We are fortunate to live near the NYC VA hospital. They gave my husband a Flexitone device, which we were tutored in how to properly use. By a wonderful technical/medic who came to the house and got us 'up and running'. So, 3x a week, hubby uses this, with his leg elevated. On non device days, I have been taught a special massage technique which will add another facet to the treatment. And oils to help the skin, and assist in lymphatic drainage. It is also true that a family member on board can be extremely helpful. I am happy to help my husband, and along with diet and lifestyle changes, we may actually be able to reverse some of this. Or at he very least, keep him comfortable and, symptoms diminished..
AMEN❣️May God Continue to Bless Ms. Bates. I love how she shares her wisdom with all of us. Today’s Lymphedema awareness day, March 6….Jesus We Trust In You❣️🥰📿 My name is Luisa, & my husband’s name is George, & we both have Lymphedema.
Kathy, thanks for bring awareness to this disease. I have this and have great doctors, but the winter is coming, the pain is bad and I keep going but I just can't get anyone to understand the need for pain meds for these months. Thank you for putting a face on this.
Penny, I'm a follow lymphedema sufferer. Before I was diagnosed my legs were so swollen and I had open sores and in alot of pain. Once I was hospitalized and given iv antibiotics. Once I changed my diet drink water, wear my compression wraps and do physical therapy and keep my legs elevated. I have alot less pain. I hope this helps.
My bone of contention is that my doctors have not explained what’s going on, and it’s getting progressively worse. Now, I’m stressing out about what are the future effects of this issue and is there treatment. So far, anything I’ve learned has been from RUclips, thank you for sharing your experience and information. The advice I receive, which I get for practically every health issue from which I suffer, is the usual patented advice eat healthy, exercise, and wear compression socks, end of story.
I was just diagnosed with stage 4 lymphedema this month after 7 years of asking doctors "What's wrong with my legs?". I've already got a 3"x3" open sore on my left shin and yesterday two started on that lower calf. So, yes, doctors, GP's and even Internists, sorely lack even basic study of the lymphatic system and its problems.
I have stage 4 too because no one in the medical field helped me until it got impossible to ignore. Until I was leaking from both legs. The only thing that helps me is two leg lifter cubes that inflate to elevate my legs way above the heart. I elevate them 2 x per day and I force myself to walk. No matter how uncomfortable it is. My skin on my legs is finally coming back normal but you have to eat a certain way. I follow a strict no salt or low sodium diet. I drink water. I stay low carb and no sugar. Fresh food only no processed foods. I don't smoke or drink or do drugs I never did.
No one ever told me I had it for years until I swelled so badly my skin broke and I began to leak. It took three years of going to every Dr who knew ane ything to get help. Two month long hospitalizations after life threatening infections someone in the medical profession helped me. I still can't get compression garments covered by insurance.
I have Tarda Lympedema and I have had this for over 10 yrs now and sadly I live everyday using Fentanyl patches to cope with the chronic pain that cut my life to a stand still and took away my freedom, my Independence, my confidence, destroyed a 14 yr relationship.. WHY can't DOctors ADMIT thier Ignorance why ca't they Do BETTER training in new doctors about this WHY can't Better help be given to people like me who can longer even function in society because they have NO HELP FOR ME?
Kathy I’m so happy I found these video were I have learned so much about emphysema. I Sean so many many Drs and they never told me I had lymphedema. They told me I was eating to much and that I was obese I got so upset at him because I was eating healthy and exercising and walking every day. So I didn’t know why I was gaining weight every day and my left side started getting swollen and more swollen ever day From head to toe. So I decided to move into the Dallas area where I I could maybe fine a good Dr found a primary doctor that told me I think you’ll have them Fatima. I answered what the heck is lymphedema. She told me I think it’s too sure when you had your cancer people usually get lymphedema after cancer treatment chemotherapy or radiation specially when they take out the lymph nodes. From your body. So I said oh OK so then I have lymphedema because the doctor took out lymph nodes are you this time I was very very angry to find out what I hat. And after I found out exactly the symptoms of lymphedema I was furious very very very very angry. Income to know that these doctors don’t know much about lymphedema right now I am still looking for a good doctor that knows about lymphedema. I really need to find a good doctor that can take care of me and tell me what to do with this lymphedema my primary doctor did send me to therapy I am still going to therapy. But Therapy only helps while there because once I get home and start walking around start trying to do what I need to do at home everything flares up where I have to sit down and rest. I want to find out where can I find a great surgeon to do these lymphedema surgery maybe just maybe this can help me a lot more I’m in the Dallas area.
Kathy you are awesome! Thank you for everything that you do! I also have secondary Lymphedema in my left leg from cancer surgery. I live in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and I am on the board of directors of the Lymphedema Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, this is our Facebook page ( facebook.com/lymphnl/) . Please check us out! We are trying our very best to get the raise the awareness of Lymphedema. You are an inspiration ! Thank you so much. Elaine Kennedy
You have to do your own research these days it seems. I have pulmonary oedema and lymphoedema so have to almost sit up in bed so I can breathe and am told to raise up my legs to drain them of lymph. I get backache. I think mine stems from only being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at the age of 65 after being retired for depression at 47. I also have psoriasis, diagnosed at 22. One thing I noticed at the age of 81 is that as my old amalgam felt out of my teeth, my psoriasis cleared up. My first filling preceeded my psoriasis diagnosis. I only have that on one elbow now. Is dentistry filling with mercury amalgams one of the things to blame in my case?
I had a. Mammogram and 2 months. Later I was diagnosed with lymphedema and I'm a stylist my arm hurts so bad n breast cancer has left me not wanting to go on .My life is ruined
Thank God for you Kathy!
Keep up the great work, Kathy.
We are fortunate to live near the NYC VA hospital. They gave my husband a Flexitone device, which we were tutored in how to properly use. By a wonderful technical/medic who came to the house and got us 'up and running'. So, 3x a week, hubby uses this, with his leg elevated. On non device days, I have been taught a special massage technique which will add another facet to the treatment. And oils to help the skin, and assist in lymphatic drainage. It is also true that a family member on board can be extremely helpful. I am happy to help my husband, and along with diet and lifestyle changes, we may actually be able to reverse some of this. Or at he very least, keep him comfortable and, symptoms diminished..
God bless Kathy Bates
AMEN❣️May God Continue to Bless Ms. Bates. I love how she shares her wisdom with all of us. Today’s Lymphedema awareness day, March 6….Jesus We Trust In You❣️🥰📿 My name is Luisa, & my husband’s name is George, & we both have Lymphedema.
Kathy, thanks for bring awareness to this disease. I have this and have great doctors, but the winter is coming, the pain is bad and I keep going but I just can't get anyone to understand the need for pain meds for these months. Thank you for putting a face on this.
Penny, I'm a follow lymphedema sufferer. Before I was diagnosed my legs were so swollen and I had open sores and in alot of pain. Once I was hospitalized and given iv antibiotics. Once I changed my diet drink water, wear my compression wraps and do physical therapy and keep my legs elevated. I have alot less pain. I hope this helps.
My bone of contention is that my doctors have not explained what’s going on, and it’s getting progressively worse. Now, I’m stressing out about what are the future effects of this issue and is there treatment. So far, anything I’ve learned has been from RUclips, thank you for sharing your experience and information. The advice I receive, which I get for practically every health issue from which I suffer, is the usual patented advice eat healthy, exercise, and wear compression socks, end of story.
I was just diagnosed with stage 4 lymphedema this month after 7 years of asking doctors "What's wrong with my legs?". I've already got a 3"x3" open sore on my left shin and yesterday two started on that lower calf. So, yes, doctors, GP's and even Internists, sorely lack even basic study of the lymphatic system and its problems.
I have stage 4 too because no one in the medical field helped me until it got impossible to ignore. Until I was leaking from both legs. The only thing that helps me is two leg lifter cubes that inflate to elevate my legs way above the heart. I elevate them 2 x per day and I force myself to walk. No matter how uncomfortable it is. My skin on my legs is finally coming back normal but you have to eat a certain way. I follow a strict no salt or low sodium diet. I drink water. I stay low carb and no sugar. Fresh food only no processed foods. I don't smoke or drink or do drugs I never did.
No one ever told me I had it for years until I swelled so badly my skin broke and I began to leak. It took three years of going to every Dr who knew ane ything to get help. Two month long hospitalizations after life threatening infections someone in the medical profession helped me. I still can't get compression garments covered by insurance.
I have Tarda Lympedema and I have had this for over 10 yrs now and sadly I live everyday using Fentanyl patches to cope with the chronic pain that cut my life to a stand still and took away my freedom, my Independence, my confidence, destroyed a 14 yr relationship.. WHY can't DOctors ADMIT thier Ignorance why ca't they Do BETTER training in new doctors about this WHY can't Better help be given to people like me who can longer even function in society because they have NO HELP FOR ME?
Kathy I’m so happy I found these video were I have learned so much about emphysema. I Sean so many many Drs and they never told me I had lymphedema. They told me I was eating to much and that I was obese I got so upset at him because I was eating healthy and exercising and walking every day. So I didn’t know why I was gaining weight every day and my left side started getting swollen and more swollen ever day From head to toe. So I decided to move into the Dallas area where I I could maybe fine a good Dr found a primary doctor that told me I think you’ll have them Fatima. I answered what the heck is lymphedema. She told me I think it’s too sure when you had your cancer people usually get lymphedema after cancer treatment chemotherapy or radiation specially when they take out the lymph nodes. From your body. So I said oh OK so then I have lymphedema because the doctor took out lymph nodes are you this time I was very very angry to find out what I hat. And after I found out exactly the symptoms of lymphedema I was furious very very very very angry. Income to know that these doctors don’t know much about lymphedema right now I am still looking for a good doctor that knows about lymphedema. I really need to find a good doctor that can take care of me and tell me what to do with this lymphedema my primary doctor did send me to therapy I am still going to therapy. But Therapy only helps while there because once I get home and start walking around start trying to do what I need to do at home everything flares up where I have to sit down and rest. I want to find out where can I find a great surgeon to do these lymphedema surgery maybe just maybe this can help me a lot more I’m in the Dallas area.
Kathy you are awesome! Thank you for everything that you do!
I also have secondary Lymphedema in my left leg from cancer surgery.
I live in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and I am on the board of directors of the Lymphedema Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, this is our Facebook page (
facebook.com/lymphnl/) . Please check us out! We are trying our very best to get the raise the awareness of Lymphedema.
You are an inspiration ! Thank you so much. Elaine Kennedy
Thank you .she did too much to me 27 lymp nodes due to cancer .Double masecetomy😢😢
“THEY LISTENED!”
You have to do your own research these days it seems. I have pulmonary oedema and lymphoedema so have to almost sit up in bed so I can breathe and am told to raise up my legs to drain them of lymph. I get backache. I think mine stems from only being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease at the age of 65 after being retired for depression at 47. I also have psoriasis, diagnosed at 22.
One thing I noticed at the age of 81 is that as my old amalgam felt out of my teeth, my psoriasis cleared up. My first filling preceeded my psoriasis diagnosis. I only have that on one elbow now. Is dentistry filling with mercury amalgams one of the things to blame in my case?
I had a. Mammogram and 2 months. Later I was diagnosed with lymphedema and I'm a stylist my arm hurts so bad n breast cancer has left me not wanting to go on .My life is ruined