Wellness

[HiLo]

My ankles are swelling so my doctor plans to test me for Lympedema next week..  Have been trying to seek some information but have so far found little.

[keithsmom65]

I saw a vascular surgeon who told me I have early signs. Top of foot swelling, bottom of toes are purple/red. She did an ultrasound on the lower half of my body.

I just "googled" lymphedema, and there was a lot of information on it.

I'll be thinking of you as we depart into this journey.

Thank you for your reply. ♥

[clarika]

Yes, there is a well organized lymphedema society, but for knowledge/interest sake you should also look into lipedema - which can be easily confused with lymphedema.

There is an eye opening movie by the name of : The Disease they call Fat - which I think all women (it affects men too) should watch.

Both come in grades or levels of progression, and treatment is never just one thing and always a lifelong process .

[wagirl]

I have slight lymphedema in my left arm, mostly below my elbow. I had breast cancer with removal of a few lymph nodes in 2012. It is an all the time thing for me and can flare up if I overuse my arm mostly by lifting or carrying too heavy items or too stenuoues work. I have gone to a lymph p/t therapist which for me ,did some good --mostly using very gentle massage and wrapping with bandages. I do have compression sleeves and a gauntlet for the left hand that helps the most. As I said, mine is very slight. but it can turn into celluitis too, which I have gone thru at least 12 times in the last couple years. then I take anti biotics for a few days. No dr knows why that happens--mostly after a  super heavy work load.---I dragged a heavy coffee table up some stairs ---- that was enough to trigger celluitis. 

[Still Raining]

Yes I have this after two surgeries removed many nodes.

For me no therapy or binding does much.  

There are recurrent issues with scans and remaining swollen nodes.  Hard to keep dealing with biopsies and talk of more removals.

Best wishes for your treatments.

[froggy]

Yes, I had one lymph node removed during my lumpectomy and have lymphedema in that breast. Not sure if the same therapies apply to all body locations. I've been going to a lymphedema massage therapist about once per month and it is helping. I'm supposed to do self massage also but don't do it as much as I should. I also wear a compression bra which presses the fluid away from the affected area.

[Toppers3]

I have it especially in both of my lower legs below the knees.

That's where you can especially see it and notice it the most.

I think that probably each person's treatment plan will be made specifically for them.

Basically, I wear medical-grade compression stockings that cover my feet and go up to my knees.

I also take diuretics to help with the swelling and the fluid retention in my body.

I have to elevate my legs as much as possible when I'm not walking around, to help keep the swelling down.

[keithsmom65]

I am very sorry your arm is afflicted, as it must be in your way for many things you must do around the house.

I read only a little about it so far, but I found some brief, interesting information on it to date. It was probably causes but I only remember two as they pertain to me.

The biggest and most is having any lymph nodes removed, no matter how few. I had breast cancer and also had a lumpectomy near my underarm. And I also had a port put under my collarbone that stayed for an entire summer.

The other I find odd, but it said being born premature, as I was. I was born two months premature and had to stay in the hospital for a long time before being able to come home. I need to research this as I find it an interesting possible cause.

Blessings and prayers for all who have lymphedema.

[lovesrecess]

DH was diagnosed with lymphedema a few months ago. He had cancer removed from the back of his lower calf. The radiation caused a lot of damage and the ankle was damaged as well. There is a machine he stands on at the dr office that measures the amount of lymph fluid in each leg and he compares the two. The dr is a lymph specialist and works with female breast cancer survivors as well as others. He prescribed compression socks that are knee-length($85 a pair!) to be put on before he gets out of bed and to be left on until he gets back in bed at night. Also lymphedema massage therapy and aqua therapy. I was asked to go to one session of the massage therapy so the therapist could train me to do it at home. I learned so much. The lymph fluid is like maple syrup...diuretics do not effect it at all. When there is swelling, it is due to the fluid not going back up where it should and it just accumulates. I can see the fluid moving up his ankle to his leg as I massage it...all the way up. I have to start at DH’s toes and work the fluid gradually back up to his chest area. The location of the nodes is key. If some are removed due to surgery, you may need the massage to move the fluid along from your arm, leg, etc. the Aqua therapy has helped him a lot. The compression socks have really helped improve the swelling. You can use the compression arm sleeves as well. The wrapping is something the therapist said he was not a candidate for and it is rarely used any more...don't know any more info about the wrapping.