Infected Seroma

Okay, here's an update. I went back to work on Monday with one drain, which was quickly removed by my PCP. He also looked at my right leg where the drain was removed from the Friday before. It had gotten red and angry and I figured it was just a small infection from a dirty drain. My doctor prescribed Keflex 500mg 4x day. I started taking it and I also contacted my surgeon to tell him what was going on. He called me and said he was concerned and really wanted to see me. At first I didn't want to miss work, but the swelling had grown to the size of a softball and I just wasn't feeling comfortable with it. It was very hard to the touch and hot. I had been running a low grade fever as well but wasn't overly concerned because I wasn't feeling badly at all. So I went to my doctor today. He took one look at it and decided it was an infected seroma and would need to be drained. He pulled out the big syringe and proceeded to drain 330cc's of a pretty nasty looking pus blood combination. The relief of pressure was overwhelming but he said it wasn't enough so he cut a 2 1/2 inch spot along my incision and proceeded to drain more. He got another 200cc's out!!! While digging into the incision he had made he is feeling around and finds what he classified as a bit of a clot. As soon as he loosened it tons of stuff starting gushing out. It was not a fun afternoon at all. A total of 530cc's of fluid!!!!! I was overwhelmed. While he was doing this he was explaining that if the infection did not take the right path he would have to admit me back into the hospital for IV antibiotics. I was pretty scared at that point. He also prescribed 750 mg of Levaquin 1 x a time for 10 days. At first I was told my insurance company might not cover it. Thank god they did, on the high end of my prescription plan, because if they didn't it would have cost me $277.00!!!! The rep from the insurance company that I spoke to said that after the course of this antibiotic that whatever i had would definitely be gone by the time I was finished. My doctors instructions are to shower twice a day and irrigate the open wound with a saline/hydrogen peroxide solution. I am also supposed to massage the area around the open incision to drain the fluid manually. After that I have to pack the open wound with a saline soaked 4x4 gauze pad and cover it. I have to do this until Tuesday when I go back to see him again. Thank god my boyfriend is not squeamish about this stuff and is quite comfortable doing all the first aid I need. I am ordered back to "light duty" until I see my surgeon again. I got home after my appointment and got right back into the recliner. When I stood up after about an hour my t-shirt and garment were soaked with red pus drainage. Not pretty. My PS said there was not a whole lot I could have done to prevent this. He said that pretty much it was nothing I had done and that 30-35% of lower body lift cases end up with some type of infection or seroma. I wasn't fond of those odds! He did say I should have contacted him immediately when i noticed the infection as opposed to believing it would be cured with simple antibiotics. Other than that, everything is healing up wonderfully. I don't like the idea of healing from the inside out with this new incision but I guess it could have been far worse. I am going to post 4 weeks pics when this swelling is down. Just pray that this infection clears up and I don't end up in the hospital again!!!

Donna, Hang in there girl. I am sure it was devasting to know that all of that was inside of your body. I know its tough sometimes. Take your meds like a good girl and do what your Dr. tells you! In a few months we will look back at all of this and say look how far we have come. Be sure to get your rest and don't overdo it. I feel good 50% of the day and sluggish the other 50%. I need tips on hiding the drains in clothing and going to work with them. I'm going back into surgery next week for some revisions and to clear up my belly button and found out I will have the dreaded drains again. Keeping you in my prayers. Gina

hi Gina, It was rough realizing that he took more out yesterday than I had drained total in the 2+ weeks I had the drains in!! I am taking my golden meds (they are so expensive). You know it's funny. I didn't feel bad at all, I was going to work and having no problems except for this thng that kept growing on my leg. I knew it was going to be an issue but I didn't realize how badly. I think we are stoic about this stuff, to a fault. Where are your drains going to be after your next surgery? Probably something draining the belly button. I can't imagine it will be in all that long, like Roz said. I know with my arms I had only a week off from work and he removed the drains the Friday after my Tuesday surgery. Good luck and you are in my prayers as well. Donna

Donna, YOu'll be amazed at how wonderful our bodies are once things get straightened out. I am however, slightly concerned over your physicians order to wash with hydrogen peroxide. I was told "no hydrogen peroxide" near any incisions as it compromises the way they heal. So, please call your plastics guy and go over this with him. OK? OK! Just my 2 cents... Best regards, Fern B.

hi Fern, The solution is mostly saline with a little bit of hydrogen peroxide mixed in. I have also heard the different schools of thought on this. Sheesh, put any 10 plastic surgeons in a room and you get 10 different beliefs. I trust my PS so I am using the solution that he has given me. At this point the redness and swelling is gone, the drainage is minimal and the pain is almost non-existent. I think between the protocol that I am following -- showering 2x a day, irrigation of the wound and then packing -- and the Levaquin, my PS picked the right combination. Interestingly enough, when my SO was given the instructions my PS also gave him what was left of the saline solution. My SO said to him "this has some peroxide in it, do you want me to continue to use it?" My PS said, there's not a whole lot in there, it's fine. So yes, full strength I'm thinking that peroxide is not a good idea. I go back to see him on Tuesday, I'm sure I'll recieve more instructions then!!! Thank you for your post, I appreciate anything that helps me through this situation. Donna

Donna, I'm so sorry. I misread your post. I would never tell anyone to go against the advice of their plastic surgeon. I thought you said your PCP told you to use the hydrogen peroxide. Again, so sorry. (: Fern B.

Gina, When I had my tt & my LBL, I wore a sports bra and put the drains in it... I'm so bumpy no one noticed Good Luck, Jackie

Oh Gosh, Donna, what a horrible experience! I'm so sorry but, am very glad that your doctors seem to be on top of things! I had a problem when I had my bl/ba with one nipple...basically the blood flow wouldn't "take" because that nipple had been moved 12 inches....and the tissue began to die and THEN, I got serious seroma issues. He had to suck out all this nasty stuff out of my breast and LORD it hurt, even with a numbing thing. Then, I began draining from around the nipple....it was so disgusting. I called him when it happened, worried the fluid and pressure would cause my nipple to fly off. LOL I had to baby it for awhile and it set me back some in recovery, but, it made it, my nipple ...and I even have sensation now, which we thought would never happen due to the problems I had. So...the moral is....hang in there. It seems horrible now and it is.......but keep on keepign on. At one point, my surgeon wanted to go back in and do some things to the breast to maybe help it along and we opted to keep draining and hope for the best.....it all worked out well....... I sure hope you don't end up in the hospital again! *hugs* Kat

Hi Kat, Yes, my doctor is doing an amazing job. This was the one thing I was concerned about when I went through the residency clinic. But he is really amazing and responsive, I'm sorry for underestimating him. I saw your pics when you had the problem with your breast. Thank god it turned out well, and even appears to have healed pretty amazingly. You made me laugh when you said you thought with the pressure that your nipple was going to fly off. The worst part about where this is is that it's right on my hip. The compression garment kinda cuts right into the middle of the seroma, so that didn't help with the swelling. Even though the draining hurt I felt such immediate pressure relief when he got the gunk out. What hurts now is my SO having to press on it when I am in the shower, draining out the excess. The packing of the wound is even worse, I almost fainted last night. But we got through the first packing and now he is far more comfortable with doing it. I told him to treat me like a patient (he used to be an EMT) instead of like his "woman". This way he's not as concerned about it hurting, and he is just doing it. I pray that I don't end up in the hospital again either!!! Donna

Donna, Thanks so much for posting this. I'm sorry you are having this problem though. When I thought my incision was getting infected and my surgeon wouldn't give me antibiotics (still haven't had any at all), I called my PCP and he said that regular antibiotics wouldn't do the trick. That I would need IV antibiotics if it were infected. Unfortunately I'm allergic to both Keflex and Levaquin. So, I'm praying for no infection. I didn't have drains so, my garment and everything else has stayed yucky even with bandaging. One of the areas I was having such a time with didn't drain at all yesterday. Then last night... whoa it poured and poured.. filled up 3 maxi pads (that's what I used for bandages) Keep us posted Take care, Jackie