Lymnedema

[Tracex]

Hi eveeyone hope all ok sending u hugs.. after my spate of shingles then massive blood clot in my thigh.. still got lot swelling in legs oncologist said be on clexaine maybe longer than 6 months...so that will be a pleasure lol.. my question is i was told i have edema in my left foot but as my leg is still very swollen and my knee tell you it looks triple size to my other leg could it be the edema in my knee also.. i start my weekly taxol again next week and was wondering if chemo might help it go down oncologist did'nt say much just asked me if i wanted to speak to macmillian i said no thanx... so i thought my best place is you ladies as your always there for information if i need it.. thank you and big love to you xxx

[lesleysage]

Hi Tracex, I've no experience of this but am sure others will help where they can. My only thought is, if after what others share here you still have questions, perhaps Anna, the Support Service manager at Ovacome, could be worth a try?

Warm wishes, Lesley

[Lily-Anne]

I have lymphedema but it’s not really affected by chemo. Usually the local hospice runs a lymphedema clinic so maybe worth a call

My legs are really swollen so was wearing flight stockings. I don’t think they’ve made any difference so stopped for now

LA xx

[bamboo89 in reply to Lily-Anne]

I found the flight socks useless when in hospital - I have lymphodema normally because of post thrombotic syndrome from having so many DVTs in my legs, unrelated to cancer. All the flight socks did was cause a build up of fluid above the knee band at the top which would get painful as the day went on. My legs were like tree trunks in hospital, couldn't wait to get home and put on my own Mediven support stockings (or actually, to get my sister to put them on for me, since I couldn't after surgery). I had to wear the bigger size initially, till the swelling reduced which thankfully, it did after a week.

But the support stockings only work if pressure on the legs moves the lymph upwards - they usually do a test via ultrasound to check that out first, then prescribe them. You can have tights or thigh length with a top band, like hold ups. Or maybe just buy some strong support tights to see if that helps... You can actually buy Mediven direct from them in the UK, but they're expensive - the hold up ones are called Mediven Elegance, with closed or open toes...

[bamboo89]

Are you saying the leg that had the thrombosis is the one with the swollen foot and knee? Its not clear from your post whether you have oedema in the knee and foot in the leg which didn't have thrombosis...?

[Tracex]

Hi thanx ladies for info my foot and leg swollen in same leg as where i had DVT.. ive tried support socks and my leg aches more at night.. swelling goes down abit after sleep but within an hr when get up in morning just the same.. oncologist said cud be related to cancer in glands.. but when went to A and E he checked my lymn nodes in groin said that it was'nt swollen so im just at at blank and feel like i have a tree trunk for a leg... got no pain not like when they first spotted the DVT.. as it was all in my left thigh.. scan says it was a big clot pleasure of taxol sending u all big hugs and thanx again for support xxxx