A FOLLOW-UP BLOG TO ME RECENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHOEDEMA!

Bit bored and haven’t blogged for a few weeks so thought I would give an update to how things are. Nothing major has happened since my last blog and learning I could now be a sufferer of lymphoedema, apart from this sick feeling in the pit in my stomach abating somewhat. I guess I’ve started to come to terms with it a little. I’ve no choice I guess have I, it’s either that or quit on life and I don’t want to do that. The first week my head was spinning, I was fed up and depressed at seemingly having to put up with yet ANOTHER health condition for the rest of my life. This goes along with the type one diabetes, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Spondylolisthesis(back), irritable bladder, sore ribs, and pelvic girdle pain…….oh and mild eczema but I only include that if I’m in a bad health boasting competition with somebody ha ha.  The issue regarding Lympthoedema is that I’m still at the very early stages at hopefully trying to get some help for it. Oh and I should have said, I have this condition in both of my lower legs, left leg is worse though. It makes them swell up with water, not terrible but it’s there and definitely shouldn’t be. I’m not fully sure who to go and seek help from though however. It appears a poorly known/understood condition(heard that one before argh).

I saw a General Practitioner last week to discuss all this with him and to tell him what the hospital findings had been. They found no blood clots in my legs, needed more antibiotics for the celulitis and thought I had suspected Lypthoedema.  The biggest concern was and still today is, whether or not the cellulitis infection and rash has fully gone yet. I’ve read for example that one way to help manage lympthoedema is having the area/s massaged, namely called Lymphatic Drainage. I’ve googled and found a few soft tissue therapists who do this so want to get going to seem them asap. Problem is however, I need to be completely sure that the infection/cellulitis has gone first. This is because if you still have the infection and get massaged then this alarmingly can spread the infection further around your body. My legs are not as red or burning as they were a few weeks ago, but nevertheless they are still red and burning a bit. I don’t know if this is the infection still or rather the reaction on my skin post cellulitis infection? It might just be the water build up in my lower legs affecting the skin colour. This is really frustrating not knowing and the GP wasn’t fully sure either. He said the fact my leg marked up a pale colour when he touched it, makes him think the infection has now passed. Nevertheless, as the hospital Consultant asked for me to have another week on the Clindamycin antibiotic, then I was given another week’s course of these. I told him about the hospital doc suggesting Gabapentin to me to help the leg burning, but he said this is a drug with many nasty side effects and we should weigh everything up after finishing the Clindamycin.

Regarding me getting help with the lymphoedema, he agreed to refer me to Lymphoedema Clinic at The Royal Oldham Hospital. He did however cast great doubt as to how helpful and cooperative the reply might be. For instance, he said there was only one nurse for this condition in the whole of Oldham and she mainly saw just women who had it as a side effect of having breast cancer treatment. He wasn’t sure they/she would agree to even see me given this, but he would try. I was staggered at this because on route for my leg scan I came across a Lymphoedema Clinic signpost at the hospital. Surely the Lympthoedema Clinic at the hospital must have more than one single nurse/health care professional under it’s wing……….musn’t it, time will tell I guess?

So, what is the plan of action then?Like I’ve said, first I need to get fully rid of this cellulitis. Only then can I start having leg massaging and hopefully get rid of this built-up fluid. It’s so frustrating not knowing if the cellulitis has gone or not. A few days ago my legs looked the best they ever have been since first starting with it. I woke up today a bit depressed though because the legs were stinging a bit and they were redder than they had been a few days ago. I have an appointment with a GP tomorrow to discuss this with him. My head says I just want one more course of the Clindamycin to be absolutely sure that the infection/cellulitis has gone. If I get them massaged and it hasn’t gone then this will lead to dire consequences as I’ve already said. I’m still at the very early stages about finding information about Lympthoedema. The GP and bits that I’ve read, both indicate it can not be cured but can be managed effectively(I pray).  I have read such treatment options include massaging(drainage), wearing compression socks, exercising and keeping the affected skin areas nice and moisturised. I’ve googled and found a few local places that do this lymphatic drainage. I found the LYMPTHOEDEMA SUPPORT NETWORK and they have sent me an introductory information pack in the post. I have also found a helpline to ring up, so fingers crossed speaking to a knowledgeable person about it soon will help reassure me that all is not as bad as I greatly feared it was this time last week. I then have another appointment with different GP booked in two weeks time just in case this appointment tomorrow doesn’t go satisfactory, and also in case the cellulitis comes back. I just need to be able to start tackling the lympthoedema more head-on to then start feeling better about it all psychologically. Buying the compression socks, seeing somebody for lymphatic drainage, only then will I stop feeling like the victim and that LARRY LYMPHODEMA IS NO LONGER GIVING ME A BLOODY GOOD KICKING!!!!!