Can untreated lymphedema spread to neck and face?

Anonymous

Hi everyone, it’s been ages since I’ve posted, but I know this is where I can get an answer.

I have rosacea. It had been somewhat benign until, in the most simple description, life became extremely stressful. My face was not only becoming a constant shade of bright red, it was burning hot and had slowly become extremely swollen over 6-7 years. At first, I honestly thought I was just showing signs of getting old. My cheeks were looking droopy until it ballooned this past July.

I had gone to the ER so many times I lost count between July to mid-October. I was hospitalized twice; once for supposed sepsis/possible allergies, the second time was because I just looked horrible, and (thankfully), I had complained about abdominal pain (an entirely different story, though still cancer related).

(In addition to the abdominal pain, I also pointed out that my left flank was also swollen)

Tests showed no lymphoma. I was given steroids, and the swelling in my left flank and most of the right side of my face went away. The left side of my face and neck (and of course, my arm, which does have lymphedema), remained swollen.

Yes, I had been getting lymphedema massage, but in the nightmare of those 6 years, I stopped going. Granted, this was also due to having developed frozen shoulders, and then having an injured right knee which during surgery discovered advanced arthritis. Hence, I have not been driving much over this time.

With all of that backstory, can anyone offer insight as to whether my lymphedema has spread to my neck and face, and if so, when I return to therapy, can it be reversed? 😢

Thank you,

Whoopsie

Anonymous

bump?

LuvMyFam

Hi, I am so sorry for all that you have gone through. BC side effects seem to last forever for some of us.

I have been reading up on lymphedema spreading to the neck and it can spread there. My LE spreads up my neck and face and also affects my ear.

I highly suggest you find a good LE therapist as MLD is not enough to even keep arm LE down. I hope you get some treatment for it soon. It should lessen the LE after a couple of sessions. It sounds like your lymphatic system is very clogged and needs some direction... a LE therapist can help with that.

Good luck

Anonymous

Thank you so much for the reply. I did go to a new LE therapist who was wonderful, and now have a lymphedema machine with attachments for my core/left arm AND my face/neck. They’re a pain to put on, but I love them.

Whoopsiedoodles