Post ablation groin lump 6 days following procedure--here we go again..??

[Chrissy7]

Hi friends,

I have developed a fairly large hard lump in my groin the the entrance site of the catheter on the left side and am feeling faint.

think it's just that my BP is staying low since the surgery.

The lump is quite large and not a round hard lump but a large hard swelling/area in the groin.

Left a message with the EP nurse and she should call me back, not sure if the lump should be checked or not...

I also have a dry cough ...that comes and goes

After a few good days ...kind of disappointing...have any of you had this experience?

thank you,

Chrissy

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Chrissy

Yes, I had this after my first ablation, it's called a haematoma (blood clot). I was convinced a tube of some sort had been left inside me after the procedure. It was hard and about an inch and a half in length. I went to my GP and was told it was normal, didn't believe him, so went to A&E and again was told it was normal. I think it depends on the size of it. If yours is larger then I would certainly see your GP. I didn't feel faint with mine, but the procedure can make you feel totally drained of energy

Re feeling faint because of low blood pressure, this can be caused by lack of water. Once when in hospital I was told to drink water and it would bring my BP up, fortunately it did.

Don't hesitate to contact your GP if you are concerned.

Jean

[Chrissy7 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

hi Jene, I finally got in contact with the nurse here and she told me that she thought it was normal and just drink more water like you did! Also, she said if it changed, or got any worse to let them know…thank you!

Brenda

[jeanjeannie50]

That's good to hear. I think mine took a couple of weeks to disappear, can't really remember now. I still say don't be afraid to get it checked if you feel the need. Mine was like a short fat pencil.

[Chrissy7 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

...well I had a ton of bruising from my hip almost to mid thigh on over 1/2 the leg but it's turning green intstead of purple today, (sign of healing)...anyway, this lump is big like almost as big as a golfball, but under the skin (you have to feel it) - she asked if you could see it visually or had to feel for it...and I said you have to feel for it so she said it was probably just a collection of blood (hematoma) and would dissolve over time. Also said if it's get sorer or worse to come in...anyway, I think the trick is that is not very sore...compared to a day or 2 ago.

They went through both groins (I'm not sure why) and the right one is almost normal...the did put a stitch or 2 in each to resolve bleeding as well.

Thank you again Jean, I'm going to rest a bit and sure I'll be ok!! My GP is back tomorrow and I have to see him for presciptions in a few days, so he will check everything as well.

Chrissy

[CDreamer]

Yes haematomas can take weeks to dissolve but they do eventually. Mine was the size of a large walnut.

What is your average BP? Drinking more water, keeping electrolytes stable & avoid standing & put your feet up when sitting will all help.

[Chrissy7 in reply to CDreamer]

thanks CD

That reminds me .. I should drink some electrolytes…

Thank you.. mine is probably a big walnut .. in size

[mjames1]

Sounds like my lump and hematoma and it just kept spreading. A month until the black and blue was gone. That said, occasionally, that lump will need further investigation, so a good rule of thumb is it starts getting worse, then contact your medical team. Also, if you have a fever over 100.

Jim

[Chrissy7]

good to know its somewhat normal … I will keep am eye on it.. thanks Jim!

My leg bruise keeps spreading.. is that what you meant?

[Dippy22 in reply to Chrissy7]

Hi Chrissy. I understand your concern. My inner thigh is black - going green and now yellow. It’s not a “bruise” as such; the tissue isn’t damaged like with an normal bruise, it’s blood pooling in the tissue under the skin. The blood that leaks from the groin wounds pools into the muscle compartments in the upper leg and then, following gravity, leaks out under the skin.

I think I mentioned before that there are wounds in both groins due to the sheer amount of catheters they use these days. That’s what the pre-op nurse told me.

[Chrissy7 in reply to Dippy22]

understand… Someone said (not on here) that there are a lot of catheders… it hurts to sit in hard chairs for too long … and thats when the bruise seems to spread. Needless to say I try to avoid them.

Thats for the reassurance!

[Dippy22 in reply to Chrissy7]

I’ve been slathering mine with arnica and it’s disappearing fast.

On a more positive note I’ve had NO AFib since the ablation. Phew, such a relief! How’s your’s?

[Singwell]

Hang in there! You've done the right thing checking with the nurse and could always go into ER if worried about the wound. The dry cough is normal. I had it for several days after ablation 1. They do go close to the diaphragm and oesophagus and irritation of both areas can cause the cough. Did you have general anaesthetic also? If so, we forget it takes 10 days before that stuff wears off. Try not to worry and go gently.

[Chrissy7 in reply to Singwell]

Thanks Sing.. The cough is weird.. Im not sure what I had (cant remember the name, but I was out cold)

The only other thing that is concerning is the low blood pressure….drinking lots of water though and its helping.

Today my hematoma has changed; seems larger but more localized and harder; so its drying up.

[BobD Volunteer]

All sounds normal to me but do speak to arrhythmia nurse if you are worried. That is what they are there for.

If the groin is hot or really painful then do get it checked out. If I could have transfered my bruising onto canvas I could have sold it for millions as a genuine Jackson Pollock.

[Chrissy7 in reply to BobD]

Lol Bob… get you on that one (hues of purple and green) lol

So Far hardly even a blip 🤞🏻

Hoping this holds….

[Hilianna]

Hi Chrissy I had an ablation in June. Afterwards, any movement caused the wound to bleed excessively, so they took out a stitch which had been used to close the wound! Later bruising developed down to my knee and I had a lump, about the size of a grape/walnut on the wound site. I wore knickers with a cut in the leg to avoid pressure on the wound. Now, all that has gone and I no longer think about it. Best of luck with your recovery.

[Chrissy7 in reply to Hilianna]

Thanks Hil .. sounds exactly like me… right down to the stich!

[Hilianna]

Amazing re the stitch. I wonder how many people, like us, need to have it removed????

[Chrissy7 in reply to Hilianna]

im not sure what you mean but I had a stitch to help stop bleeding and they removed it the day after surgery

[Chrissy7 in reply to Hilianna]

HIlianna, I just realized what you were saying!! I don't remember them puttin the stitch in both groins, but you are right, the one with the large hematoma (I remember the EP applying hard pressure to my legs and telling the nurses to come get a ball they literally tape around my leg and torso to hold it on overnight to keep pressure on it. I think he took the stitch out then due to the hematoma in the left groin because it was gone but I still had the one in my right groin the next day.

I missed this completely; are the stiches parr for the course and they remove them when you have a hemotoma I wonder?

[Hilianna]

Hi Chrissy I was fully awake during the procedure but did not know anything about a stitch. It was only later, when I needed to get up to go to the loo, that the wound started bleeding profusely. Advice was sought from the surgical team who advised removing the stitch. I never had any trouble with bleeding afterwards. Amazing things our bodies, that what suits one person is no good for someone else! Hope your groin area feels more comfortable now.