7/21/2023 0 Comments And so it goes with lymphedema...I've been neglecting managing my Lymphedema for about 8 months. That's all on me. I got lazy. It is such a "pain" using the pump for my legs. It comes with a leg piece and a trunk piece that looks like oversized hockey shorts-it is annoying to put on and honestly exhausting. (if you don't already know, these are all lame excuses that only hurt me.) I weigh too much, am always tired, and have zero flexibility (not sure if it's from the LE or my weight or both) so putting on the parts of the pump is exhausting and difficult. (Again, more excuses.)
The velcro wraps and the stockings that go under them are hot and itchy. Plus my skin is so dry I think the socks irritate me. A few times last fall I wore them out and about like to the store, and when I got home my legs were itchy and burning. I assume from the heat/sweating. That's probably when I stopped. I began looking for different socks/stockings, but my legs are too big for most I found. Anyway, that brings us to this week. My leg has looked awful for the last week, granted I was out in the humidity last weekend, and this weekend, and that makes it swell. Then my dog jumped on me like she used to and scratched my leg (like she used to). First time I ever leaked Lymph Fluid!!! OMG! I was freaking out and Googling it. It leaked for HOURS. Bandaids didn't help. Then I did something I probably shouldn't have, it was 2am, and it was streaking down my leg. I cleaned it, put antibiotic cream on and read it needs pressure to stop. I could only find one Ace bandage in my house in the middle of the night, and it was a self-sticking one. FYI-they suck (LE or no LE.) I wrapped my leg with a bandage on the scratches. It stopped the leaking, but I think it messed with my leg. Anyway... I had an appointment with the LE doctor for the new discoloration after using the velcro wraps (which they said was normal LE stuff, no worries) and the LE therapist. She measured my leg and I thought she was going to fall off her chair as she winced at me. My leg is WORSE than it was last year when I saw her the first time. Ugh... my LE is getting worse. SURPRISE! It's my fault. I didn't keep up on it. She gave me two choices, use the pump and the velcro wraps EVERYDAY, and walk while wearing the wraps. I wasn't moving when I put them on, bc I don't do much. All my work is on the computer, so I am always sitting. So I need to work harder on moving with the wraps on. Choice two was to do compression wraps put on by her. I've talked to some people and they don't sound fun, and I am in a time in my life where I HAVE to be comfortable or I am miserable. Therapist says they are the most aggressive approach and will decrease my leg the most. She'd like to do from my toes to my thigh - UGH. But will settle for up to my knee. It's almost August in Pittsburgh and all I can think of is the heat. I am the one in the house that does it all. I clean, do clothes, shop, make dinner, take care of the dog, I do it all! I'm not sure I can do any of it in a compression wrap? And drive? Can I drive? I do almost all of the errands. So, here I am trying to be diligent about wrapping daily as well as using the pump daily. Trying to get in the habit feels like a burden, but I also know that if I don't do it I'll have no choice but to do the compression wraps. I'm giving myself till October. If things aren't better I will consider doing the compression wraps. I still don't understand how long they stay on, the therapist told me, but I don't remember what she said. So this is me at Day One. Let's see if I can do this... |
AuthorI am living with Lymphedema for the past 20 years, however I wasn't diagnosed correctly until summer 2022. There is no cure, just managing the swelling and uncomfortable heaviness. I am now trying to learn how to make managing it and incorporate it into my daily life. Archives
January 2024
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