This past Friday I hit three weeks post-surgery, at which point I was “allowed” to resume my previous lymphedema management techniques. For me this means wearing the sleeve and the glove, and using a compression pump most evenings. I tried just wearing the sleeve but the hand is clearly still too puffy for that. I… Continue reading Hand Washing
My surgery was two weeks ago and things are healing well. My first drain (the lower one, from the axilla) was removed the Wednesday after surgery. The second one, from the clavicle, was removed at the one week point, as were the stitches on my arm. (That’s another story in the “minor acts of self… Continue reading Healing Progress
Surgery does not cure lymphedema. There is still no cure for this condition. There are several different types of surgical interventions possible, depending on the severity of the condition. My lymphedema is still fairly “young,” which means there was a good chance that my lymphatic channels are still functioning. As a result of this, Dr.… Continue reading Lymphedema Update Part 2 – Surgery Details
Hello! Long time no see!!! As mentioned in some previous posts (2+ years ago now!), my intent was to wrap this blog up somehow, but work got the best of me, and now all of a sudden it’s more than two years later. But it’s time for an update, since two days ago I had… Continue reading Lymphedema Update
Hm, it looks like I have not blogged in a while. I suppose that’s not a bad thing; this is a cancer and cancer-stuff blog, and there has been blissfully little to say in the cancer department lately. My plan is to keep this blog going until I’m done done – not just cancer done,… Continue reading If Only There Were A Pill For This…
So here is a story that is tangentially related to cancer/lymphedema … In late December I fell and banged my elbow. Yes, my RIGHT elbow. It was bruised for a while but I really didn’t think about it too much. It did not even occur to me to mention it to my lymphedema therapist when… Continue reading Siri Knows Everything
Yesterday I had my first visit with Dr. FixIt since midway through chemo, when he did my final breast expander fill. If you’ll recall, Dr. FixIt is my plastic surgeon – i.e., the guy ultimately responsible for cleaning up everyone else’s mess, and helping me to realize my goal of getting a perky rack out… Continue reading Getting Closer to Perkiness
Last week, FINALLY, after nearly four months, my pump arrived. One of the “prongs” of the three-pronged lymphedema treatment approach is the use of a compression pump – lymphatic drainage massage and wrapping are the other two prongs. After working with Ms. Lymph twice a week in January to bring my swelling down, she ordered… Continue reading Our New Appliance
Today I had an appointment with my third lymphedema therapist. She is a massage therapist who is trained in lymphatic drainage massage. She actually works at the hospital, for some reason in the cardiovascular wing. She is insanely inexpensive for a massage therapist, so that’s nice, since this is not covered by insurance. She spent… Continue reading Lymphedema Therapist #3
A week or so ago I met with the UCSD plastic surgeon I’d heard of who is able to perform lymphedema microsurgery – the only such surgeon I’ve been able to find in San Diego. He was very young and distractingly cute. I liked him, but still have a lot to consider. He trained at… Continue reading Meeting a New Doctor
