need some info

[chloe]

hello i am a 55year old {young at heart woman} i have had a very swollen lower left leg for about ten years , i was always a very active person always doing something from catering for weddings ect to recovering furniture,i went to the docs on several occasions when the swelling was minor and was not always noticeble as i got older the swelling got worse it was then diagnosed as arthritisafter about four years taking voltoral {inflammortory tablets] and diuretics all to no avail, i had bone scans done and several other things and they decided yes i had arthiritis after watching a programme on the discovery channel there was someone on there in america who had the same as me hooray i didn,t feel as if i was the only one with one huge leg ,i went to the docs. and was referred to a specialist at st thomas hospital london i have seen the guy twice in a year and although i know what i have , all the treatment i have is tablets and was advised to have a lymhapress machine and put my legs in the boots twice a day well to me it made me worse i saw a girl on the television programme have radical surgery to remove the excess flesh and fluid but didnt know what the results were she had this done in st thomans her name i think was donna,  what do you think any of you? i have had no knowledge of circa aids as you call them but i will look at this site as much as i can maybe someone can explain there benefits look forward to seeing your opinions

[jackyr]

Hello Chloe
it sounds like you need some compression hosiery to start off with, without this sadly your condition will most likely worsen! I am 31 now and have had the condition since i was 16 but it only really became noticeable during my pregnancy with my first baby 5 years ago. if i had worn correct fitting hosiery then im sure my leg wouldnt be as bad as it is now :cry:
Have you tried any yet? I also wear a circ aid which is supplied from my local hospital its a half leg velcro strapping and i think it does help, especially when i have been walking or exercising
let me know how you go on
Jacky

[Lynora]

Hi Chloe
I haven't seen the TV programme about the surgery, but I have seen the outcome of it on another patient and it was not good!  Surgery for lymphoedema should really be avoided at all costs.  Recommend you try and find an MLD practitioner in your area (probably not easy, as there are few of us around).  Also, have you ever been referred to the Royal Marsden (Professor Mortimer) for definitive diagnosis of the condition?  Circ aid is a useful device, if you can't get correct compression hosiery - your local Lymphoedema Clinic should be able to get one for you.
Lynora
Fife

[Lynora]

Hi Comb609
Not really sure about the question!  What else can you do with what?  The condition?  Circaid?  Compression? Lymphapress?  Could you write again, and tell us what you mean?
Lynora