Lymphoedema Blues

My sympathies! One of the 'sleepers' of side effects, lymphoedema is a thorough trial and I can only imagine how you must feel when you have felt things are going well. Sounds like you have a good therapist though and that's about 90 per cent of the battle. It took me quite a while to get the right compression garment, so I can understand your disappointment. But if your therapist is positive about improvement, you can be too. And then that new compression garment can do its job well. Hope you are back in shape very soon.

So sorry Jane - I hope the bandaging will make a difference for you. Big hug x Michelle

Hi Jane,
So sorry to hear your news. I know the bandaging can be very successful at reversing that swelling, so I hope you are soon back in control of your lymphoedema again. It sounds like you have a great therapist who knows her stuff.

But I hear your frustration and sheer exhaustion of the constant battle to regain your life and get back to some sort of even keel with it all. I think many of us feel that too. 

It does seem like one thing after another and you have had so much lately. It is like we simply don't have enough fingers to keep plugging up the holes that treatment and side effects keep making in our day to day lives. 

Some days it just seems too much. But with the help and support of your therapist you will get back on top of the lymphoedema and then things might seem more manageable again. Meanwhile we are here to listen and understand how you are feeling right now. Sending big hugs.

Deanne xxx

Oh Jane,

I so can relate to your post and am right there with you.  It is such a shock to have had it all under control and then it just goes pear shaped, often for no apparent reason.  I had exactly the same reaction as you when I was first told mine was playing up again.  I kicked and screamed and cried for a while and refused to acknowledge that I needed to go back into my long garment at work.  I nearly drove myself mad with reasoning why, why,  why this was happening after being in control of my lymphedema for so long.  Then after all that anger and denial I did settle down, and like we often have to do with this rotten disease I reached some form acceptance and got on with the job.  You will get to that point to and get into the bandaging, you just need to process and have a cry for a bit first (you're entitled to that). Then it will be head down, bum up and lets just do this bandaging and get on with things.  Bandaging can be challenging, although I have heard it is not nearly as bulky as it was a few years ago so I hope  that is the case.  It can be very effective and quite quickly, just a bit of a pain.  I bought one of those plastic things that people in plaster casts wear over their casts in the shower and it was brilliant.  After a while I got used to the bandages.  They will help.
Sending you the biggest cyber hug.
Paula xxxxxx

Hi Jane, Crossing fingers that the bandaging works wonders for your arm. Nothing worse than a flare up. Hopefully this will return you to a very long and  successful management phase. Xx

Thanks everyone, I've really appreciated the words of support, understanding and encouragement, it means so much to me. Jane xx

I would advise, do some good walking. I know I feel it in my arm sometimes when I walk. It sort of makes the body tend to that arm as well as the rest. My physio said mine was up a bit but since I put on weight lately we put the increase down to that. I need to stop eating and do more walking.

Hi Brenda, although I do quite a lot of walking, I must admit after my accident some weeks back, I probably haven't got back into the swing of things so will need to ramp it up a bit to hopefully help things along.

Hi Jane yes it really sucks that that your lymphodema has reared it's head again.  Mine is under control at the moment but it's a paranoia that is constantly with me. As well seeing a great physio and regular exercise i also take a supplement from my naturopath - Orthoplex Lumphodran Plus. Not sure whether you are open to alternative therapies but it's worth checking out.  Good luck !

Thanks tcr1969 for your kind words and understanding. I'll check the supplement out, I haven't heard of it before but always worth looking into  :)