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Post-Op Seroma
That condition might fit better on a discussion board of abdominoplasty plastic surgeon patients! But in my case - the condition is an unwanted side effect of side-entry (hip & psoas muscle) minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery. Muscles, after experiencing severe stress - could be injury trauma, could be surgical trauma - "leak" fluid that includes plasma and lymphatic fluid. In normal cases - the serum is no great concern as the leaked fluid is safely absorbed by surrounding tissues, eventually. But if the seroma is too voluminous, the unwanted fluid can overwhelm normal body-absorption and persist as a visible "bulge" with attendant feelings of fullness and low-grade pain.
That's me and I wonder if (1) Has anyone else had this experience? (2) How did you get the seroma diagnosed? (3) What was the treatment then applied? (4) Was the treatment successful? I am four months post this surgery and am anxious to be done with "the bulge"!!!
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@upstatephil When I searched on Connect, I found a lot of discussions related to seromas in the transplant group, and cancer surgery groups. There was a discussion I found in the spine group where a patient mentioned a seroma and follow up with a plastic surgeon. I hope this helps.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/625947/
I had a large tumor removed from a nerve on my thigh at USC Keck medical center. I have no idea why but the doctor did not put in drains. I never noticed a bulge but a few days later, sitting at a bar, I felt warm liquid running down my leg. We ran home and called the hospital and they diagnosed a probable seroma. I had to sleep on several layers of towels that night because it was really leaking. When I saw the surgeon the next day he said, accusingly, "You tore a stitch!!!" Yeah....sure.......Like did I go square dancing?? He sent me to plastic surgery immediately. They were so unhelpful and NO, I was not going to have them take out some of my stomach fat and put it in where the seroma was. It was a nightmare, leaking constantly. They would just put gauze and a band aid on and by the time I got home, I would be sopping wet. I finally figured out to get Depends and cut it into bandages and it could sop up the liquid for about an hour.....The leaking went on for over six weeks of misery. I finally saw my acupuncturist because my back was killing me. I showed her my open, leaking wound and she said "Oh, I can take care of that." She stuck in some needles and if someone else told me this I wouldn't believe them, but within 12 hours, the leaking lessened and the wound started to heal. The plastic surgeon was amazed,,,,,,,,,, I gave him my acupuncturist's card. He threw it away "Oh, they don't take insurance'" he said,,,,,,,, I never went back to that hospital and my wound healed perfectly... Fortunately, I don't go bathing as my thigh is terribly ugly and distorted with hanging skin, and so much scar tissue.. The whole experience was horribly traumatic...I can't believe that doctor neglected to put in a drain.
Thanks Jennifer. Those Connect discussions are pretty bleak. I hope I have none of that... I have a CT scan set for 9/26 and the radiologist will be specifically looking for evidence of seroma. BTW - my internist believes the abdominal bulge is merely muscle which was essentially relocated when my spine was straightened creating a muscle bulge. A diagnosis and course of corrective action would be nice! Thanks for your kind help.