Housework support group!!???!!

Binney4

Jane_M, dear, the symptoms you describe are very much in line with lymphedema. Truncal lymphedema is lymphedema of the chest or breast, side, even the back. It can be very painful (though arm lymphedema rarely is outright painful.) Heaviness, numbness, pain in the armpit, worsening of symptoms -- all very familiar.

Before any swelling of lymphedema is visible there can be as much as 31% more fluid retention in the tissues than is normal. It's called pre-clinical lymphedema (or Stage 0), and without treatment it will eventually progress to swelling, skin changes, hardening of the tissue, further damage to the lymph system, and possibly serious infections. So there's no particular virtue to waiting until the 10th to talk to your doctor. You might want to call now and describe your symptoms and ask for a referral for an evaluation by a well-trained lymphedema therapist. Here's a webpage about how to find one near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

In the meantime, try elevating your arm whenever possible (even on pillows at night). Stay VERY well hydrated (it helps dilute the lymph fluid), and stop throughout the day to take a few deep abdominal breaths (helps stimulate the largest lymph vessel in your body.) If it's lymphedema, the quicker you get good help the easier it will be to control. 

I sure wouldn't try to comment on what God wants you to do, but YOU are certainly in a position to know that if you care to. He's not in the business of playing Charades with us! If you trust his love for you, then you'll know what to do and you'll do it, preferably with joy.

But for your arm and side pain and heaviness, there are steps you can take today that will help you get on top of it promptly. Please do! You're worth it!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

vivvygirl

Wake up everyone it's Tuesday!

I have had my Tuesday and now am off to bed.  Can safely hand over Tuesday into your care.

Treat it gentle and be kind,  no surprises today.

Big hugs to all

Viv

mumito

Oh crap ladies guess what I need to do today. I lost the cat again so now I have to clean the house. Rats.

Makratz

Please stop as soon as you find that cat!!!

mumito

Will do.  HHHHHHHHere KKKitty Kitty    Please come out Kitty!

faithandfifty

Morning bunnies-of-the-dust.

Airport Tuesday.

Hugs to all in need.

(From my batphone)

EWB

Barbe- you crack ME up sometimes 

Hugs to all, boy lots of stuff going on....sorry for all the crap.

Binney---hello sweetie, how's the exercising going? and you thought you'd be safe over here 

JaneM, I have no experience with lymphodema but it sure sounds like you should check that out! As far as the working thing and messages from above, I really understand that one...I took it as a sign that I was meant to stop working and do something else. Can't explain it really, but I knew. I worked at a non profit (many hours and little $$) and when this all started I decided to "slow down" and only work 40 hrs a week. I was pretty sure that would make it more manageable...HA was I wrong and eventually went part time and eventually left. It was about having some control, and trying not to change my life because of this thing. At some point dh & I decided it wasn't worth it, I was so exhausted at the end of a short day (I guess fatigue) that I went to bed and often skipped food because I just could not manage to fix even a sandwich. What kind of life was that? Didn't have to work and benefits come thru dh. So we tightened our belts and have made it work. Only you will know whats right for you and your family----but if you don't need the job, is there something else you would rather spend your time and energy on?  Hugs

faithandfifty

Coonie. We're sitting at our gate and the person next to me has a dauchsand PUPPY on a little pink leash. I knew you'd need to know.LOL



Thinking of everyone on the thread -- especially "mom"



xx00xx00xx00xx

GramE

I am really shirking house work this week.   Friday I am flying up to see my bro, sis and 96 yr old, 47 year survivor, Mom.   She is "functional", but old and frail and this is a good time to see her before things go downhill.   

Makratz

Yeah for your Mom, Nancy!!!  I love to hear about long time survivors!!  Gives me hope.

Have a fun weekend with your family.

Jane_M

I give up.  I've tried posting 3 times today and my posts disappear.  If this little post makes it up, maybe it'll remind me of the longer post I keep trying to put up.  I'm at work, so maybe it won't accept a longer post.

coonie

((((((((((((Jane)))))))))) I hope everything is ok. Binney and Elaine sure have some great knowledge and advice. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you!!

Vivvygirl.......you woke me up this morning. hehe WOWZERS.....what a way to wake up!!! I could hear you yelling across the waters. LOL Thanks, but tomorrow, I'd like to sleep in, so don't yell toward my place, ok?

Kathleen!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is Kathleen?? Are you feeling ok? I hope you are!!!

Missing Mom, but I understand. We're your kids.....we'll never leave you nor forsake you..haha

Nancy, what a WONDERFUL gift to still have your MOM...your REAL MOM!! I hope you enjoy your time with her. That is such a neat store!!!

Faithie!!!!!!!!!!! Did you give that cute wittle dachshund some nose sugar for me. Did you smell her puppy breath? Awwwhhhhhh....did you take a picture???? Awwwhhhhh wish I could have seen her!!! Was she this little......

I hope your travels have been uneventful and that you're on the ground safe and sound. Glad you got "your people" with you....hehe. I want to be your people one day:)

Sending big hugs to all you dust bunnies......you're the best dusty buns in the whole world:)

arnie

Did you say you were gonna sleep in coonie??? hehehe

Hugs to all the dustbunnies...hope you're all having a good day!

coonie

Yeah......sleep in till about 6:30AM......you got a problem with that........huh huh uh do ya do ya huh?

arnie

 

coonie

I caaaaan't heeear yoooooou!!!!!

arnie

mumito

I found the kitty so now I can take a break.She was sleeping on top of the golf clubs.

coonie

coonie

uh oh Mum.........do the golf clubs have hair on them now? Hairy golf clubs does not sound good

arnie

YEAH MUM!!!

hehehe

coonie

Jane_M

OK - now I'm home

I got some of the results from my blood work.  I'm still a little anemic, but that's not a big surprise.  Everything else was normal.  My new PCP decreased my synthroid a couple of weeks ago after my previous PCP increased it when my THS was 0.0.  My thyroid levels are now normal.  Go figure!  Of course, the test I really want to see - the CA15-3, was sent out and that result isn't ready yet.  Hopefully tomorrow.  

I did see a lymphedema specialist after I had my cellulitis in October.  I was hoping not to have to do that again because (surprise, surprise) I'd feel guilty taking time off work.  I did go on-line and looked up truncal lymphedema and some of what I've been experiencing sounds like that, some doesn't.  Hopefully, the rest of the bloodwork results will give some idea.

DD washed the dishes and cleaned the cat box yesterday (it's her cat).  I had a dream last night that my DIL folded my laundry for me.  I can't imagine that happening because she's in VA and I'm in NY.  My family is supportive to a point.  My big brother calls me to check on me, sends flowers and visits when I'm in the hospital.  DH made sure I ate and did dishes and laundry, but emotionally he hasn't been there.  He can't deal with it even though he's had his own cancers (melanoma and kidney cancer). He has no clue that I've been in pain and not feeling well for over 2 weeks.  My DD has been great, but she's 19 and she'll have plenty of time when she's grown up to deal with my crap - I want her to enjoy her youth while she still can.  My boys call and check on me a couple of times a week.  I have an adopted daughter who we took in when she was 15.  She came from an abusive family.  She's 34 and has decided she "needs to make herself happy"  She left her husband and their 2 kids (12 and 2) for a creep.  She has the kids Sunday afternoon - Wednesday morning.  I'm sorry, but there is NO WAY I could leave my 2 year old for 4 nights a week.  To make matters worse, I found out after the fact, that she was telling her husband she was visiting me when I was in treatment when she was running around.

I'm so glad this site and you guys are here.  You've been my lifeline through this all.

vivvygirl

Am a little concerned what hand action batman is doing?

arnie

mumito

Now I have to vacumn the golf clubs.I need them to play tomorrow.Coonie ask batman if he can help me?

mumito

Jane just reminded me about the litterbox.Missed that today.

coonie

How 'bout Robin.......he was running your direction anyway.........

mumito

Thankyou I like his legs.

coonie

Seems there might be a little more than golf club cleaning going on round here

Mum.....you care to answer the questions?