Well our first official weekend in Port Macquarie after the recent move here last didn't quite go according to plan.Seems I'm of the lucky ones (again!) who develop a seroma after re-excision surgery.After experiencing swelling & pain in my breast last week, on Sat morning a large amount of yellow brown fluid literally exploded through my recent & healing re-excision scar. This was followed by severe pain.Went straight to the Emergency Dep't & ended up spending the long weekend (& my birthday) in Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Finally got out today (Tues). Am still very sore but at least the swelling has gone down considerably & the pain is manageable with ongoing medication.On the positive side the staff were absolutely brilliant - very support, understanding & very attentive. I never knew my tiny breast was capable of producing such copious amount of infected fluid & that these things could be more painful than my 3 previous Breast Cancer surgeries! The irony was I stayed in the Maternity Unit, so the sounds of crying newborns babies brought back memories of the severe mastitis & feeding problems I experienced 16yrs ago when my daughter was born & here I was back in the Maternity ward nursing a breast abscess!Hope everyone else had a more pleasant Oct long weekend.

Not fun!!! I had mastitis and an infected seroma 9 days into radiotherapy last year, but nothing as impressive as yours sounds. Glad you're on the mend. Take care, Lyn

Oh Mel, not really the sort of exploring you really wanted to be doing, specially not on your birthday. Happy birthday!!!! At least you know the hospital is good. Here's to nicer exploring in the very near future, throw in some cake and celebrations and that's even better!! Hip Hip Hooray!! Xx Cath

Oh Mel, not the best introduction to your new home and what a way to spend your birthday! Glad the staff were good though and hopefully you can have a proper birthday celebration now. Best wishes, Jane xx

Thanks for your kind words Lyn & Jane :)Cath, that awesome birthday cake made my day :) :) thankyou xxxxxHad my first appointment at the wound clinic today. The nurse was so helpful. After extracting more fluid from the abscess she showed me how to massage the infected breast to get more puss & fluid out & dress the wound properly at home. Can't believe how much stuff is still coming out of this thing!Still quite sore but the prescription meds take the edge off the pain quite well.Have another appointment at the wound clinic tomorrow morning.Radiation & Medical oncologists have also been in touch regarding appointments for next stage of Treatment.We've only been here in Port Macquarie for 2 weeks & the speed & level of service provided through the public health system (for myself & my daughters ongoing mental health treatment) has been amazing. Makes me feel more confident we've made the right decision moving here.

How awful but so glad you seem to have a fabulous hospital in many areas.

Post Re-Excision Seroma | BCNA Online Network

Melhay
Member
9 years ago
Thanks for those suggestions @xpataus :)
Have also sent you a private message.
xpataus
Member
9 years ago
I've been away for a while, but The Point out by the Northshore Ferry is a good spot. Seasalt on the road to Settlement City is lovely. I'll ask my sis for other recommendations :-)
Melhay
Member
9 years ago
@xpataus we walk our dog at Lighthouse Beach!
I only just worked out how to actually get to Shelly Beach (via the car) the other day - thanks to my family.
The kids prefer Flynns Beach so far - while they've been boogie boarding I've been watching the whales.
Didn't know there are goannas around so thanks for the tip :)
I've noticed there a lots of cafes around - any recommendations?
KarenneW
Member
9 years ago
xpataus
Member
9 years ago
Hey Mel,
So glad your infection has cleared up, That must be such a relief. And how cool are the nursing staff to organise a birthday card for you.
Port Mac is a really beautiful place, and I plan on walking my sister's staffies (my health/energy levels allowing!!) on Lighthouse Beach in coming months and also enjoying some of the coastal walks between Shelley Beach & Lighthouse - those without the dogs as there are goannas :-).
I just secured my first appointment with Begbie next Thursday afternoon.
Weirdly, I am considering taking the genetic testing for very similar reasons - Mum, Aunt & Sis affected, and also my Dad's father is actually an unknown (a recently uncovered family secret!). I don't have kids, but my sis' has a beautiful little granddaughter, so this may help her in the future...
And socoda - thanks for the birthday wishes, yes maybe I need to reconsider the 'month only' celebration limitation - any day is a good day for chocolate cake, really ;-)
rowdy
Member
9 years ago
Happy birthday ladies not the best way to spend your birthday. Hopefully things will pick up for both of you
Melhay
Member
9 years ago
Hello @xpataus - happy belated birthday :)

Sorry for the circumstances you are here but Welcome back to Port Maquarie.

Having only been here a few weeks I'm still finding my around Port Mac but have been very impressed with the health services so far. The staff at the hospital were very supportive & helpful - the night nurses even left a birthday card for me to wake up on my birthday.

We have the same Oncologist :)
Had my first appointment with Dr Begbie today & as expected due to my age (46yr), medical history (bilateral breast cancer) & lack of medical history on my biological fathers side he's referred me for genetic testing We also had the Tamoxifen talk again (it was offered after my 1st diagnosis in 2015 but I decided against it then).

The antibiotics seem to have cleared up my post surgery infection, swelling has gone down & no more leaking fluid!

Sounds like you've still got quite a journey ahead with chemo & radiation.

Hope all went well with your GP appointment.

Mel xx
socoda
Member
9 years ago
Hey Karen @expataus, Belated Happy Birthday for the 3rd!!!! Cake ONLY until the end of the month??? :'(
xpataus
Member
9 years ago
Oh, and my birthday is October 3 :-) I think we can still eat cake till the end of the month as Librans do love to celebrate, right?! ;-)
xpataus
Member
9 years ago
Hey Melhay - I also relocated to Port Mac! Last weekend in fact. Born and raised here, and l've lived all over the world since then. However, with my diagnosis of Stage 3 Invasive Ductal and a subsequent mastectomy, I've returned home for the duration. Mine is a genetic, familial cancer so I have plenty of support here.
Had the first surgery in Adelaide, SA at Flinders Medical centre 5 weeks ago and the clinic there aspirated me regularly. (every 3-4 days).
As I just arrived in PMQ, I presented at Emergency today at the Base Hospital in PMQ and a lovely doctor from Minnesota, Patrick did an ultrasound aspiration without issue. My fluids are reducing and the nerves over the lymph nodes/axila scar have rendered me numb (thankful for small mercies) I've actually become so used to it that I hold the ultrasound scanner for the medicos while they aspirate.
Seeing my chosen GP tomorrow and the Onc', Begbie next week - Flinders recommended 18 weeks chemo and 6 week radiotherapy. I'll no doubt be seeing you at the Mid North Coast Cancer Centre in coming months :-)