Lymphedema treatment!

Hi SuTed21, I have lymphoedema in my left arm after full axillary clearance. I wear a compression sleeve  and glove every day. It's a nuisance in hot weather, but warm in winter! I was referred to my lymphoedema nurses and had treatment once a week for 6 weeks which reduced the swelling significantly. I was given exercises to do, which I still do, told to avoid lifting anything heavier than a half filled kettle with that arm and to avoid repetitive actions like sweeping or painting galls etc. I sit with my arm raised on cushions when watching tv and do manual self drainage massage on it like they showed me.

I had check ups every 6 months for 2 years and then was discharged as I have managed to keep it under control. My garments are delivered every  6 months to my home .It's important to follow the advice, on occasions I have overdone things and my arm swells up. I can contact the nurse if there is any change. I hope this helps. 

It isn’t neccaseraly the rest of your life. I wore a sleeve for a couple of years then it settled. I am carefull no blood pressure cuff on that side, no repetative movements. Christmas cards and Mother’s Day cards for a class of thirty had to be considered carefully.im carefull to avoid bites and stings but otherwise I’m good. 
That arm is now my good arm after second full node clearance on the other side. Vaccines all go in my bum. 
I had fancy sleeves from America. They came at a price but made me feel better getting dressed up. I had a black lace one. 

Hi Molly23

Thank you for replying & advice. Good to hear you have control of arm now. Just finished 6 weeks of compression arm treatment. Next week have another appt then November. Doing arm exercises at home, using a brush to help move fluid round body, patting & massaging arm. Sometimes swelling reduces but other times seem to be back when first started treatment. Find difficulty getting arm with compression sleeve into tops/blouses/jumpers. Treatment helps, just feel I'm not getting anywhere to reduce fluid swelling as its up & down. Will just keep going & hopefully will have control of arm swelling eventually. x 

I completely understand the problem with tops. I buy a size bigger and find viscose tops work best. Jumpers and cardigans tend to cling. I was really upset when I was diagnosed with lymphoedema and told it's a lifelong chronic condition for me, and sounds like for you too. It does get easier and becomes part of your daily routine. I forgot to say make sure you moisturise the arm at bedtime, not before you put the sleeve on. My nurse told me to get some rubber gardening gloves from Home Bargains to help put on the sleeve, makes it much easier. You'll get there x 

Molly23,

Thank you. Much appreciate your support & advice. Bought new tops to hide mascetomy, now its new tops to accommodate my arm! Price to pay for breast cancer. I'm in mid 70s. Cancer will hit me again soon as diagnosed with stage 4 at time of op but want to enjoy life whats left including wearing clothes to feel good in. Thank you again for your support & advice. Hope you're doing ok after what you've been through. Take care. x