Is this a common problem?

Jubby46

I started lymphedema therapy. I am glad I did. IF you can find a therapist go for it. Anyway my therapist can not

figure out why when my upper arm on the outside and underneath is touched I get nauseous. It is quite swollen and also

kind of numb. Hard to explain. Even if I touch it I get nauseous. Wondering if anyone has the same issue and what it is from?

My oncologist says no sleeve. My therapist says sleeve. She will try it with a sleeve she has. I have more issues with swelling while doing some of the exercises she is giving me. So she wants me to wear the sleeve while exercising there to see if it helps.

Been trying to find prices on line. They are so expensive.

Hope someone has an answer for my problem. 

thanks

carol57

Jubby, I hope Tina337 sees this, because I recall her writing about nausea when touching her LE areas. If she doesn't chime in soon, send her a PM to ask how she resolved it, whether she tolerated a sleeve at the time, etc. If my memory is wrong and that was not her post, I know she will forgive me for sending you to her in error, but I really think she had that experience.

How frustrating that your onc says no sleeve, when your CLT says it will help!  I'm with you on trying a sleeve your therapist has on hand.

Depending on what the therapist suggests, someone posted just yesterday or so, in one of these LE threads, about lymphedivas selling seconds--not defective, but have printing errors, as their sleeves are jazzy models with fun prints on them.  So you might google for that, or check all the LE threads in the past day or so.

So sorry you are having to deal with this.  Swelling, ache, tingling is enough to put up with, without the added insult of nausea.

Carol

kira66715

Jubby, the sleeve should be covered by insurance. Since when does the oncologist actively intervene in the lymphedema therapy.

My LE therapist does Vodder recertification training, and says that when they do a lot of MLD on each other, they frequently get nauseated.

I think it has something to do with the pain/nerve damage, in your case, just a thought.

My husband once had a surgery that left part of his face numb, so he couldn't feel the pain, but he'd get gray and nauseated, and would feel better after a pain medication.

Kira

Binney4

Jubby, hello! Sorry you're dealing with so much confusion. Early on in therapy it does happen that some people get nauseated. Quite a bummer, but it does pass. Has your therapist tried wrapping your arm? Sometimes that intervention is less crazy-making than the physical touch of therapy. If she hasn't tried it you might suggest it to her, with the idea of keeping it fairly loose until you can tolerate it better. Cheaper than a sleeve too, and adjustable as needed. Also VERY helpful when exercising, as that kind of compression actually encourages reduction of the arm, whereas the sleeve only contains it.

Do let us know what you discover. Be well!
Binney

Jubby46

not covered by Medicare or Empire since Medicare won't cover secondary insurance won't. Ugh

Jubby46

ok will question the wrap on Tues when I go for next session.

thanks

Anonymous

Hi, Jubby - I think what Carol and Binney remember me saying is that I used to get the "willies" when I did MLD and still had my implants. The sensation felt so weird, I can't really describe. The presence of the implant with LE created some sort of disconnect between my hand/chest/brain and wigged me out. I discovered when I used a piece of foam to do massage in that area, it minimized the strange feeling. Made it feel more like the LE therapist was doing massage, which didn't bother me as much. Bottom line was the implant was mainly responsible for breast area and side of chest feeling numb, which was part of the weird sensation. My implants were removed last year and since then I have regained a lot of feeling in the breast and side of chest. Now when I have a flare in my trunk, it still feels a little numb and "buzzy" but I don't get the "willies" when I do self massage.