Lymphedema you are not my friend.

Thanks Brenda, 

yes I am busy massaging like mad!!!!

so frustrating after being stable for so long. 

Hope yours is behaving. 

Paula xxxx

Hi Deanne,

yes it can be sooo frustrating. It s great though that I have a good lymphedema therapist to work with and do know all he right things to do. I could be living in a third world country with no health care facilities and a huge arm. 

I hope yours is behaving itself. 

Hugs back to you. 

Paula xxx

Thanks Christine, yes it's the sheer frustration of the gift that keeps on giving.....

nice to know others are thinking of me. 

Hope you are doing well. 

Paula xxx

It can be challenging Paula yes. Sometimes something as simple as helping my husband down the stairs with a lounge chair was enough to have swelling back into my hand. It was quite worrying at the time and I wore a sleeve and a gauntlet until it subsided. I also did full body lymph massages to my groin, neck and underarms which I think helps a lot. It's settled down for now so no garments but I do many times a day do massage mostly under my arm, the lower front of my shoulder and across my chest, just to keep things moving along.

Hi Paula,

So sorry to hear that the lymphoedema is giving you grief at the moment. I wish they really knew more about this. It is frustrating and scarey because despite doing everything we should it just seems to come and go at random for so many people. 

Hope you get on top of it quickly. Knowing all the right things to do will speed things along as best as possible. Sending hugs.

Deanne xxx

Hi Paula I can sense your frustration at lymphedema that it just keeps giving. Can't offer any meaningful advice bit to say  I hope it's temporary and you'll find a better normal.

Take care from Christine xx ?? 

Oh Kath so frustrating. My initial diagnosis and I wasn't given a glove and the fluid went straight from my arm to my hand so I hear you. Could to wear stockings?  Nothing about lymphedema is comfortable. Hope your settles. 

Hugs. 

Paula xxxx

Karen I see an occupation therapist who is a lymphedema therapist. Are you in Qld? Mine is through the hospital and so I don't pay for garments. They often try and recommend I go private, but I resist as the garments are $500 each custom made and I need two every 6 months. Every state is different. There is a great lymphedema alliance in NSW trying to get more attention to lymphedema. I will try and find link as they want as many people to register so that they can keep track of the issues. My therapist taught me self massage which should be part of your daily routine if yiu have lymphedema. A lymphedema trained Physio or OT can tach you and yes it really helps. 

Paula xx

Thanks Jane, sorry your arm playing up too. It really is so frustrating and something that is really not talked about enough. These sleeves are a constant reminder... Not to mention really hard to wear when you live in the tropics. Glad it's "winter" at the moment, not that we really get a winter up here. 

I am religiously massaging daily. 

I will get over it, just a little set back. 

Hope your massage helps. 

I am very lucky to have access to a great lymphedema therapist. 

Hugs

Paula xxxx

Yes I have done encore in the past. Guess I'm just frustrated that it's a flare up after being under control for so long. 

Thanks for listening 

Paula xxx