If you recently had an illness and are not feeling well as you know – you may have lymphedema. You had some extremities that were swelling and perhaps a tingling feeling. You probably went through other health scares recently. I hope that this information can be helpful to you. There are a lot of resources available. We are not related to a health provider and do not claim to provide any medical advice. Our hope is to be able to cut through some of the extraneous info and help you to feel better.
A lymphedema diagnosis
A doctor told you that you have Lymphedema. It is a blockage in your lymph node system. The CDC explains that the lymph system is like a sink drain and when the sink gets clogged the sink fills up.
Symptoms of lymphedema
Some of the problems that you may be experiencing are
Your arm, leg or other area has swelling
The skin in the area seems tight
The area feels heavier
Everything fits tighter
And the skin may look thicker
Feel better with lymphedema
Some steps to take to feel better:
Listen to your healthcare provider. They may tell you such things as:
Do some exercise – focus on slight contractions in the affected area. Moving the affected area may support lymph fluid drainage.
Get a massage – work with someone specially trained with lymph drainage massage as this has shown to increase draining.
Wearing compression clothing also encourages drainage. For further information visit Mayo Clinic. Also, here is an outlet type online store that is called https://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/ – We have no affiliation with them but, I found the compression garment ideas exciting. They also had quite a line up of moisturizers plus the site is chock full of information. If you have the time this lymphedema store is worth the time. If you are experiencing lymphedema as a result of cancer treatment you may also want to take a look at https://elitetherapeutics.com/collections/cancer-care
In the meantime
Try to keep the affected limb elevated wherever possible
Use a good moisturizer and moisturize daily.
Affected areas may be dull to pain, do not use heat. For more details on caring for Lymphedema.
PS. You may be interested in learning about these 4 stretches.
