Thank you for your kind words. Yes the problem is still ongoing.
I think you are most probably right about the ‘cost cutting’. The last doctor I saw in May said that it was damage from the rads and also from the surgery and that how it is now is probably how it will remain.
I’ve made the decision to live with it. I feel that I just want to move away from it all now. It’s 19 months since I finished treatment. Time to move on.
With out going into any detail the past few months have been a nightmare with problems with my personal life. What’s happened has really made the BC pale into insignificance.
I’m now going to get on with my life. I’m so lucky that I have really good friends a lovely son and daughter in law and a brand new grandson… and of course the swimming challenge to keep me busy.
Keep up the good work. Your posts are always so informative and so helpful. I love reading them.
Thank you for all the time you take to find out the facts for us all.
Sorry to hear that not only bc but other problems have been making your life so miserable. But it’s good to know you have a lovely family and wonderful friends. And, as you say, the swimming.
Thank you for your kind words about my posts…I’ve been trying to rein in my tendency to rant a bit lately…!!!
Take care
X
S
PS Have just started a new thread in this Category called ‘Bras, camis…’ (forget the rest!) which might interest you.
Thanks for that Bahons2. I’ve looked at the thread. I’ve seen the camis for sale and wondered if they’re any different to wearing a bra. I think I might invest in one to try.
Do keep ranting because it makes us all feel better when we have a rant.
Anyway to get back to the swimming which is what this thread is all about.
I spoke to my BCN last week and asked about swimming and if there was any particular stroke which should be avoided. She said that all swimming is good, even just swishing your arms about in the water is beneficial.
I asked my old (as in former) lymphoedema therapist this question, and here’s her reply…
…‘Swimming… it hasn’t been documented what would be best but from my understanding, breast stroke ( as long as you are not putting too much strain on your neck) and back stroke would be good – more the sort of back float rather than the arms up stroke!! The point of it is that you have the lymphoedema area in the water to have the added tissue pressure on the skin whilst exercising. So if you are experiencing swelling under the arms and in the thorax then back swimming would be best, or arm swelling needs breast stroke.’
Hi all - just had an opinion about this from a lymphoedema physio friend in Australia.
She said:
“Re swimming. Overuse of any one muscle group is the problem!!! With that in mind it is best to alternate between crawl ( the best I think) and backstroke or sculling on your back. This has your arms out at the side while you are on your back and accommodates stiff shoulders. Also add in a bit of sidestroke and what I call big dogpaddle where the hand goes out the front just under the surface and then down and pulls back. The most important sign is NO aching of muscles after exercise!!! When one does too much the muscles complain with soreness and aching that is not relieved by stretching”
I haven’t been on here for a while as I returned to work in Feb after chemo and rads.However,I seem to have found a strange cure for lymphoedoema.I fell and broke my arm 4 weeks ago and the swelling has gone for the first time in a year.I’m not sure Iwould suggest such radical treatment though!I am very bemused and wonder if it’s gone for good.Incidentally,I swim regularly:breast and backstroke.
Actually.A & E never put me in plaster because of the lympho,but arranged for me to see a specialist first.He said that a cast wasn’t good for an elbow fracture,so I only had a sling.I’ve been using my compression sleeve for a bit of support and just tried to be careful of any movement.It looks odd to have a thin wrist again,although my fingers are still a bit swollen.Maybe my tan is making it look slimmer though!
Aren’t we so grateful for small improvements now?
I wonder if your arm is in the optimum position for draining (apart from above your head!) or perhaps the sling taking the weight of it over to the other side is freeing up the drainage in your axilla…
That’s very interesting re your elbow fracture Weetricia. I have always wondered and worried about what would happen if I broke my lymphoedema arm as my gut feeling is that a plaster would be terrible for it. It’s good that A+E did take your lymphoedema into consideration - that’s my other worry, that A+E/orthopaedic docs would have no understanding of how awful lymphoedema is.
Rowena x
Rowena - I broke my wrist a while ago and I was worried about the lymphodema. The lymphodema clinic told me not to worry as the plaster had the same effect as wearing the elasticated stocking. I was only to worry if the plaster got too tight and then I was to have it cut to release the pressure. It never became too tight and when the plaster came off my lymphodema was a lot better.
This thread is so interesting as it is just the debate I’ve had. Last year swimming in the sea triggered my lymphodema so I was worried about making it worse this summer; I made sure I didn’t over use my arm by kicking on my back or skulling and it seems to have built up my arm stamina without negative effects. I wonder if last year I just expected too much of my arm as I hadn’t been swimming since surgery 6 months earlier. I asked a lympho specialist at my BC support group about wearing sleeves in the water and she seemed more concerned about the effect of the chlorine on the sleeve! Feels great to be able to enjoy the water again and I also stopped wearing my swimming prothesis as I decided I looked like a squashed sausage in my wet suit anyway so an uneven chest didn’t make much difference! I’m not sure if I’m brave enough to do without in my local pool… I’ve come back from holiday determind to build up my fitness and try and shift some of the flab I’ve accumulated in the last year.
