Hi all, I had sudden swelling to my left hand about a month ago, all was fine since I was diagnosed i september 2005 but then I had phyisotherapy on my neck , and that night he swelling came.
It is not bad but my bc nurse refered me anyway and they said today that I was lucky to get it deal with straight away. I also have swelling at the top f my arm.
The nurse taped up my arm and also gave me a glove to wear if I dont want to use the tape.
I have been told to wear the glove/ tape for 3 days and then take it off for 48 hours and in that time massage my arm with cream, and also try to go swimming.
Is this what others have been adviced to do?
Also I suffer from very sweaty hands andthe tape that was put on today is already coming off, But I am not keen to were the glove.
I cant belive after all we have been though to then have t go through this I dont want to have to wear something on my hand all time I just want to be a normal 28 year old if you know what I mean.
Does anyone els have sweaty hands and what can u reccomend???
I hope you all have a good Christmas Love Clairemm x x
Hi Claire
Along with the helpful advice you will no doubt receive here, the following link will take you to a publication which you may find helpful to read, it is a factsheet containing information about lymphoedema after treatments for breast cancer:
breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/bcc_lymph06_0.pdf
You are also welcome to contact our specialist nurses if you feel it would help to talk things through, please call our helpline on 0808 800 6000 weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2.
Best wishes
Lucy
Thank you Lucy I will take a look
Love Clairemm x
Hi Claire, so sorry to hear that you have been let in on 'brest cancer’s dirty little secret.
As I understand it, you have swelling at the top of your arm and in your hand? Mine is in both arms (so I wear sleeves, but nothing else) but not my hands, so I haven’t had the same sort of taping and a glove like you, but there may well be someone else on here who has. It sounds as tho’ they are trying to make sure the rest of your arm doesn’t swell, too.
If you hands are making the tape lift perhaps you could ask them to cut fewer, but wider, strips. This has helped me a bit in the past. How well the tape sticks also depends on what what quality/grade they use. There is some brilliant coloured, waterproof, tape which stays put for days. The ‘flesh’ coloured version does not seem to be as good. It is possible to buy your own, higher quality, tape (in fact I’ve heard of this being compulsory in some clinics!) and take it with you to appts.
Swimming is very beneficial for lymphoedema, and moisturising is excellent for reducing the risk of infection in your arm.
I agree, bog standard NHS compression sleeves (is it a Medi you’ve been given?) are ugly as sin. However, it is possible to buy nicer ones on the internet or via a private lymphoedema therapist. Lymphoedema can be expensive!
It’s always as well to bear in mind that unless whoever is treating you has some kind of lymphoedema training and/or qualification, they are unlikely to know much more than you do about triggering it or treating it - and may even know a lot less.
I’m sorry about the sweaty hands - don’t have any suggestions - anyone else?
Bye for now Claire, hope your swelling settles down and you can manage without the glove most of the time.
X
S
Hi Claire
Me too - cant believe it after all the crap we go through and just when you think you can move on - bang this happens. I’m really gutted all I want to do it look like a normal 45 year old, not much chance of that now, one tit, one reconstructed one without its topping!!! and a bloody bandage stuck on your arm. I’m trying to be positive with a sense of humor as this has got me through the rest of the journey.
Try and have a good christmas - stick some tinsel on your glove love!!!
Clare
x