Lymphedema update

Yesterday I went to Piedmont Rehab and Fitness Center in Fayetteville to have my Lymphedema assessment. I was surprised when I went in and saw what looked like a very well organized gym before me. On almost every piece of equipment was an elderly person obviously using the machines for post operative rehabilitation. I felt awkward and out of place sitting there waiting for my name to be called. I wondered what machine they would place me on and if I would be able to do whatever therapy they decided I needed to do.

After about thirty minutes, a young, blonde woman came up to me and asked if I was Bonnie. I stood up and greeted her. She took me back to a separate examination room and began asking me a lot of medical history questions, nodding her head and entering my answers in the laptop on her little desk. After we'd completed the questions, she had me undress from the waist up and sit on the exam table.

Alison, the Lymphedema specialist, brought an extractable tape measure and a blue marker over to the table. She sat in front of me and began to measure different intervals up my left arm. She started at the wrist and measured then made some blue markings on my arm. Next she went up about 4 inches and did this again but this time, she recorded the numbers from her first measurement on my arm. As she recorded each measured circumference, I tried to see what she was writing on her notepad but couldn't. After she finished the left side, she did the same thing on the right side and then proceeded to measure my chest area and around each armpit. When she had completed all measurements and recordings, I looked down at my arms and laughed. She looked at me in a confused way and I said, "I have markings all over my chest from the radiation mapping and now I have markings up and down each arm too. I sure look funny! It's a good thing I don't have to go anywhere but home after I leave here!"

Next Alison pulled out some anatomy charts and began to explain to me how the lymph system works. She used a lot of medical jargon and asked repeatedly if I understood what she was talking about. I told her that I had wanted to be a nurse when I was growing up so when I went to high school, I focused on anatomy and physiology as well as biology. "That's great," she said, "most people look at me like a deer caught in headlights when I explain this to them." I was thankful I had a good knowledge of medical terminology and was able to understand her explanations without asking her to go in to more detail.

The treatment plan would involve lymphatic massage as well as my having to wear a compression camisole and two lymphedema sleeves. Alison said I'd also have to wear gauntlets to prevent the lymphatic fluid from traveling down my arms into my hands and wrists. Gauntlets? I was suddenly feeling a little medieval. She said she'd have to order all of those things and fax the orders over to my surgeon for her signature. As soon as we got that, she'd contact the insurance company for their approval and then I'd go to an offsite location for fitting. Before I left, Alison showed me how to do lymphatic massage on myself and she explained that my radiation could exacerbate the swelling. I am hoping it doesn't. My Lymphedema isn't as bad as some cases, Alison explained. She said some people come in with legs or arms as big around as tree trunks. I am so thankful I don't have that problem! I can't imagine how uncomfortable those people must feel and how embarrassed they must be to go out in public. People can be so cruel and judgmental.

Prayer request: Please pray that my lymphedema does not get worse as I go through radiation. There is no cure for it but the symptoms can be treated with compression and massage. (Mine seems to worsen late in the day after I've been very active with my arms.) Thank you in advance for praying!

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