My new lymphedema therapist has been treating my arm with tapes and laser, so after four treatments it's almost the same size as my other arm and I haven't worn a sleeve all that time. Previously I'd been told I'd always have to wear it. He's given me lots of info about the role of the lymphatic system and how lymphatic drainage helps. And today he showed me this chart from some research indicating key cancer killing foods and the relative impact of drugs vitamins and foods. So I've ordered vitamin e tablets at the top of the list and am happy to see that red wine and chocolate are going to help me do battle! So I had that to day as well!
What a find he has been!
Carolyn
Written by
Beryl71
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Good luck with your arm. I hope it continues to improve. It the food mentioned starved cancer mine would be all gone, lol. Seriously though, Eating healthy is good and vitamins in general won’t harm you, just check with your pharmacist or oncologist to ensure you don’t take too high of a dose.
He works with the oncologists at the Royal Surrey and was quite clear about the dose. The foods seem similar to those in one of the recipe books I have. Many are things I eat any way. It's good yo get some encouragement.
When you have lymph nodes removed, or have/has been diagnosed with arm Lymphedema you are not suppose to push, or pull more than 10 lbs on that affected arm . I was told by my both of my oncologist, 14 years ago that I can not push or pull more than 10 lbs on my arm without causing permanent damage, swelling to that arm . Prior to the surgeries I was very fit, and doing (3) sets of 35 repetitions of men's push up as part of my routine upper body workout., and (3) sets of 35 repetition pull ups . After surgery I had entire arm, and finger swelling. I had to use a sock that I made custom for my arm to relieve the pain, and swelling . I slept with my arm up on my sofa. I now had to work out with 10 lb free weights, but still my arm's, hands, and back muscles had become weak, and my back was hurting . I was limited, and me, a very independent person could no longer carry my groceries without a cart, or having a friend help me. So after 7 years of no longer wanting to deal with this limitation I did some research with a trainer who also was an assistant Physical Therapist. He was adamant that it was possible for me to regain everything I was told I couldn't . He told me that with a sleeve, and when supervised by someone who knows how to train you gradually it is attainable . This trainer had already accomplished this with a few other's. Well the trainer charged clients $250 an hour to get me back in the great upper body shape I was in prior to Lymphedema. I didn't use him, but I did plenty of research online with a couple of other fitness trainer's . I thank GOD for the information, and the angels he sent me. I once again made another stronger arm sleeve with nylon stockings, and I now 7 years later have graduated up (3) sets of 35 repetition knee push ups. 3 months ago I started doing men's push ups(3) sets of 10 repetition men's push ups per workout, along with (3) 30 second push up planks. If I didn't tell you, you would not know I was diagnosed with Lymphedema 14 years ago. GOD willing I will continue to increase my male type push up's, and eventually get back on my pull up bar, that I know has missed me .
Well done you! I was sort of told to get on with it until a female doctor sent me to the clinic at the local hospice. They bound my arm to get it back down to a healthy level and fitted a sleeve. I've had fitted sleeves ever since, and recently have obtained some pretty ones for weddings and special occasions. I have always swum a lot and just behaved normally once it had settled down. In fact I was encouraged to go to the local gym for exercises and have done pilates too It used to ache to begin with but once the sleeves and massage reduced the size my only problem was occasional infections. Usually if I had pricked my finger then went and did gardening. I always carry antibiotics for this. My new therapist charges £50 an hour for the treatment he is now doing and although it is weekly at present , says it it will space out. I haven't worn a sleeve for about 6 weeks. There are various companies that make sleeves, and the nurses at the clinic always determined the level of pressure I needed and measured my arm for the correct size. In UK there is a British Lymphodema society but there aren't many therapists and it is difficult to get information. Sometimes it's just by chance you find something out. The companies I know about that do sleeves are Haddenham, Sigvaris, Juzo and Lymphodivas.
There is also a surgery, that can fix arm Lymphedema . It is not covered by insurance, and is very expensive. I have a sewing machine, so something as simple as customizing my own Lymphedema sleeve's is easy for me to make myself. I know a couple of women from a cancer support group, who ruined their arms picking up heavy bags. One never wears short sleeve shirts. She showed me her arm, and it was twice the size of her non affected arm . Also my friend ruined her arm after her no good husband left her after her breast cancer surgery's. She was carrying, and pulling groceries, and laundry up 3 flights of stairs. Her arm also was almost twice the size of her non affected arm. I gave her a luggage cart, but the weight was still too much. Stay motivated
Yes I just heard about the surgery; I think here it's only tried when nothing else works. Mine's been pretty good for sround 25 years with sleeves. I too used to wear long sleeves and at first made my own clothes. The regular massages helped, but it would be good not to have to wear a sleeve.
Hi Carolyn, I'm very interested in the laser treatment you had for lymphedema. I have been trying to find a physiotherapist who would do something similar for me here (in Saskatchewan). I saw a very nice woman for six visits but she would not direct the laser to my armpit where the lymph glands were removed. She just used her machine on my forearm, and I felt nothing (not even heat).
Please let me know where your physiotherapist directed his lasers. Has your arm remained unswollen?
Thanks for any information you might provide, Cindy
It was up into my arm pit. My arm is a bit larger than my left arm but then I am right handed which might contribute, But it is holding its reduction now and I haven't had a sleeve since August. I now see him every three weeks. He has done the authentic Dr Vodder training in Austria, and is very up to date with a lot of cancer treatment. I found him through the British lymphodema society. I am sure he would be happy ton answer any questions by email. He seems keen to spread the knowledge and has a lot of connections.
Thanks so much for this information, Carolyn! It seems we are similar in that we are both right-handed, and the lymphedema is in my right arm.
I developed mild lymphedema in 2006 after the lymph glands were first removed, and was fitted for a sleeve then. However, I didn't really use it, and the lymphedema subsided.
It was 13 years later that it flared dramatically overnight after I had been working with indoor plants. I assumed that a spider might have bitten me. However, it did not go away, and tests ultimately indicated that I was now MBC with many spinal and lung mets.
Both the public and private physiotherapists have done manual drainage and fitted several sleeves but these work no better than simple elevation of my arm overnight. The arm goes back to its inflated size every morning. I will definitely use the link you provided to ask whether there are any Canadians using his approach. Thanks again! Cindy
It appeared in me about 18 months after my primary tumour. I had an arm like an elephant to begin with and struggled to get help until I was sent to a clinic at the local hospice. So I have had nearly 25 years with a sleeve. I found the lymphodema society through a magazine and initially had very concentrated treatment which gradually spaced out. However after that therapist stopped working I was in limbo for a while. This therapist says that sleeves dont help as they squash the remaining lymph vessels . He works on rerouting the flow and stimulating lymph activity. Whereas previously I was more or less told not to do anything with that arm! Good luck.
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. I was told by my both of my oncologist, 14 years ago that I can not push or pull more than 10 lbs on my arm without causing permanent damage, swelling to that arm 
. Prior to the surgeries I was very fit, and doing (3) sets of 35 repetitions of men's push up as part of my routine upper body workout., and (3) sets of 35 repetition pull ups 
Now I see why ANC levels matter!
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Happy Festivities everyone.
