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fauxgypsy · 01-11-2011, 07:37 PM

I had lymphedema in my right arm several months after the mastectomy. It wasn't terrble but I developed cellulitis in it several times (and that hurts). Sometimes I found it hard to get the doctors to take it seriously enough because it wasn't a bad case. I finally found a certified lymphedema therapist and I went daily for therapy for about a month. She then taught my husband the routine and we continued it for a few months. Occasionally I feel my arm getting tight, or very sensitive to touch and I make sure that I move it and stretch it and I have had to get my husband to do the massage again a few times. For the most part I can do anything I want but I cannot lift like I could before, I do lift more than the 8 pounds that some of the information suggests but I have learned my limits. My hand swelled worse with the sleeve than without so the sleeve was not helpful for me. Make sure that the therapist is trained in lymphedema therapy, not just physical therapy. That is the most important advice I can give you.

01-11-2011, 07:37 PM	#15
fauxgypsy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 600	Re: Lymphodema I had lymphedema in my right arm several months after the mastectomy. It wasn't terrble but I developed cellulitis in it several times (and that hurts). Sometimes I found it hard to get the doctors to take it seriously enough because it wasn't a bad case. I finally found a certified lymphedema therapist and I went daily for therapy for about a month. She then taught my husband the routine and we continued it for a few months. Occasionally I feel my arm getting tight, or very sensitive to touch and I make sure that I move it and stretch it and I have had to get my husband to do the massage again a few times. For the most part I can do anything I want but I cannot lift like I could before, I do lift more than the 8 pounds that some of the information suggests but I have learned my limits. My hand swelled worse with the sleeve than without so the sleeve was not helpful for me. Make sure that the therapist is trained in lymphedema therapy, not just physical therapy. That is the most important advice I can give you. __________________ In the world of destiny, there are no statistics. Jan. 26- mammogram and ultrasound- suspicious lump Mid-February- lumpectomy, infiltrating ductal carcinoma ~4.5 cm and a 1 cm DCIS, did not get clear margins, did not check lymph nodes ER+/PR+, her2 +++, nuclear grade 3 of 3 February 20-PET scan showed something on liver. No biopsy. March- Started carboplatin, herceptin, taxol on a four week cycle May 3- Pet scan, with intent to do a biopsy, found nothing, liver or breast- no biopsy because there is nothing to biopsy June 21- new onc, very concerned that there had been no biopsy, June 18th-CAT scan, bone scan-negative August 7th - Brain MRI-negative August 9th- mastectomy, all pathology negative January 2008 still NED! New oncologist -herceptin for full year after chemo- until July, and tamoxifen---negative scans since May '07 July 2008-Finished Herceptin!