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Hi Maria,

where are you in U.K? not everywhere has a clinic for lymphoedema and some only treat cancer related. Where I am we have a good service at the local hospice although the support stockings I believe now have to be got on prescription where before they were sent for by the clinic and were free.

Lynora knows such a lot re Lymphoedema I am sure she will put you on the right track.

Michelle.

Marmite - I have PM'd you.
L x

Hi, I'm new to this site and to posting and having read all the posts it seems that no one has written on the ecurring board since 2008 so I thought it had better be a new post.
I first had the dreaded cellulitus in October 1988, 6 months after my son died so thereby assuming my immune systems were low at the time, as I have since learnt the classic symptons shakes, cold, fever within an hour of onset, leg hot and extremely swollen, doctor called prescribed antibiotics for 2 weeks, called again but nothing other than antibiotics. After 2 weeks went on hols. New doctor came out had a fit, more antibiotics and scan. anyway took 6 weeks to reduce but left permanently swollen and with a red mark on it which gradually faded with age. Within a year the other leg went but no quite so badly. Visited the lymphoedema clinic but was miles away and no suggestions of home visits or any help so unable to go back at the time. Changed surgeries but no GP's particularly interested or knowledgable and just keep a supply of antibiotics to hand and have had recurring attacks of various intensities over the past 20 years. Rarely get a fever now but know the signs so well. Leg is permantly swollen and damaged. all the answers I have had are as someone else said--it's something you have to live with!!
Until now didn't even know about MLD being an option.
Am in the process of the latest attack on the original leg and have been taking the presciibed 500mg of Flucoxacillen for 8 days now, as happened as we went away, but although it doesn't hurt the red patches don't seem to be decreasing this time infact they maybe increasing instead.
Having read everything on these pages would love some other opinions on what to do and also does anyone know if it's possible to see this Professor Mortimer outside the London area as everyone he treats seems to speak well of him?
I'm 61 and overwieght now, wasn't really 22 years ago on first attack, and am just so fed up with this bout and the never knowing when another will happen.
Have a very long suffering husband but I think he would like more information than we have ever manged to get before the use of the computor made it possible to find this forum. 

Maria - I have PM'd you.

I was diagnosed with primary lymphoedema in my left leg when I was 15, 40 years ago, and have never had any treatment for it.  Last November I got cellulitis and was in hospital for two weeks, my ankle and foot was just a mass of blisters and then scabs and it took months to clear up (I was taken into hospital again in January).  There is no lymphoedema clinic where I live and the consultant I saw at the local hospital gave me pressure stockings and told me he had seen much worse on women of my age!  My right leg now has swelling and every morning when i wake up I have swollen hands.  As the consultant does not want to see me again and I am in pain most of the time, how do I get a second opinion?  My GP is very good but does not know what to do next.

A bit late for this discussion, but I found SCUBA diving a 'cure'.   The water pressure doubles in the first 10 metres underwater.   I was diving a lot in the Red Sea but after a couple of weeks, I did not need to use the compression sleeve.    This 'cure' was agreed by the doctor in the decompression chamber in Sharm el Sheikh who had also treated lymphoedema in his clinic.    Unfortunately, if paid for, this treatment is rather expensive.    After 4 years not diving, I think the lymphodoema is slowly returning !

Hi there Thanks Lynora I have been to the docs and am on stronger a/b  i have never seen my legs sooooo enormous i am struggling to bend them   On advice from the lymph clinic i got a chiropodist and he came last week Infection followed and i am wondering if the two things go together  Acouple of the blisters have burst i have put on a little antiseptic and a dry dressing  The doc advised i do not wear the socks until the inflamation goes down so i sitting with my feet up as much as I can I have some new open toed socksand i am dying to try them Thanks for your advice 

I have swelling in both legs but the right leg is still 17% larger than the left.  I also have a 3cm difference in the length of leg which means my stockings need to be specially measured every 6 months.  They are also marked with a big L and R so that I dont get mixed up   

Recommend you try and get to see either your clinic or your GP asap - you may need stronger A/Bs.  Don't be tempted to scratch the little blisters!

 Hi there I have managed my lymph quite well taking antibiotics when needed andexercising and doing everything that i should I admit i have been on my feet more than usual as I have a silver wedding celebration coming up  This last weekend my legs havechanged to looking enormous I wear wide leg trousers as the norm but these are getting tighter I reckon they are half their size again They are slightly pink and I have taken my strong antibiotics after ringing the clinic Ther are also a few small blisters on the fromt of my leg Any advice would be great please  Thank you