lymphedema after mastectomy

Hi, I have to wear a sleeve and glove every day. I don't use a massage brush, just my other hand. Keep up with the exercises and try to have your arm raised on cushions if you are sitting still for a long time, watching tv etc. I use two cushions from the sofa and the heart shaped one I used after surgery. Hope this helps.

Hi SuTed21 

Sorry you’re having to deal with lympheodema after all your treatments. Thought I’d pop in and share what I was advised and have managed to put into action. I have lympheodema in my breast, post radiotherapy. In my case, the lympheodema nurse advised various things but the one that seems to apply to both breast and arm lympheodema is Nordic Walking. She told me to take that up, or do aqua aerobics (or both!). I’m not a keen swimmer so I did a Nordic walking course and joined a local group. When I had a follow up appointment a couple of months later, the nurse was so pleased with the improvement that she said she would discharge me (but I could self refer anytime). I haven’t had to go back. It’s a lifelong condition but I seem to be ‘managing’ it. Nordic walking seems to be ideal for getting lymph moving. I started it in May 2019 and I still love it. I do a group walk generally twice a week, and I regard it as my favourite hobby. I’ve met lovely new people and know bits of the surrounding countryside that I never knew existed. I really can’t recommend it enough. Of course I’m not a medic and this is just what has worked for me. Love and hugs, HFxx 

Hi HappyFeet1. Advice is welcomed. Walked miles with my dog before cancer but now after 4yrs of treatment & building excercise up, its taking time to resolve at my age. Will get there eventually. Hope your lymphedema in breast & arm will reduce soon. Good to hear you've taken up Nordic walking & its good for you to get through breast cancer path. Thank you for your advice. Take care. xx 

Thank you Molly23 for your reply & advice. Night sleeve is fine but finding daytime sleeve difficult to push up on my arm, it's very tight. Will keep up the exercises & rest arm on cushions to ease. Already with night sleeve feel a difference to reduce swelling. Hope all goes well with you. Thanks again for your advice. x

My lymphoedema nurse told me to get rubber gardening gloves to pull the sleeve up, works brilliantly. It takes a while to adjust, but I have been discharged from my clinic now and am managing.  Good luck x