can someone please summarize

elise24601

the comment threads here about bypass surgery outcomes for arm/hand LE?

I see there are several long discussions, but I'm recovering from an eye procedure (not cancer related) and have trouble with up-close reading focus right now. Gives me a headache to go thru all these pages!

Hoping someone following along can give me the general summary - I know what the procedure and recovery consists of, so I'm mostly curious if others have had success with it or not, and how much swelling has gone down. What's the overall takeaway (worth it or not)?

thanks!

yellowdoglady

elise,

Most people do not need surgery for lymphedema. If your arm or hand is affected, it likely will be wrapped for some days after a massage to remove the liquid. Then you would get a sleeve to wear to keep the problem under control. Have you been recommended surgery? And when did it appear after cancer surgery?

SpecialK

Elise - I don’t know if this will be helpful to you, but I have had the workup for the bypass surgery, I have decently controlled lymphedema in my dominant arm, and I am considered a good candidate. I have refused the surgery so far because I have good control, but also because the success rate is relatively low - at least across the board - not necessarily with the physicians discussed here on BCO - it is considered about 30% successful, but with up to 90% seeing some level of improvement. I am currently unwilling to undergo more surgery with uncertain success since I have already had a lot of reconstructive complications. I may reconsider in the future, particularly if more successful techniques are developed.

elise24601

Thanks SpecialK, that makes sense. My concern is that if I wait, my LE could progress to the point where I'm dealing with cellulitis and/or swelling that causes pain and disrupts my life. As of now, it's mostly a cosmetic and convenience issue (asymmetry due to one side being swollen, and tons of hours spent weekly trying to manage it via PT, wraps, pump, etc) but the surgeon told me that at age 33, I have decades ahead where it could worsen - not from anything I would do wrong, but because I have zero lymph nodes on my left side (and was radiated there too). So the idea is that even if the surgery couldn't reverse what I have now, it might be able to stave off future problems should I live another 30 plus years.

Hence I'm curious what other's experiences were - still hoping for a summary of the threads about LVA and bypass! My surgeon is a specialist in Southern California. He thinks I'm a good candidate but did say not to expect full resolution of the condition. I'm fine with that if I can get some consistent, noticeable improvement. The cost/risk for me is 3 weeks off work and some scars.