Tag: primary lymphedema
-
Submit your story to the Lymphie Life! Use the contact form here to share your personal story of living with… Read more.
-
It’s been a while since I’ve gone to my lymphedema clinic — three years, to be exact! Read more.
-
It’s June, lymphies! Can you believe it? This year is already halfway over; it’s amazing how quickly the months pass.… Read more.
-
During the spring semester I took a sequential art class, where I practiced drawing things like comic strips, story boards,… Read more.
-
The following is a guest post from Toronto Physiotherapy: As a Certified Decongestive Therapist trained in manual lymphatic drainage, and… Read more.
-
LympheDIVAS have just released their Spring Patterns, and they are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. What’s even better is that you can… Read more.
-
When I was in treatment for my eating disorder, the doctors warned me that I may experience edema as a… Read more.
-
The warm weather, that is. Where I live in Vermont, it has crawled into the 70s and 80s already. Yesterday,… Read more.
Quick Links for Lymphies
I’m looking for:
F.A.Q.s
What is lymphedema?
Lymphedema is swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid, usually in an arm or leg, when the lymphatic system can’t drain properly. It’s a chronic condition, but with the right care, it can be managed well.
What causes lymphedema?
It can be primary (something you’re born with, due to how your lymph vessels developed) or secondary (caused by something else, like surgery involving lymph node removal, radiation, infection, or trauma).
Is there a cure for lymphedema?
There’s currently no cure, but you can help ease symptoms through compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage, exercise, and skin care. Some patients may also be candidates for surgical options.
How do I know if I have lymphedema, or if it’s something else?
The telltale sign is persistent swelling in a limb (or another area) that doesn’t go away with rest or elevation. You may have a feeling of heaviness, tightness, or “fullness” in the affected area, as well as hardening or thickening of the skin.
Lymphedema can sometimes develop slowly, even months or years after surgery or cancer treatment, so any new or unexplained swelling is worth mentioning to your doctor.