Panniculectomy

[Littleblue2b]

I have lymphoedema in my abdomen, and im having a Panniculectomy but my surgeon said i don't have lymphoedema, so now im worried about surgery. My physical therapist says its a bad case of lymphoedema, she is a specialist in this.

[patsy1702]

Maybe you could ask your physical therapist to contact your surgeon... or visa versa.

[Lynora]

Do you have an abdominal 'apron'? Is the surgeon a plastic surgeon - if so, is he doing the surgery as part of skin removal after weight loss? Do you have lymphoedema in other limbs? Are you in the UK?

[Littleblue2b in reply to Lynora]

I have a abdominal apron, and she is a plastic surgeon, she spent 5 minutes with me. Its a removal of the abdominal apron, not after weightloss.

The lymphoedema was first on the right side of my abdomen but now affecting both sides. I don't have it anywhere else, Its been some what controlled with water pills, goes down during the day, i wake up with it heavy from buildup at night.

Im in the USA.

I was told the lymph vain was damaged from a surgery i had years ago. Im scared it will still be a problem after surgery, since my surgeon doesn't think i have lymphoedema.

[Lynora in reply to Littleblue2b]

Have you been overweight at some point? Was the surgery gynae related? An apronectomy should remove the lymphoedema - do you have access to an MLD practitioner, who could treat the surgical area afterwards?

[Littleblue2b in reply to Lynora]

I had a tubal ligation, then started gaining weight fast right afterwards.

It was all on right sideDidn't look normal, but doctors did nothing for years.

I was hospitalized 2 years ago, and in the hospital lost 60lbs from my abdomen in 12 days. They said i had that much more to lose. That I had lymphoedema in my abdomen and that i needed surgery for it. Nothing was done. When i went home i gained it all back in only a week, ended up in the hospital again because my heart couldn't handle the fast change. I still haven't had the surgery, trying to get it done though, im on a waiting list. Lol

I do have a lymphoedema physical therapist.

[Lynora in reply to Littleblue2b]

Get your LPT to liaise with the surgical team - you will need lymphoedema treatment (MLD) before and after surgery.