Lymphoedema and recurrence fears

Hello everyone. It has been ages since I have posted. Since this site was re done I no longer got notifications, then 2 major surgeries in 2016 and life kind of took over.
I was diagnosed with Lymphoedema about 8 weeks ago. Everthing was going along swimmingly. I had lymphoedema but only to a fairly minor degree then one morning about 8 weeks ago woke with a swollen hand and arm. Such a shock. So have had the intensive therapy with the bandages and now have a compression sleeve which just keeps the lymphedema controlled to a point. My struggle is that I was just being able to move on after treatment and surgeries, then this. The constant reminder every day is there now and am really struggling. Is there anyone else in a similar situation?
I was diagnosed with Lymphoedema about 8 weeks ago. Everthing was going along swimmingly. I had lymphoedema but only to a fairly minor degree then one morning about 8 weeks ago woke with a swollen hand and arm. Such a shock. So have had the intensive therapy with the bandages and now have a compression sleeve which just keeps the lymphedema controlled to a point. My struggle is that I was just being able to move on after treatment and surgeries, then this. The constant reminder every day is there now and am really struggling. Is there anyone else in a similar situation?
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There is always something for us to face isn't there?
Im sure there will be some lovely ladies who will be able to help with advice.
Anyway sorry to hear your bad news.
Yes the worst is we want to move on from the Cancer and this is a reminder of it. There is no quick fix either, it has to be managed. Daily. Which is a pain. I can't make myself do the excercise which you are supposed to do four times a day! Stupid of me, but there it is. Maybe one day I will have the self discipline to do them.
Good luck, I hope it settles down for you soon. Karen.
Thanks Melinda. Yes do so try to take each day one at a time. Just gets tiring sometimes when things keep happening. But will carry on.
Having lymphodema feels like a kick in the guts after all we've been through and I struggle physically and emotionally to deal with it. Thankfully my physio is very sympathetic and is confident we can get on top of it, but I admit I do get sick of it all.
Hopefully things will settle for you soon. Best wishes, Jane xx
Yes, no quick fix. With us pretty much for life now. I haven't been shown any exercises but have just today googled and have come across some excellent utube videos so will start gently incorporating them into my day as well now.
All the VERY best with yours too. Andi
From your profile page there is little figure with a down arrow. Click on the arrow & then click on edit profile. You will see "notification preferences" under your picture. Click that and you will then see a big list of options on how you can get notified. You now have more choice on how and when you are notified.
I understand that secondary lymphoedema (caused by removal of lymph glands because of cancer treatment) can occur up to fifteen years after surgery! Which seems pretty poor to me! Imagine if you had recovered well, thought you were clear and then got that sort of postscript so long after the event.
However like most, I got mine much sooner - 7 months after surgery I noticed the slightly swollen wrist. So far (3 1/2 years) it's OK. I wear a compression sleeve and "hand" but not at night. I do my arm exercises daily (it's about 5 minutes so no excuses), massage frequently, elevate when I remember and have treatment by an excellent therapist about once every 4/5 weeks. Fluid retention was significantly reduced in the first 3 months, and has been maintained to date - no discomfort, no hardening of skin, or any of the other undesirables. Which does make it easier to just forget it most of the time. I hope yours settles so you can do the same.
My "bionic hand" gets a few strange looks, but I can think of much worse things that many people have had to contend post bc with so no complaints from me. I would have whipped my lymph glands out too, several looked very suspicious - as it turned out only one was malignant, but it was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
But I am grateful I don't live in Queensland - hot steamy weather and a compression sleeve leads to very bad language!
Paula xxx