My name is Lillian. In December of 1998, I opted to have ultrasonic liposuction for my flabby upper arms. Three days after the surgery, my right hand swelled up quite a bit, but I was told by the surgeon that this was normal lymphatic draining and things would be ok.
In July 1999 I took a plane to Washington DC. The next day, while climbing the stairs at Arlington Cemetary, my hands became really swollen, tight and painful. White knuckles. I was concerned. My friend thought it was the heat. I thought it was the salty food I was eating.
I continued to swell when I returned home.The first doctor I saw diagnosed me with bilateral arm lymphedema, as a complication of liposuction. I cannot tell you the range of emotions that I went through when I learned that I had gotten LE from an elective surgery. It was really hard to deal with.
Because I needed more answers, I went to a vascular surgeon who diagnosed me again with it and told me that it was a direct complication of the liposuction.
Proof, I needed more than that. I went to another vascular specialist, who ordered a lymph xray. The results came back abnormally low. The diagnosis was valid. 4/19/2000 was that day I received the diagnosis.
This month, my husband and I bought an edema pump for me. It is helping. I am struggling with medical care because it seems that the physician and specialist I see prefer that I be the doctor and they listen and do what I say. Some patients like this. I prefer direction. I realize it is unfamiliar territory for many physicians. I think doctors that make it their business to learn lymphedema are going to be booked solid in their practices.
I am new to the lymphedema diagnosis. My physical therapist is ordering wraps for me for overnight and I hope that the insurance will cover them. They covered 10 PT visits and that is it. No more. After that, I'm on my own, so to speak. That's why I had to get the pump and learn MLD on my own. I have learned the patient's version. So, I wear nothing on my arms during the day, pump at night and then bandage.
I forgot to mention that I was initially given some sleeves to wear after my diagnosis but my PT told me to take them off because they didn't have handpieces. Apparently, wearing sleeves without handpieces can push the edema into the hands.
These days, I spend a lot of time talking to liposuction hopefuls on the net, and I encourage them to bring up lymphedema with their surgeons prior to surgery. I was able to confirm that I do not have a primary case of it. Two physicians I have spoken with alluded to the new ultrasonic method being a big problem.
I hope that, should you read this story, you let your friends know about lymphedema, so you can ask before surgery, whether it be cosmetic, breast surgery or cesarean. Be informed. I wish I had been told about it. Now, I try to spread the word.
Thanks for listening.
Lillian