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Diana Lapp
Hi, everyone. I'm new here. I received neoadjuvent chemotherapy last summer, recently had a mastectomy and level three axillary dissection. After the surgery I had a PET/CT scan, and we found the cancer had metastasized to my spine and one of my ribs. Unfortunately the chemotherapy had been ineffective. Other than that stiff sentence, I am in reasonably good health, and have not developed lymphedema. My lymphedema therapy specialist is treating me basically like I DO have lymphedema, and has me in a compression sleeve and gauntlet all day, every day. I remove the sleeve at night. I do daily lymph clearance massage and stretching exercises. And I am trying to be more active and lose some weight. I appreciate the opportunity to interact with this community, and look forward to getting to know everyone.
March 23, 2016
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Katherine Clarkson
I was just diagnosed with Lymphedema. I guess now I have Lymphedema and lipedema. Anyone have Lipedema?
March 20, 2016
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Lympha Yogi
To My Lymphedema Community:
Last week, I learned about a company that I feel has the potential to drastically change treatment and management outcomes for secondary lymphedema—and I wanted to share with you all!
The company is called ImpediMed , and they sell the only FDA cleared device that can detect lymphedema unilaterally in arms (just for women) and unilaterally in legs (for both women and men). In my opinion, the coolest part is that this device has the capacity to detect the accumulation of lymph fluid BEFORE clinical signs of lymphedema develop! In other words, if a patient knows she is at risk to develop lymphedema due to a medical procedure, her doctor can order screenings using this device to monitor lymph fluid accumulation. If results indicate that lymphatic flow is beginning to decrease, treatment can begin before swelling occurs. I think we all know how critical early management of lymphedema is for efficacy, prognosis, and our bank accounts!
I am sure you are wondering how this works, at least that was my first question! The answer is: bioimpedance spectroscopy technology. I am not a scientist (just a fellow lymphie), but I will do my best to explain. The device emits weak electrical currents at many different frequencies through the body. By measuring the activity of the electrical currents in our extracellular spaces (where lymph fluid resides), the device can detect subtle changes in the amount of fluid long before visible swelling happens. Amazing, right?
As a person with idiopathic primary lymphedema, there was no way to know what was coming. But, I am very hopeful that this device will help doctors and their future patients, who know they are at risk for lymphedema, have greater success managing swelling and pain.
Check out their websites at http://www.l-dex.com/ or http://www.impedimed.com/home.htm and keep spreading the word about lymphedema!
Happy Lymphedema Awareness Month!!
March 12, 2015
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