Summer Swelling

crystalphm

In this heat, my front of my armpit is swollen, it is about like holding a small plum in my hand for size reference. I do the manual lymph drainage massage every morning when I wake up.

My compression sleeve of course does not cover this area, in fact, I think the compression can make it swell even more, but that could be my imagination.

The lymphedema therapist sees the spot, and just was glad when it went away in the winter. But now it is back.

The breast surgeon says it is "fat" but of course he is incorrect. I know fat when i see it. Sigh.

I guess I am looking for both validation as well as possible solutions. Wearing a bra or anything in that area makes it all worse.

I am 2 years out of surgery on that side, radical mastectomy, and 7 lymph nodes removed, all non-cancerous. Would putting my arm up and gently stroking this place be helpful? Or make things worse?

Anonymous

Crystal, is your therapist draining that area? It certainly can be done and helps a lot. When you are doing MLD and clearing your trunk, you can clear what used to be your breast area above and below your incisons, including that spot in front of your armpit. I have to clear each side down to the inguinal nodes, so my method might differ than someone who moves fluid to the opposite side of chest. Anyway, my therapist has me do the neck, then deep breathing, then stimulate the inguinal node. After that I clear from below the waist to the inguinal, and then I go to the side of my chest and move the fluid from that area down to the inguinal. Then I massage across above my incision to the side of my chest (below the axilla area) and then down to the inguinal. You can work that area in front of the armpit angling down the side of your chest, bypassing the axilla. Then you can do the area below the incision, taking that over and down to the inguinal. My therapist had advised in the past to not try and move the fluid across the incision, that it is not a good path. After I do that, I turn and do behind the armpit and as much as I can reach to the back, and I take that down to the inguinal.




I know there are slightly different methods of MLD, and it's fun trying them. Interesting to see what works on certain parts of your body. I generally do the semi-circles with a light touch that stretches the skin, but some areas I will lightly sweep. I tend to think that when that area in front of the armpit gets swollen, that other parts of the chest are blocked, and the arm may have fluid that can't drain.




It is awfully hot and not good for LE right now. Truncal LE is so uncomfortable, and the area in front of or anywhere around the armpit can be difficult when it comes to finding compression tanks that fit well. This is my struggle, and I am always searching and trying new garments. My night vest helps that area a lot.




I'm sure others will have their own methods and suggestions for draining that area, as it definitely can and should be done.