ME : “Hi, it’s Andrew Lloyd”

Therapist : “Hello, do you want to take your shoes off before coming through”

Now, I will be honest with you and say that this request here to take my shoes off did take me slightly by surprise.  Half of me thought about my OCD and how I would rather have kept them on.  The other half of me perhaps somewhat bizarrely, instantly thought of Karl Pilkington and him taking his shoes off when he went to see some Tibetan Monks once. As I duly walked towards the treatment room(now trainerless), I wondered just what exactly the world of Holistic Therapy had in store for me!

Just over a year ago I was diagnosed with suspected lymphoedema in both my lower legs.  After doing some horror research about this condition, I discovered that a massage called MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) existed which was said to help manage the symptoms/swelling.  Not many therapists are trained in this technique but finally I found a woman near me who was.  I have come close to going for my first treatment session numerous times before but a few things kept preventing me from going. Finally, one day last week I got there at long last.  Prior to going, there was this long drawn out confusion at the hospital whether I definitely had lymphoedema or not so this delayed things.  I also suffer quite badly with OCD at the moment so this kept putting me off too.  Things needed to get moving however with regards to me getting my ONE BILLION health issues improved.  Going for MLD would be the first start in this journey I hoped so I needed to go. I just thought I would share with you how my first experience of MLD went.

After being slightly alarmed at the “can you take your shoes off’ moment”, I quickly started chatting to the lady therapist who quickly put me at ease with her friendly manner.  Her first question to me asked why I gone to see her? I gave her the full background story to me having lymphoedema, whereas upon finishing my tale I realised just a few words would have sufficed(by her facial reaction) ha ha. What can I say, I am guilty of being a chatterbox. My motto in life is, ‘why only use five words to say something when FIVE HUNDRED will do instead’ ha ha ha(my own made up life motto).

She then explained to me how MLD was a really gentle type of massage.  Lymphatic fluid is this milky type of substance that is pivotal for a healthy functioning body.  She told me how your lymph lands/fluid help fight infections as well as deal with body waste.   The massaging would firstly begin on my face. After this she informed me she would then work on my legs.  I also remember her saying how you have two massive lymph glands in your chest area. The lymphatic fluid sits beneath the skin before you get to the muscles, bones, etc.  She went to put some PANPIPE music on and then hey presto we were away!

My initial reaction to the MLD was……IS THAT IT, DON’T YOU NEED TO PRESS HARDER??? In polite vocal terms I translated this as, “oh, it works even though you’re only pressing ever so lightly does it”? She answered that it was indeed only a very light massage where she is trying to get the lymphatic fluid moving beneath the skin.  In total she massaged my skin for about thirty minutes. Her fingers pushing my skin upwards rather than down. It was quite relaxing as well as being completely painless.  I did get all very ticklish though when she started putting her hands on my feet, this and when her fingers got up near ‘the essential selection’ if you get me ha ha. I better clarify this and say this was when she maneuvered the tops of my shorts as she massaged one of my upper thighs.

Thirty minutes of her gently massaging me and that was first of my experience of Manual Lymphatic Drainage over and done with.  Unknowingly, I think I have had lymphoedema for many years before I finally became aware of it. Therefore, when she had finished I told her that I did not expect miracles after only my first session.  She said there was no set formula to how many appointments a person needs.  Some need more than others she continued to say.  I am going to try it five times close together to see if it does any good before I think about going less frequently. I have a pelvic problem too that I want to start having physiotherapy for.

If I am honest, I do not think my first go at MLD helped the lymphoedema in my lower legs whatsoever.  I guess I am slightly disappointed about this but then again I have to keep reminding myself that it was ONLY MY FIRST GO AT IT.  Currently I cannot cope wearing compression stockings due to the tightness of them aggravating my sciatica and inflamed pelvic floor muscles.  This fact is constantly worrying me at the back of mind.  I  really need the MLD to help things a bit by itself, rather than only working if I wear compression garments too.  If MLD only helps lymphoedema in conjunction with compression then I have a problem.  On this subject, yesterday I nevertheless managed to wear a knee sock for about nine hours on my left leg(the worse lymphoedema leg). Only towards me going to bed did it start to hurt my pelvis.  Today my pelvis is rather sore presumably due to the tight sock but at least it has not made my sciatica much worse.

There we are then, that was my first voyage into the world of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Holistic Therapy.  It was a worthwhile exercise I think and one that I will be repeating again very soon.  I would best describe it as a ‘massage with not much pressure’………but just watch out FOR THE ODD TICKLE NEAR THE GROIN!!!