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Avatar universal

Anyone have a seroma before?

I just had an umbilical hernia repaired.  I felt great the day of the op, and the first post-op day.  On the 2nd day, I ended up in the hospital with severe dehydration.  I took a whole bag of fluid.

While there, the ER doctor squeezed a sore lump in my stomach I hadn't noticed before, about 2-2 1/2" directly above where the lump had been in my navel (navel was removed during surgery).  It's a fairly good sized lump (about baseball sized) and is more pronounced when I stand up.  If you feel it when I'm standing, it's hard.  It gets a little softer upon sitting.  I called the doctors office, but can't get in until Thursday.  The nurse thinks I may have a Seroma.  The ER doctor wasn't concerned about the lump or tenderness when I asked her on Sunday.

I'm scared to death that it's another hernia.  I am considered morbidly obese, but am losing weight through diet and excerscise.  Any thoughts to calm me before I can get in to the doctor?
21 Responses
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Avatar universal
Is there anyway to speed it up so the fluid & swelling goes away?
I can't fit into any of my pants & it has been 6 weeks since my open incisional hernia operation.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a ventral hernia repair and developed a large seroma.  My surgeon went back in and drained 16 oz of fluid and sent me home with JP drains for two weeks.  During the second week I started spiking a fever and ended up in the ER and then admitted for antibiotics IV.  I never want another drain left in me. Since then I have had 4 ultrasounds to monitor the seroma which has varied in size now for the past month.  Now I have a large pocket hanging and seeing a plastic surgeon this week.  I was better off with the hernia.
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7929968 tn?1395492362
yes your doctor is right. i am 1 1/2 months out of surgery with a seroma and though irritated,red,sore,and peeling they say it is getting a little smaller. Its a pain i know but it will become less painful
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Avatar universal
I had an incisional hernia surgery 2 years ago (due to my C-section in 1990!!!)  I have been living w/ this seroma for 2 years now, aspirated dozens of times, even had a drain in for 10 weeks.  Now the seroma is loculated and must be operated on, its the size of a very large football.  I'm very nervous about the surgery but at this points it is really affecting my lifestyle, I can't bend, I'm sore and sometimes it even the fluid leaks out.  My primary surgeon for the hernia is not going to remove the seroma.  A plastic surgeon is doing it as they do a lot of seroma surgeries.  Wish me luck!
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Avatar universal
I am 35 years old and am a very thin and petite person.  I had an emergency surgery for ectopic pregnancy in 2007, and had complications after that which required two more open abdominal surgeries.  I then had another baby the next year, and last week had a huge incisional hernia repaired.  I now have a seroma the size of a canteloupe on my belly.  It is so disfiguring to me, is very obvious, and makes me look about 5 months pregnant.  I am sad, embarassed, and uncomfortable.  Please, someone, tell me how long it might take for this to go away.  What are options?

My doctor is very hesitant to do anything about it.  He said the mesh from the repair might get infected.  He said let the body reabsorb the fluid over time.  I am wearing a compression garment to help.  Should I get another opinion?  I would love to hear from some others with similar situations.  
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Avatar universal
I had umbilical hernia surgery more then 2 months ago and it wasnt healing right. My belly button was folding over and seroma leaked out constantly. The surgeon decided to do an adomal clean out and remove my belly button. its been two weeks since that surgery and he applied a drain to the wound. After seeing him yesterday he put me on anti-biotics and says to come back in a week. I am just very frustrated and want to heal up. Is it normal to be leaking so much seroma ? Also,  the doctor tells me he does not think its infected, so why does he put me on anti-biotics?
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1628948 tn?1299625098
HI MY NAMES REBECCA I HAVE HAD 5 SURGERYS ON MY STOMIC WITH C-SECTIONS 3 AN HAD GOLBLADDER REMOVED AN PENDICTS REMOVED SO BEEN THROW ALOT . MAKES U SCARD NERVIOUS AN ABOUT OVER 6 WEEKS I HAD IMBILCAL HERNIA REPAIRED WITH MESH IN MY STOMICH THEY DID 6 INSIONS AN WELL IM OVER WEIGHT AN HAVE 3 LIL GRLS SO I HAD MAKE CHNGES .TRUST ME DONT WANNA DO IT AGAIN ITS PAINFULL AN CANT SLEEP NOW IM MOVING AROUND LOT BETTER NOW .BUT NOW I WAS TOLD HAVE SEROMA BY MY NABLE OK ITS SCARY BUT IT WILL ABSORB ON ITS ON TAKES A WHILE BUT I DNT LIFT PULL OR TUGG ANY THANG JUST DO WAT DOCTOR SAYS IT GETS BETTER . BEING OVER WEIGHT MOBILTLEY  ITS HARD BECAUSE IM 325 AT31 YRS OLD MY STOMICHS HEAVY AN DOESNT HELP ANY SO I CHANGED EATN EXCERCISE AN I SEE A DIFFERENCE PAIN GOES AN COMES BUTS ONLY 6 WEEKS STILL GOT A WHILE . WISH THE BEST FOR ALL  
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone. I had an umbilical hernia repaired (open, not lapriscopic) six months ago and my belly button still looks nothing even close to normal. I was told by my surgeon that doing the surgery straight through my belly button would leave only a small scar inside of my belly button rather than several all around the area. Now it has been six months and my belly button is still all smashed together looking. I don't know how to explain it very well but where I once had a normal "innie" its now all closed up in itself. The area around it is also protruding from the rest of my abdomen by a considerable amount. I just went to see my surgeon again to have her check it but she says it is fine and I should wait another six months before doing anything. She had told me four months ago when I expressed concern over the situation that it would be four more months and then back to normal.... now she is saying it takes up to a year?? She seems to be skirting the issue and I am growing concerned. I can't wear a bikini and am hugely embarrassed to show my belly to anyone, not to mention that my pants aren't fitting right and it looks like I have a little beer gut. Is this normal?? Is it a seroma?? Will it actually just go away or should I start looking for second opinions?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had an umbilical hernia repaired with mesh about 3 weeks ago, and developed a seroma the size of a grape directly above the incision site. I just returned from seeing the surgeon again, and he explained to me that it is basically nothing more than fluid that collected inside the remaining skin in the navel area. He drained about 3 syringes full of blood from the seroma, which reduced it in size. I don't know yet if draining it took away the pain from the pressure it was under, as it's still numb from the local anesthetic he used, but I'm hoping so. The surgeon also told me that the remaining "ball" of skin should go away on its own within a few weeks, but if it doesn't, it can be easily removed if necessary and repaired. Thank you all for providing your info and experiences - it takes a load off my mind to know that I'm not the only one with this issue.
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Avatar universal
please email me as I don't know if I'll find my way back here and resection is in a couple of days...would love to hear from folks before then. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I had abdominal surgery 2 1/2 mos. ago. fluid turned into hard gel like thing. Surgeon wants to remove it and use wound vacuum...suspects infection. Gel feeling thing is rubbing against intestines and hurts. Any ideas of what to expect after resection or with wound vacs/vacuums? Wonder how folks deal with this if experienced in it. My best to you all.    
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
sorry you are suffering in this way, my incison following incisional hernia repair was 7 inches and the resulting seroma was the size of half a medium melon!! as i have already posted it took 4 months for the fluid to dissipate - it was uncomfortable and did limit my choices of clothing - i was on lite duties at work for 6 months but would have been anyway. as your seroma is bigger it is likely to take longer to resolve. i am supprised they would not drain my seroma - although it was no worse than walking round with the hernia i had had for over 12 months. if it is so big that it is affecting your life then maybe draining it is the way forward - it will reduce the pressure and make things more comfortable and may need further draining as  the fluid builds up again - it is supprising how hard they get when the pressure builds up!!
good luck and let us know how you get on.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I recently had a major incisional hernia repair (from top to bottom of my tummy)  following diverticular peritonitis (colon ruptured) and having a colostomy.  Now have a huge seroma over all my tummy and am trying to deal with conflicting  opinions as to whether it should be drained or left alone.  Some professionals say it should be drained, and will need to be drained 2 or 3 times, others say it should be left alone as any germ introduced could cause a major problem in my abdomen.  Anyone out there having the same experience, I desperately need some advice or information to help me to make a decision.  I do not know where to turn for any help. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I had a c-section a little over a week ago and felt increasing pain and pressure at my incision site. I called the doctor on call for my obgyn and she met me at the labor and delivery department of our hospital. Come to find out, it was a seroma. She had to re-open part of my stiches and drained it. It really did hurt at first, but it was almost immediate relief. I am very tender and sore still, but feel a lot better then I did two days ago. Definitely have it checked out asap and Good Luck!
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Avatar universal
i had an iscisional hernia repair 6 months ago and ended up with a seroma bigger than the hernia - it took 4 months to subside - yes it happens.... but gets better given time.
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Avatar universal
I had an umbilical and two inguinal hernias repaired 15 days ago. The two inguinal were done with laparoscopy and the umbilical was done the old way. Mesh was inserted and sewn under the muscle of all the hernias.
I had to wait 11 days for the follow-up due to Christmas Holidays and I had noticed some bulging in my naval where the hernia had been. It wasn't protruding quite as bad as the hernias had.  If I pressed on it using moderate pressure for about 20-30 seconds it would go down but come back in a few minutes.
At the 11 day followup - I asked the Dr about it and he said it was just fluid filling the space between the skin and the mesh.  He said it wasn't a problem and didn't need another appointment unless I has some problems later.  I forgot to ask if it would go away ( I was assuming it would) but I wish I had asked.
Has anyone had a similar experience?  Does this go away on it's own?
Thanks.
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Avatar universal
hi i am a 40 year old male who just two weeks ago head a hernia repair done by laparoscopic surgery.  3 days after surgery a bulge came back in the same area where the hernia was . i called the surgen and he said it was all normal .  a few days later it got bigger so i went to see his partner he was not in , he said to wait 2 weeks. 3 days later again getting bigger went to see the doctor who did the surgery he said its not a hernia but it is a seroma and might take 3 to 4 months for the body to asrb the fluids. can anybody help me and let me know if this is true and what i should do becouse it really hurts bad. thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the info, everyone.  I saw the doctor's partner last Thursday, and my doctor on Tuesday.  They were both in agreement that it's a seroma.  I was so scared it was a ventral hernia.  I was scheduled for a follow up in one month to check it.  The doctor said he doesn't like to aspirate them until he's sure they're not going on their own as they tend to refill.

It's no longer tender (hasn't been since early last week) and is not red or anything.  It's also no longer hard - again since early last week.

I am pleased to report this morning that it is flatter by a fairly noticible bit, which makes me happy.  Hopefully it will go away by my next appointment.

Again, thanks for the info!
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Avatar universal
I had a large seroma in the top of my back after total axillary removal of lymph nodes after a lumpectomy for breast cancer. It filled up every 2 days and was so painful I could not even sit down with my back against a chair. It was aspirated at the hospital (GP refused to do it) by either the surgeon, or his bc specialist nurse who was trained in how to do it. It took maybe 3-4 weeks for it all to be drained, and everything is fine now.
Helpful - 0
172023 tn?1334672284
I've had seromas with both my mastectomies.  The first time, a tight compression bandage allowed the fluid to gradually reabsorb over a couple weeks time.

The second time, compression didn't help and I had to have a drain put in.

Don't squeeze the lump.  If it's not red or increasing in size or causing you increasing pain, it's probably ok to wait til Thurs to see your doctor.  But if it gets worse, call the doctor on call (every doctor has a covering doc, call the office # and you will find instructions on how to contact them, even after hours or holidays) and ask the covering MD what to do.  Sometimes they can give you excellent advice over the phone and save you the trip to the ER.


Best of luck.  

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Avatar universal
I had a seroma post operatively after having a laporotomy oopherectomy.  It too was about 2 inches from my belly button, however it was quite painful.  My doctor had to reopen me and apply sterile packing within the wound to let it drain for about a month.  It is important to have the fluid drain to prevent further swelling and other complications.  I also was getting an infection from it as well and was put on antibiotics.  It looks and sounds worse than it was, however you really should consult the original surgeon, from what I understand they are quite common after abdominal surgery.  Let us know how it goes!
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