Have you had cellulitis? If so how long was it betwee... - LSN
Have you had cellulitis? If so how long was it between the start of your lymphoedema until your first infection?
I saw a lady this morning who had cellulitis first, then developed lymphoedema! There is no rhyme or reason!
I had cellulitis which resulted in a nine day hospital stay on IV antibiotics and an operation to remove a haematoma that I had been back and forth with for many months prior. As I was recuperating waiting for the open wound to heal I saw a consultant who said I had lymphoedema and had probably had it for many months previously, including before the cellulitis infection. I don't think there is any pattern to it really. I never get it if I have been bitten but I always get it if I have a crack in the skin on my left foot, and my left leg is the worst affected.
I had Lymphoedema for over a year before I had cellulitis. It was caused by a small cut on my cuticle on my right hand( the lympho arm) which I ignored. That's the only time I've had it. I now slap antiseptic cream and a plaster on every little cut/scratch.
the LSN website has a lot of interesting cellulitis information
I actually had cellulitis before my lympho was diagnosed. I have had it quite a few times since, but mainly in my legs. XX
I had lymphoedema for over twenty years before I got cellulitis.
Like Anne I had lymphoedema for many years before I had cellulitis, nearly 30 years. That was more than 10 years ago and the only outbreak so far. I don't do anything special just wear knee highs and toegloves and get on with life. I must admit that it made me more aware of the condition and was a bit paranoid at first after the outbreak.
The simple answer to that question is 15 years, however life often isn't that simple. It was 15 years from the time lymphodema appeared in my right leg till I got cellulitis in that leg. However I got a cellulitis like infection (rapid onset, red lymph vessels, swollen lymph nodes, temperature, pain etc) in my right hand 7 years after the lymphodema appeared in the right leg and my right hand has only recently showed any signs of swelling, that's 35 years after that infection. Also worth remembering that folks with otherwise normal lymphatic systems get cellulitis, I have two friends who fall into that category, both ended up in hospital.
So my take is having lymphodema makes you less able to cope with infections in limb affected by lymphodema and is more likely to result in long term swelling after the infection. Hope that makes some sense!!
Thanks for your replies so far - looks like most people have had it at least once. Are there any of you who've not had cellulitis too?
Hi I spent 3 months going backwards and forwards to my Gp surgery being prescribed different dosage of diuretic after almost 4 months I was referred to the Lymphoedema clinic for non cancer Lymphoedema by then my legs were so sore heavy and shiny I was then told I had cellulitis I was prescribed antibiotic , dermol wash and cream,it took about 4 months to fully clear up. until then I was unable to have treatment to my legs. But with the fantastic treatment from my Lymphoedema technician my legs are both trim, of cause I have to wear compression stockings for the rest of my life , but that's a small price to pay.
Hi Sabel, I have non-cancer related Lymphoedema in both legs as a side-effect of the prescribed drug- Quetiapine XL. It had been prescribed as a sleeping tablet, it is not licenced for this, it is an anti-psychotic. I have Bipolar Syndrome but at the time of prescribing i.e. August 2012, my Bipolar had been completely stable for eleven years. In November 2012, I pointed out to the prescriber of the drug that my ankles were swollen like sausages and quite painful and she simply stated it was not a side-effect, this was not in fact true, it is listed in the British National Formulary as a known side-effect. I continued through out 2013 to point the problem out to her, but she ignored the worsening condition of my legs, the swelling by now rose above my knees, her only comment was that it was probably weight related, as I had also put on seven stone while taking the drug, another listed side-effect. My GP intervened, having confirmed in October 2013 that it was a side-effect. The NHS consultant ignored the GP and so I went private seeing a psychiatrist who is a specialist in Bipolar, He was shocked and stopped the Quetiapine XL immediately and put me on a reducing dose of non slow-release Quetiapine. While there was an initial reduction in swelling of the ankles the swelling continued inexorably up both legs to the groin.
I was wondering what part of the UK you are in, or do you live elsewhere, as here in Berkshire, I am unable to access any Complex Decongestive Therapy (CDT) because the Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have stated at two public meetings recently in Reading, that they do not recognise the treatment as having any evidence of being beneficial and that it is not cost effective. This is despite the fact that patients with cancer related Lymphoedema are getting the treatment here in Reading and at Wokingham and Thatcham.
I have been in contact with Karen Friett the Chief Exec of the Lymphoedema Support Network and she has kindly supplied me with up to date evidence of the proven efficacy of the treatment, to show to the CCGs. I am currently having to pay privately for Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) , which is just one part of the recommended treatment regime.
I have had cellulitis as a reaction to insect bites in the garden but did not have any swelling in my ankles until after Quetiapine XL was prescribed.
I first had cellulitis in 2001, but not again until 3 weeks wrapping disturbed toxins in 2011. I lived with Antibiotics for over 3 months then. Not sure when Lymphoedema set in, because I had it as a secondary to Lipoedema. (Diagnosed in Dec 2009) Probably harder after the wrapping due to breaking up Fibrosis too. I remeber feeling quite ill at the time.
I had surgery in 1987 and had my first bout of cellulitis in 1991. From then on I have had more and more regular bouts of infection which culminated in my having to go on to prophylactic Penicillin V for life (500mgs/day). The intensity of the infections vary from mild symptoms to having to go to bed for two days. Prior to starting prophylaxis I was hospitalised a couple of times as the GP did not know what it was and I was very poorly.
Hi i had cellulitis after a cancer op i needed 4 courses of antibiotics to get rid of it. I then
developed lympheodema in the the same area. ive read that a severe infection can damage
your lymphatic system and cause lympheodema.
Alison x
I had pre-pregnancy lymphedema when I was 19 and it wasn't formally diagnosed 17 yrs later! However I had a number of mild attacks of cellulitis during the 17 years, Once formally diagnosed it was 12 months before I was admitted to hospital with a server attack which left me fighting for my life.
I first had cellulitus after having athletes foot for about a few wks which showed itself as a red mark on top of my foot, which grew into a massive blister whilst I was in the waiting room of my locał hospital arranged by my doctor after showing him the red hot spot I was immediately admitted and the blister grew more then a sećond blister came along even bigger on my calf that evening I had a total of 4.
The lymphadema followed the cellulitus in my case so I'm not sure if I had Primary or not..I do know as a teenager my feet would swell and could never find shoes that were right for me .
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