why did it take so long to diagnose a seroma and 3 mos. to fix it?

January 29, 2012
Asked By:1cougar in las vegas

The tummy tuck went beautifully and "seemed" to be healig well.  However,  there was a very large collection of fluid (a seroma) located "above" where the bandages were.  The huge mass was pressing very hard on my diaphram and making breathing VERY difficult.  When the surgeion "looked" at it at the first follow-up, he said that everything looked fine.  I should have insisted that he actually "touch" it to tell just how hard and how large this mass was.  Instead, I went on to suffer for several weeks before he even realized there was a problem.  I have not been able to breathe normally or straighten up normally since the surgery in November. I went to the ER twice with shortness of breath and was admitted overnight once because of an abnormal ekg.  I have the feeling of a large rhino sitting on my diaphram and making breathing "VERY" difficult.  All of this was feeling like a HUGE strain on my heart, not allowing space enough forf my heart to even pump at all....Also, I have sharp pains, like knitting needles going through me....I suffered for months feeling like I was being crushed and suffocated from the inside out.........I recently had a sudden surge of movenment where the seroma seemed to shift a little lower making breathing a "little bit" easier.  It's still difficult to breath, and I still have sharp, stabbing pains as well as the feeling that internal stitches are being pulled.  There is defiantely a large mass which does not belong.  The surgeon intends to be able to get it out soon, waiting for 3 mos. from original incisioin date.  So, in 2 weeks, G-d willing, this whole nightmare can FINALLY be over.........  He is planning on making a small incision, under local anesthesia and pull it out..........

Answers (6)

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January 30, 2012

Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck

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J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
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January 30, 2012

Answer: Seroma after tummy tuck

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J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
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February 2, 2018

Answer: Long standing seroma.

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Jeffrey M. Darrow, MDBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
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February 2, 2018

Answer: Long standing seroma.

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Jeffrey M. Darrow, MDBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon
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January 31, 2012

Answer: Seroma Management After Tummy Tuck

1 person found this helpful
January 31, 2012

Answer: Seroma Management After Tummy Tuck

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Answer: Reason for delayed Diagnosis of a Seroma

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Answer: Reason for delayed Diagnosis of a Seroma

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Answer: Seroma After Tummy Tuck

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Answer: Seroma After Tummy Tuck

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