How does Lymphoedema affect your Mental Health?

August was not a good health month for me, I slept a lot due to heavy painkillers and my swelling increased.

[violetsnowdrop]

Couldn't agree more! Having daily changes of dressings to keep clean; extra swelling of both feet; lymphorrhea (good job I stocked up with plenty of extra water to dilute it!). I have found having different sedentary hobbies in different rooms helps with mobilising myself, even though they are all newly started since onset of lymphodema following TKR in 2009.

[Hidden in reply to violetsnowdrop]

Hi, sometimes its the routine of having to self-care. We all know how important it is but when you have 'off days' it becomes a big problem.

[Squinny]

Lymphodema has affected my mental health more than I could've imagined, changed my view of myself and how I live day to day, forced changes to me as a person, but equally made me so grateful for the simplest of things, that short time without compression, bare feet in the grass..

[Snup in reply to Squinny]

Yeah, I know exactly what you mean - that 30-60 minutes before going to sleep without the compression. Or few steps in the room with bare leg. What a joy! Its difficult to stay positive, I'm battling with depression daily. What helps is forcing myself to have hope and to look at bright sides of my life. But yeah, its rough. Darn rough. Keep on fighting - they will find a cure!