Recently, I have been going through aggressive treatment to curb my Lymphedema. It’s quite an interesting process. To start, I had been referred to 5 doctors, only to be told either I was wasting my time with them or to be referred to someone else. I wound up reading an article on hyperbaric chamber treatments and how they have some affects on Lymphedema. I actually found a place in my hometown that had just opened a hyperbaric treatment center for wounds. I brought the information to my doctor who immediately made an appointment.

After meeting with them, they advised that they were willing to work with me, but insurance and hospital procedures stand in the way. I have to provide them with the articles so they can get my insurance to approve, then they have to get the hospital to approve since it would be an “off label” treatment. They also said I needed to go to Lymphedema clinic to see what they could do. I had been to two already who stated that my legs were too big to wrap, so I was obviously skeptical.

This is a picture of my left leg. As you can see the Lymphedema is quite severe

But I must say, this therapist is actually trying to make it work, we are taking it a little at a time, starting with one on my lower legs and we will eventually move up, and then move to the other leg. We have started to process to get a Lymphedema pod which is best described as a sleeping bag that I insert both legs into and airbags inflate along both my legs to provide pressure and lymph massage.

Another interesting thing that was pointed out was that since I had no surgery or trauma to my legs, that this was actually genetic. I have been predisposed to this all my life. I guess if I had known, I could have tried to prevent it, usually exercise is the best way, but I had no idea and there isn’t a test to determine predisposition, unless someone else in your family has it the same way I got it.

I am also told that losing weight will help. Now, in the size acceptance community, I know this is taboo. But I have stated that sometimes doctors default to weight due to stereotypes, but sometimes they are right. All the evidence I have says they are right. I don’t know how much an effect this will have on me. I am a lap band patient, but I seem to be in a weight loss holding pattern for the last year and a half. Recurring Cellulitis attacks have made getting lap band fills near impossible, as my last attempt to fill resulted in the doctor deflating my band as I could not swallow. I have yet to go back as I fear another attack.

Another shot of my left leg from the side.

I will be looking into HAES a bit more aggressively to see what I can apply to increase my chances of a speedier recovery and continued health. Sometimes you have to suck it up, and in my case, I have to or live with a painful condition that just sucks the quality of my life into a bottomless abyss.

I would like to apologize for my lack of posts over the last year. This disease takes a lot out of me physically and with other projects I am working on, this unfortunately got pushed to the side a bit. I hope to post more frequently soon.

Also, you should all know that this marks my 100th blog post. Thank you for continuing to read it as I do check the numbers all the time and I see you keep coming back. Thank you so much.