I am new to this site and stumbled across it in my search for finding out more about Lymphedema.
I was diagnosed with two blood clots last year
(but they are gone now due to using blood thinners)and I just now learned that lymphedema could have caused the blood clots I had!
And since have been watching what I have been eating (diet of fish and chicken and veggies) and lots of swimming, I have lost some weight, but realized I wasn't losing weight in my legs
! After no help from my old doctor
, I went to a new doctor
and have been recently diagnosed with Secondary Lymphedema in both legs
but a mild case.
I am a young 46 year old woman that lives a very active lifestyle
and recently dealt with physical therapy (bandaging of from my feet to my knees). I only lasted about 48 hours with the bandaging
. The massage was so nice but the bandages were tough. I totally felt worse
when I had the bandaging mentally and physically and was pretty immobile (shuffling in huge slippers). I cried and cried
. I still am upset about everything for me and my family. I am exploring other options at this time and I don't want to give up
. I just could not take the bandages (couldn't sleep, major discomfort that I didn't have before the bandages). I had no pain prior to being diagnosed, just swelling. The physical therapist said that I had a mild case but the therapy would help me when I got older to rid of the fluid and maintain proper fluid control with a fitted compression hosiery. I have been doing alot of research on the internet and saw in one article that endometriosis could be the cause of my lymphedema. I was told by my surgeon back when I had surgery (a hysterectomy) for my endometriosis that it could still remain in my system that the hysterectomy wouldn't cure my endometriosis but would help a great deal. In my opinion,
I don't think some of the doctors know what causes lymphedema nor do they know what causes endometriosis but they know the symptoms and the technical name for both. It took me a long time to find a doctor that knew what lymphedema was as I have also read that many doctors aren't educated fully on the subject or don't want to deal with it because it isn't curable. My doctor isn't a specialist but recommended that physical therapy may be able to help.
I am so blessed to have a doctor who diagnosed what the swelling in my legs was. I am now on a quest to find a specialist through my new doctor as I have made another appointment with him in a couple of weeks. It appears that I have a rubberband restricting right above each ankle and swelling from there to my knees. It looks like I am overweight there. They are about the same size as my thighs (actually my thighs are a bit smaller than my calves!). I have lost two dress sizes and wear a size 14 now. I always wondered why I always felt fantastic and looked less swollen after swimming and come to find out that is the BEST exercise for lymphedema!!!! Has anyone heard the correlation between endometriosis and lymphedema? And what exercises are you doing to maintain mild lymphedema in the legs? Thank you so much for reading my post and I am thankful for a site like this and appreciate the support!
Post edited by: summergirl, at: 08/22/2009 05:00 PM
Post edited by: summergirl, at: 08/22/2009 05:03 PM
Post edited by: summergirl, at: 08/22/2009 05:06 PM
