Breast Cancer Now Forum

I haven't been on here in ages, but have to say that I have had my LD in my wrist and hand for over a year now. It was in my forearm too (mildly), but that has gone. It is so mild the LD nurse was dismissive of me, but hey we know and so should she, it is what can happen next that worries us. I no longer wear my sleeve and glove as it makes the hand swell worse. I do believe in kinesio taping though. I think it works. The trouble with the hand is the channels are so fine it is hard to eradicate the lymph. I worry that mine is starting to thicken inside. Just for the record, I think I may have done something silly once to cause this,like too much effort with a blow dry and this is my punishment! It doesnt hurt or feel tight and gets worse if I do scrubbing and gripping. On here is the only place we can really talk about this as it seems so petty, when you show someone and go on about how worried you feel.xx ... View more

I heard that about swimming too. I too live in spain with a pool, but unfortunately as a bad swimmer it didnt seem worth it. Also didnt always have time either.....Hatts that would explain why we both had daily MLD at the start. Here in spain, they work on preventative treatment to eradicate costs later when/if things are bad. it has cooled down this last week or so and I hope that will make a difference to the swelling. The heat was another reason I didnt wear the sleeve in the summer, however my arm didnt get bigger, but when i wore it my hand got worse. ... View more

I found my sleeve and glove just compressed everything into my hand. I do only have it mildly in my hand and wrist. I go with the MLD and Kinesio taping. I had a lot of MLD in the beginning(3 times a week recently and every day in the beginning)but sadly i still have this swelling that wont shift. I reckon a desertspoonful. I bought some kinesio tape online so i could copy the application and do it myself. It is all trial and error and everybody does what they think is right for them. It is good getting other opinions. Good luck ... View more

Hi Andie Sorry you too have to go through this. I too have it very mild mainly hand/wrist. I wear my sleeve as much as possible. Usually when i am active. It is so unattractive and i live in a hot country where i am in sleeveless clothes so much. It is in your best interest to wear it lots. I also have kinesio taping and find it is prob the best thing for taking the lymph out of my hand and doesnt look naff as athletes wear taping. good luck ans as my nurse says do what suits you best xx ... View more

hymil...your "entry level swelling" I like the wording very much. I will be using that phrase myself. ... View more

Caroline...well done on your success at the comp plus meeting that lady must have inspired to continue in your hobby. Things seem sooo conflicting, I am so confused, I dont think the experts really know. Dragon boating "has proved to have benefits for women with lymphedema" and yet it looks a strenuous pulling action and repetitive!! I think i will continue my aerobics (seems boring and safe compared to most on here..lol) I think the trick is dont do anything you previously couldn't do and avoid injury. On the one hand excercise increases the lymph into the arm and thats not good. On the other hand, it helps the muscle push the lymph back up the arm back into the system and that is good!!! It is always interesting to read what people do, it is only us that really know, and we learn from each other. good luck all x ... View more

Hi Elinda I used to do 40 mins a day, then reduced it to 20 for that very reason. Thankyou for mentioning that about the 10 minutes only, I will do just the LD excercises for now and give the other stuff a break. That is the very reason I appreciate this forum. Cheers x ... View more

Hiya Sorry you have to join in on this. I too have it mild, but it is in the wrist and hand, which is more noticeable and as far as i am concerned, harder to shift (it has been 3 months, no change) The puppet above your head wont do any harm at all. It may be that you notice the swelling when walking because you have your hands hanging by your side. perhaps try walking with your hands in your coat pockets. Punching and hitting is a definate no-no. Surprised you werent told to avoid that by your BCN in the first place after your op!! I do combat/ boxing style aerobics, which is quite dancey and am punching nothing but air and that is not sudden, quick or jerky or repetitive. Be kind to yourself and do the excercises the nurse recommended. I wouldn't have thought they were enough. I have sleeve and massage too. Good luck x ... View more

okay will do. That makes sense and will come across alot better..lol Thank you ... View more

I feel I do have to point out that I would never drink salty water as a liver cleanse, (cos think maybe it would be straight back up again)and would only bathe with arm in tepid water, but it seems to have positive effects on people on the lymphnotes.com site. It is to draw the toxins. I am in spain at the moment, so getting hold of the stuff could be tricky. Anybody know the spanish word for Epsom? I will try asking for "sal de epsomo". N.B This experiment could be a long time taking off!!! ... View more

so didnt sign in to find my life changing miracle cure waiting to be read about then...i get so desperate and am willing to try anything. I have heard of the hand held laser and someone near here charges 120 euros an hour for it. I am not fibrotic yet and in fact only 5% increase in overall arm volume, though it is in the wrist and hand which is at least 10%. From the elbow up I am fine. i am nearly 9 stone and should be about 8.2 so have just started (though threatened for ages)to diet. Ironically my wrists and forearms were always considered skinny. I have got disco wings though so maybe losing some of that might help. HOWEVER, i just read on an american ld site that many ladies there have bathed their limb in epsom salts and found a good reduction. They say becausse the toxins are drawn from the skin. Anybody else heard or tried this? ... View more

I dont wear all day, every day. In the morning if i do aerobics (in front of tele), i wear it. Then its off whilst i shower and make-up. Then on as i do housework and all else. As a hairdresser, I feel I have to remove it before i wash hair then back on whilst i blow dry. I think you have to do what is best for yourself. if i go lunch with friends, I tend not to wear it as it is so ugly and also because my arm is not doing any work for the sleeve to compress against. I have tried lazy days where i do little and dont wear the sleeve/glove and find that can be better as it gives my hand a rest from having the lymph squidged to a pad on top of my hand. I too was diagnosed 1st Feb and can see a slight improvement in my wrist and forearm and definately an improvement in my hand.x ... View more

Thank you..Always good to hear an inspiring story. This thing is very depressing. x ... View more

..Some interesting points ladies.The hand/fingers area is definately tricky. Last year I had a bit of swelling round my elbow area and with some gentle massage and going to bed ina tubigrip, it cleared. Perhaps it would have cleared itself anyway.(I hear you all gasp at my diy nursing,but it worked) However, the hand is a more complex area and shows the little bit of fluid that is there, because they are otherwise small and it is not shifting, but.....today I have had a dead lazy day. Feet up,arms rested, minimal/zero work and decided to experiment wiothout the glove/ sleeve and the result is, I end the day with my hand as good as in the morning when I wake up. I will be interested in seeing if tomorrow it is even better. I think I have done more good than harm having a dayy without the sleeve/glove and my hand has had a rest from being squidged. Sal65...very interesting comments, I read it a couple of times.You say "the body is amazing", I too am always in awe of its talents and mechanics to self repair and irradicate foreign bodies and cope despite the abuse it gets from most people, but I look after myself and particulartly my lymph/immune system and help it by having a balanced, alcohol/salt/caffeine free diet and yet it cant seem to irradicate a couple of tablespoons of lymph!! This lymphedema pops up in hours and can take months and months to improve, and by all accounts I should be gettting used to the fact that it may not budge ever. I think I like the idea of a glove that goes to my elbow, might see if I can get one like yours. Thanks ladies x ... View more