Bugger, yes I too got dealt that card and weirdly I found it much harder to cope with than everything else I had thrown at me.
Probably because the surgery and treatment were a means to an end. This seemed to be forever. I went through a period of bandaging for 6 weeks. My hand was a real problem and took lots of work, my poor fingers were like sausages. However many years later and it is much better and well under control. I wear a garment over my hand and lower part of my arm most days and for majority of the day. My garments are custom made as the off the shelf ones were not helping. As I work as a nurse I need to wash my hands all the time, I also have a long sleeve with a separate glove (which spends most of my shift in my pocket ). I self massage every day without fail. Some days longer than others. If I have a special occasion I leave the garments at home. It’s just part of me now and I try not to dwell on it. My lymphedema is really good now, but if I didn’t do what I do it would flare up again. It does get better with good management.
Hang in there.
paula xxx
