Tag: lymphedema
-
Travel Tips
In our daily lives, we lymphies need to make a lot of accommodations for our lymphedema. One such accommodation is travel. This doesn’t mean we can’t do it, however – it just means we have to take a few more precautions. Traveling can be an invitation for swelling – you are often sitting for long…
-
Yoga for Lymphedema
Some Things to Remember While Practicing Yoga Be gentle. Creating strain within your muscles will make it harder for the fluid to circulate, which is the exact opposite of what we’re trying to do here! Wear your compression garment. Wearing your stocking or sleeve while practicing yoga provides support for your arm or leg and promote the flow…
-
Coping Mechanisms
A pilot study of 10 women with post breast cancer lymphedema reported concern over the betrayal of their body, abandonment of medicine (unsympathetic doctors, limited knowledge or conflicting information provided), concealing an imperfect body image through inadequate clothing or elastic sleeves, and managing the interruption of a normal flow of life. –Living with Lymphedema A…
-
Nutrition & Lymphedema
There are many misconceptions concerning which foods to eat and which to avoid when you have lymphedema. Some people recommend steering clear of sodium, others say protein. Some people even say to reduce fluid intake! What’s a lymphie to do!? Have no fear – I’ve done a little research on the topic of nutrition and…
-
Body Image
Today kicks off this year’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and I thought it would be a perfect time to discuss the issues of body image and lymphedema. Body image is something that everyone deals with, but those with lymphedema are especially susceptible to having body image issues. This is something that needs to be…
-
“Lymph Node Study Shakes Pillar of Breast Cancer Care”
The New York Times just published an excellent article (read it here!) about a new study which shows that lymph node surgery for breast cancer is not always necessary. This is really important stuff because doctors have been removing lymph nodes for over a hundred years with the belief that it will help stop the…
-
Excuses, excuses
Today I got an email from a fantastic reader (hi, Aria!) who asked me a lot of questions. They were really good ones, ones that will definitely serve as prompts for future posts. One of her questions that I wanted to address was about how to explain lymphedema to your friends. It’s a big issue…
-
Alcohol + Lymphedema
Hey, everyone! There are a lot of do’s and don’ts that come along with lymphedema, but probably one of the more annoying ones is the effect of alcohol. Alcohol has a diuretic effect, which stimulates the kidneys to excrete more fluid. Let’s not forget to mention the expanding blood vessels, which increase the amount of…
-
Getting Personal
Hey, all. Living with this disease has not been easy. Growing up, I always knew one of my legs was bigger than the other – we just didn’t have a name for it yet. I wasn’t diagnosed until my sophomore or junior year of high school, when one of my mother’s friends came over. She…