Tag: lymphedema massage

Wenzda’s Wandering Thoughts

“Watch out for those stairs.”

My wife and her friend are telling me this. Going down some steps, I’m wearing the blue and white flat sandals forced on me by my lymphedema wraps around my feet and lower legs. They’re a little clumsy to walk in but after five days, I have the measure of them.

“Be careful,” they tell me, hovering around me like I’m a toddler taking their first steps.

“Watch the snow and ice,” they proclaim as I step outside. “There’s a clearer path over there.”

Their concern strikes me as condescending. I mean, they’re with me for ten minutes; what do they think I’m doing for the other twenty-three hours and fifty minutes of the day?

“Are you okay to drive?” one asks me.

I smile and nod. I mean, I drove over there. I’ve been driving every day with these things on several times per day. Really, their concern says more about them and their fears and worries than it says about me and my condition.

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Health Update

Went for my lymphedema massage assessment the other day. Wednesday. This was driven by my ankle surgery. My edema causes too much swelling for my surgically debrided tendon to fully heal. In their assessment, the sharp young Anastasia declared I had “secondary lymphedema stage 2” because my swelling wasn’t going down overnight. In her notes, she wrote, “Patient currently lacks the knowledge and ability to independently manage current symptoms for this chronic progressive condition.”

Well, WTF. I was insulted. And pissed.

Which was the kick in the ass I needed. I commenced wearing my compression socks almost 24/7. Rested on my back with legs elevated three times a day for twenty minutes at a time yesterday. Increased my exercise and took up the intensity. And increased hydration yet more.

It paid off. This morning, the swelling in my feet, ankles, and calves had dropped. My legs, ankles and feet all had re-assumed their normal size and shape. Sure, it’s temporary, because, as I go through the day, the swelling will commence. I’m wearing my compression socks, though. And, I’ll need to continue to deeply hydrate, elevate my legs, and exercise.

“Lacks knowledge and ability to independently manage current symptoms.” Hah. I’ll show them. I begin my Complex decongestive therapy (CDT) next month. Monday, Wednesday, Friday for four weeks. Two things to cheer: the service is available to me and my insurance covers it.

Here we go.

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