fluid build up after expansion started - those were delayed because of a nipple sparing surgery gone bad. The GOOD news - when I was tapped for excess fluid in my breast or my back it didn't hurt one bit, and it relieved me a lot.
As for chemo/vomiting - the EMEND was great for me. I was prescribed EMEND along with other anti emetics (prednasone and something else), but I believe the EMEND helped the most. The other good news is that, at least for me, the first chemo was the roughest. For me it wasn't as bad as you, but I had issues post day 3, and I was given some extra anti-emetics. After the first chemo your oncologist should know how to help you best. Big hug, you'll get through this :)
I'm so sorry you're having a rough time with this. If they decide to put a drain in, then so be it. It will give your body a chance to heal normally. Who knows, the first drains may have been taken out too early.
Listen, before your next chemo treatment, have them give you a prescription for EMEND. It's an anti nausea medication that I took the day of chemo, the day after and the following day, for 3 days straight. I never once got sick. Ask them about it, you shouldn't have to suffer like that. They could also give you a prescription to keep the nausea that you feel in between treaments to a minimum. This is the time to ask for these things, ok?
Ahhh.. it makes me sad to think you're going through this mess. It *****. Chin up my friend, we're here with you. :)
Listen, before your next chemo treatment, have them give you a prescription for EMEND. It's an anti nausea medication that I took the day of chemo, the day after and the following day, for 3 days straight. I never once got sick. Ask them about it, you shouldn't have to suffer like that. They could also give you a prescription to keep the nausea that you feel in between treaments to a minimum. This is the time to ask for these things, ok?
Ahhh.. it makes me sad to think you're going through this mess. It *****. Chin up my friend, we're here with you. :)
Hi Sue!
Saw my surgeon again and looks like the fluid is buidling up again in the Foob! Next appointment is next Tuesday to see if she will drain it or send me off to radiology to have a drain put in! Bah! humbug!
Other than that, first chemo treatment on Tuesday, Vomited for 24 hours straight. Had to go to emerg, get IV fluid and anti nausea meds. Feel better today, thank goodness, slightly nauseated, but manageable.
Thanks for your email Sue! Hope you are feeling great!
Diana
Saw my surgeon again and looks like the fluid is buidling up again in the Foob! Next appointment is next Tuesday to see if she will drain it or send me off to radiology to have a drain put in! Bah! humbug!
Other than that, first chemo treatment on Tuesday, Vomited for 24 hours straight. Had to go to emerg, get IV fluid and anti nausea meds. Feel better today, thank goodness, slightly nauseated, but manageable.
Thanks for your email Sue! Hope you are feeling great!
Diana
I'm so glad it's not infected! I was so worried that you'd lose your implant.
Seromas are a pain in the butt but eventually they will go away. Should you need an aspiration I've heard that it doesn't hurt.
I'm glad she's got you on antibiotics. All's good... :)
Seromas are a pain in the butt but eventually they will go away. Should you need an aspiration I've heard that it doesn't hurt.
I'm glad she's got you on antibiotics. All's good... :)
Oh! forgot! She put me on antibiotics 4 times a day for 10 days, just as precautionary measure since she had to re-open the incision.
Atleast my FOOB doesn't look like a pyramid anymore, it is now rounder, for how long I don't know! LOL!
Atleast my FOOB doesn't look like a pyramid anymore, it is now rounder, for how long I don't know! LOL!
Hi Sue!
Yes! I did go to see my plastic Surgeon and the next day she had me at the hospital, re-opened the incision, said it wasn't infected, just was seeping because of fluid build-up, plus my incision just wasn't healing properly, drained some fluid. Will see her again today for follow -up, as she wants to make sure everything is ok to start chemo tomorrow.
Unfortunately, some fluid has built up yet again, Jeez! these seromas are a pain in the neck and persistent.
Thanks for your email Sue! I appreciate it!
Diana (Rondee)
Yes! I did go to see my plastic Surgeon and the next day she had me at the hospital, re-opened the incision, said it wasn't infected, just was seeping because of fluid build-up, plus my incision just wasn't healing properly, drained some fluid. Will see her again today for follow -up, as she wants to make sure everything is ok to start chemo tomorrow.
Unfortunately, some fluid has built up yet again, Jeez! these seromas are a pain in the neck and persistent.
Thanks for your email Sue! I appreciate it!
Diana (Rondee)
Diana?
Did you get ahold of your plastic surgeon? What treatment are they giving you for your infection? Are you ok?
Did you get ahold of your plastic surgeon? What treatment are they giving you for your infection? Are you ok?
Diana,
This is not something you can take care of yourself. You need to contact your plastic surgeon immediately. I hate to say it but usually when there is an infection present the implant needs to be removed and discarded.
This infection isn't a scabbed knee. Please understand the urgency in calling your doctor. I've known too many women who ended up in the hospital with just such an infection after they got their reconstruction with expanders and implants.
Best wishes
This is not something you can take care of yourself. You need to contact your plastic surgeon immediately. I hate to say it but usually when there is an infection present the implant needs to be removed and discarded.
This infection isn't a scabbed knee. Please understand the urgency in calling your doctor. I've known too many women who ended up in the hospital with just such an infection after they got their reconstruction with expanders and implants.
Best wishes
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