Lymphedema in non-SNB arm?

beatrice00

Is it possible to have lymphedema in the arm that did not have sentinel nodes removed? Both my arms are swelling up slowly but my right forearm has swelled more than 2 cm in three weeks. I did not have any nodes removed on the right, the SNB was on the left. My right torso is also getting swollen and hard. I already have diagnosd lymphedema in my left arm with a sleeve and glove. The therapist wants me to get a sleeve and glove for the right arm as well. Is this usual? 

carol57

beatrice, I don't think it's very common, but it's been known to happen.  Binney4 had this experience--no nodes removed on one side where she had a prophy mx, but she developed LE on that side in addition to the side where she had some nodes removed.  Why and how?  Well, researchers have shown in the past several years that LE has systematic effects, even if we have visible symptoms only in one quadrant.  Other researchers are finding that there can be a genetic predisposition to LE, and when there's a trauma, the results can be more widespread than just in the 'affected' area.  

You therapist should be working with you to make sure that you (and  he/she) are doing MLD for bilateral LE, so that fluid is being directed down toward the groin and not from your SNB to the other side of your body.  

Binney has 'talked' about her bilateral LE here in our forum, and I'll bet when she has a few minutes, she'll give you some suggestions for dealing with it.

It's certainly not fair play for your LE to pop up on the other side, and I'm so sorry you have to deal with that. 

Carol

Binney4

Beatice, bummer!

Always a good idea to have any new swelling checked out by your doctor, since swelling can also be caused by such things as blood clots--not good! Once that's done, managing new areas of LE will be the same as you're already doing with the other arm. Huge bother, depressing, but you'll soon be on top of it and back in control of it all!

Hang in there! And do tell us how we can help. Gentle hugs,
Binney

jarris77

Beatrice, I had a bmx  June,2013. I had 3 nodes removed on the right side (cancer side), no nodes on left. One day, while having lunch with my mother, I noticed that my left hand was swollen. After a few phone calls and a visit to a lymphedema therapist, I was diagnosed with lymphedema of my left arm and hand. Luckily it is pretty mild. They said it was good that I caught it early before it progressed any further. They first fitted me with a sleeve and glove (2 different ones) but my hand continued to swell. I finally ended up with a one piece. It is a pain to put on but I'm used to it now. It's the only thing that kept my hand from swelling.