Lymphedema Rubra

lynn1946

Hi gang.. took off my sleeves and the backs of both my arms from the elbow to the top of the sleeve were bright pink!! Looked like cellulitis but not warm at all and I felt fine... rushed to Dr. Google and there it is.. Lymphedema Rubra. Looks just like cellulitis but it's a histamine response caused by the lymph proteins in the tissue or something like that.. treatment seems to be what I'm trying to do.. diet, exercise and compression... but what a shocker.. Has anyone else had this? it's just one more dam thing to go with this pain in the butt condition..

I'd love some feedback.. thanks.

Be well all..

Lynn

MinusTwo

lynn - it's probably not a good idea to diagnose yourself with Dr. Google. I understand it may sound the same, but cellulitis is not something to fool with. I would call my doc.

Spookiesmom

Yes! What Minus Two said!!!!!

lynn1946

Hi guys.. yes I totally agree but my local doctors don't seem to know much about lymphedema so I have to rely on my own research a lot.. I would not recommend anyone to try to diagnose oneself unless you live in the middle of nowhere have no help at all. I've been hospitalized a couple of times with cellulitis so when I saw this I immediately did think it was that.. but then seeing it exactly the same on each arm seemed odd.. also it was not warm at all and I felt fine.. on research with Mayo and Sloan Kettering and a couple of other research papers I came to think it must be Rubra.. it behaved exactly the same and on pressing one's finger on it it left a white imprint as Rubra does.. also Rubra presents as I had on both sides... Today the redness has just about completely gone which would not happen with Cellulitis .. been there done that lol... did a LOT of lymph moving yesterday, bouncing and MLD and put my compression shirt back on (I tried not wearing it for a couple of weeks, not good).. moving my lymph seems to have done the trick.. and again, I totally would not have diagnosed myself if I had some decent lymphedema specialists near me.. I plan on moving to the West Coast soon and am thrilled to see there is a clinic near where I'm going.. it can be a lonely life with this condition as we all know.. thank goodness for this forum and all the great information and support it gives.

Have a good lymph day everyone.

xx

Lynn