After eventually identifying citric acid as a trigger factor in my bouts of lymphorrhea I managed to achieve 'dry' legs for the first time in years. I had a rash appear on the back of my hands to which I applied Arnica. The rash disappeared within hours but the following morning I had an unexpected leakage in my legs. That too lasted only a couple of days. The following week the rash returned on my thighs as well as my hands. I applied Sudocreme lotion. The rash disappeared but the following day I had really wet legs. Puzzling, until I checked the ingredients of both creams. They both had citric acid in them. When I checked the several hair shampoos in our bathroom the only one without citric acid in was a baby shampoo.
Moral of the story:- always read the labels.
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violetsnowdrop
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Interesting ... I’ve known for many years that Citric Acid = swelling flare in me. I’ve strictly avoided it and other trigger foods/ingredients for a more peaceful Lymphie existence. I’ve always been fastidious about what I eat going back to my athlete days and subsequently to better manage my lymphoedema. I know my flare triggers well. Some of them, like Citric Acid, are not the usual culprits on lists that often circulate Lymphie groups while some of my triggers are the classic ones eg table salt, alcohol etc. My flares unlike yours however do not involve lymphorrhea only hugely exacerbated swelling that does not settle without much additional lymph drainage
Most people don’t know that the preservative Citric Acid added to food tins/ready meals and other products is not the same naturally occurring Citric Acid in citrus fruits. Rather, the preservative form of it is a genetically modified substance that does not originate from fruit!
Commercially produced citric acid is not an extract from citrus fruits but is the byproduct of bacterial action on the carbohydrates. The bacteria Aspergillus Niger, which acts on the corn sugar, produces citric acid. The allergy may be to corn or the Aspergillus Niger bacteria.
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Wondering why four weeks of NHS compression bandaging didn’t work – and what might?
Vibration/Oscillation plates
so what of these things are down to the lymphodema?
Does anyone experience their legs burning under the stocking when walking 1st thing in the morning?
