Conditions
Lymphoedema
Lymphoedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissue – most often in the arms and the legs, though it can also affect the rest of the body. It is caused by disruption to the lymphatic system, a network of ducts that help fight infections in the body and drains away excess fluid. It can be inherited, but can also be brought on by treatments for cancer, radiotherapy, inflammation and certain cardiovascular diseases. Treatment is complicated, and can involve manually draining the affected area by means of massage or bandaging, but recently there has been a breakthrough in surgical treatments for the condition, utilising liposuction to remove excess fat and reduce the swelling. Though this treatment is still unproven in the long-term, it has been cleared for NHS use.
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i have had primary lymphoedema in both of my legs from the knee down since i was 13. i am now nearly 17 and it has got worse. my GP sent me to a specalist and all he told me was to wear hoisery. as i am still at school, this has been quite embarrassing with other children staring and asking lots of questions. if anyone has any advice it would be gratefully recieved.
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
my 4mth old daughter was diagnosed with a genetic condition 'turners syndrome' at birth. one of the symptoms is lymphoedema in hands and feet. i have been told from gp the this may decrease once she starts walking etc but have been told by other ts women it needs to be dealt with asap by massage etc. is this right?
yeah it does and they will also give her hoisery to wear to be carefull in hot weather iv suffered with the condition for 17years
i have several lumps under my arm pit some are painful what could they be?
I have had swollen feet and ankles since the age of 19,this gets much worse in the warm weather to the point that it is really uncomfortable and I cant get my shoes on. I have had tests for sugar/kidney and thyroid and these all came back normal. My doctor said my body just retains water. Surely there must be some sort of problem that can be corrected? I have to wear pants all the time as I hate the way I look. The swelling does go down when I have been to bed during to night.
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I have seen that it is possible to have liposuction for the treatment of lymphoedema, I have had this condition for 4 years and tried all the conventioal and alternative treatments and it has not helped. I really enjoy clothes so this has had a really difficult effect on what I wear, and do. I have spoken to my GP about this alternative treatment and he has suggested that I ask for more information and where it could be done. I live in Lincolnshire. Please would someone reply to me as soon as possible to my email as well.
with reference to my previous comment on lymphoedema, i would really love to hear a professional comment as i feel this is a very important issue for me. can someone please help me. kind regards
To vitually all of the comments above, insist your doctor refers you on, preferably to a lymphoedema clinic.There is no magic pill for this condition but compression stockings would make your legs much more supported. If you are very lucky you may get Manual Lymphatic Drainage on the NHS ( I say MAY!)and if your limbs are too distorted for compression stockings initially you may get bandaging before hand. This bandaging usually lasts for two weeks ideally everyday with MLD inbetween. it is not comfortable. In my case was every other day with no MLD but it has improved the shape, reduced the swelling and I now wear compression stockings like tights every day. It certainly helps and no more diuretics after 40 odd years of being fobbed off. I've had it sice I was 13 (Primary) but didn't find out about the diagnosis until last year. I am now 62. Stand up for yourself and demand a second opinion.
I run a specialist lymphoedema clinic in Lincolnshire and Devon. Liposuction for lymphoedema should only be considered when other more conservative treatment methods have been exhausted [manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy.] Even then, only certain tissue types will be suitable for such radical treatment and following this sort of therapy compression will need to be worn day and night to maintain results. Compliance with hosiery is therefore of paramount importance when considering liposuction. This sort of treatment would need to be carried out by a surgeon who specialises in lymphoedema as lymphoedema tissue will respond differently to normal, healthy tissue. I would advise caution before considering surgery. If you would like to explore more conservative treatment methods and attend my clinic for an assessment i would be more than happy to do this for you on a free basis.
Hi i was diagnosed with Lipodema about 6 montha ago a similar condition to lymphadema except it occurs in both limbs, I also have it in my stomach. Just thought i would share my experience. I get a treatment called Manual Lymph Drainage on my legs, arms and stomach 4 times a week. At the end of my sessions i wear bandages on one limb for 24 hours and then go back for more treatment. Within the 24hrs the fluid reduces dramatically. I also will be measured for compression garmets which i will have to wear all the time. These aparantly reduce the fluid even more. I am only being treated for 4 weeks now so far and i have seen huge improvement on both my legs, stomach and arms. This treatment is apparently used for lymphadema aswell and does give results.
I have Lipodema also in my legs. How do you cope, I can't stand it and have been told there is nothing that can be done. Was also told MLD would be a waste of time.
Hi Clarissa Try not to get disheartened, doctors that i spoke to about my weight gain put it down to over eating and lack of excercise. Lipodema is not a well know condition especially here in Ireland so genuiely in my experience doctors dont seem to know much about it if anything at all. I have the same diet as my whole family and im the only "BIG" person in it. I played sport religiously for years like them and still the weight piled on. What i did Clarissa was, i decided myself that something was wrong and I needed to do something about it. I typed in MLD into google and a whole page of Manual Lymph Drainage Therapists came up, I contacted one and now regularly get treatment. After the MLD the therapist puts bandages from my tight to my foot and i leave them on for 24hrs, when i return for more treatment a few days later the therapist measures my legs and they have reduced dramatically. I now wear compression garments everyday and i have lost loads of weight off my legs, arms, stomach and buttocks and the fluid seems to be reducing still. I now only have to get treatment once a week instead of 4, so MLD is definitely helping me and something i suggest you try. I used to be very unhappy about having lipodema but since ive seen results I can now cope with it and get on with my life. Hope everything goes well for you Clarissa, if you need to know anything else just ask.
Hi Clarissa Try not to get disheartened, doctors that i spoke to about my weight gain put it down to over eating and lack of excercise. Lipodema is not a well know condition especially here in Ireland so genuiely in my experience doctors dont seem to know much about it if anything at all. I have the same diet as my whole family and im the only "BIG" person in it. I played sport religiously for years like them and still the weight piled on. What i did Clarissa was, i decided myself that something was wrong and I needed to do something about it. I typed in MLD into google and a whole page of Manual Lymph Drainage Therapists came up, I contacted one and now regularly get treatment. After the MLD the therapist puts bandages from my tight to my foot and i leave them on for 24hrs, when i return for more treatment a few days later the therapist measures my legs and they have reduced dramatically. I now wear compression garments everyday and i have lost loads of weight off my legs, arms, stomach and buttocks and the fluid seems to be reducing still. I now only have to get treatment once a week instead of 4, so MLD is definitely helping me and something i suggest you try. I used to be very unhappy about having lipodema but since ive seen results I can now cope with it and get on with my life. Hope everything goes well for you Clarissa, if you need to know anything else just ask.
i have a swollen stomach i have had it for about 4years . last year i went to my gp who sent me for a ultrasound which came back clear . i am 41 years of age and i weight 14 stone . all of my life i weighed 7stone what do u think is wrong . when i went to the hospital the doctor asked if i have had a hystertomy and i said no but forgot to ask him why he asked that question thankyou.
Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/
My 17 month old son has this condition. He had it from birth but then it went away. When he was 6 months it came back again. He suffers from no pain with this and it does not hinder him in any way. We had numerous hospital visits before they diagnosed him. His foot and calf were very swollen.His skin didnt change,it didnt turn blue or red like some comments have reported. Our last visit to the hospital my son was fitted with an elasticated bandage which puts pressure on the swollen areas. My son has to ware this all the time, but taken off at bedtime. Swimming also helps this condition and on our next visit to the hospital they are going to show us a massaging technique. My son can where normal shoes or trainers. The pressure from these will help the swelling of the foot. It has been 7 months since my soon first wore the bandage and the swelling has gone down loads. Our next appointment is april. Hopefully we can move on to the next stage of treatment then.
my mum possiblie has this condition but in her arm but her arm has gone really hairy like a monkey does any one else have this problem
Hi I've had this condition for years. I'm having MLD at bandaging at the moment which is helping. My lympho arm has become extra hairy. My lympho nurse says it could indicate a tiny blockage in the lymph modes under my arm. I'd suggest your mum gets her arm checked out by a dr.
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