Jane_M, dear, the symptoms you describe are very much in line with lymphedema. Truncal lymphedema is lymphedema of the chest or breast, side, even the back. It can be very painful (though arm lymphedema rarely is outright painful.) Heaviness, numbness, pain in the armpit, worsening of symptoms -- all very familiar.

Before any swelling of lymphedema is visible there can be as much as 31% more fluid retention in the tissues than is normal. It's called pre-clinical lymphedema (or Stage 0), and without treatment it will eventually progress to swelling, skin changes, hardening of the tissue, further damage to the lymph system, and possibly serious infections. So there's no particular virtue to waiting until the 10th to talk to your doctor. You might want to call now and describe your symptoms and ask for a referral for an evaluation by a well-trained lymphedema therapist. Here's a webpage about how to find one near you:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

In the meantime, try elevating your arm whenever possible (even on pillows at night). Stay VERY well hydrated (it helps dilute the lymph fluid), and stop throughout the day to take a few deep abdominal breaths (helps stimulate the largest lymph vessel in your body.) If it's lymphedema, the quicker you get good help the easier it will be to control. 

I sure wouldn't try to comment on what God wants you to do, but YOU are certainly in a position to know that if you care to. He's not in the business of playing Charades with us! If you trust his love for you, then you'll know what to do and you'll do it, preferably with joy.

But for your arm and side pain and heaviness, there are steps you can take today that will help you get on top of it promptly. Please do! You're worth it!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

Oh crap ladies guess what I need to do today. I lost the cat again so now I have to clean the house. Rats.

Will do.  HHHHHHHHere KKKitty Kitty    Please come out Kitty!

Barbe- you crack ME up sometimes 

Hugs to all, boy lots of stuff going on....sorry for all the crap.

Binney---hello sweetie, how's the exercising going? and you thought you'd be safe over here 

JaneM, I have no experience with lymphodema but it sure sounds like you should check that out! As far as the working thing and messages from above, I really understand that one...I took it as a sign that I was meant to stop working and do something else. Can't explain it really, but I knew. I worked at a non profit (many hours and little $$) and when this all started I decided to "slow down" and only work 40 hrs a week. I was pretty sure that would make it more manageable...HA was I wrong and eventually went part time and eventually left. It was about having some control, and trying not to change my life because of this thing. At some point dh & I decided it wasn't worth it, I was so exhausted at the end of a short day (I guess fatigue) that I went to bed and often skipped food because I just could not manage to fix even a sandwich. What kind of life was that? Didn't have to work and benefits come thru dh. So we tightened our belts and have made it work. Only you will know whats right for you and your family----but if you don't need the job, is there something else you would rather spend your time and energy on?  Hugs

I am really shirking house work this week.   Friday I am flying up to see my bro, sis and 96 yr old, 47 year survivor, Mom.   She is "functional", but old and frail and this is a good time to see her before things go downhill.   

I give up.  I've tried posting 3 times today and my posts disappear.  If this little post makes it up, maybe it'll remind me of the longer post I keep trying to put up.  I'm at work, so maybe it won't accept a longer post.

Did you say you were gonna sleep in coonie??? hehehe

Hugs to all the dustbunnies...hope you're all having a good day!

YEAH MUM!!!

hehehe

OK - now I'm home

I got some of the results from my blood work.  I'm still a little anemic, but that's not a big surprise.  Everything else was normal.  My new PCP decreased my synthroid a couple of weeks ago after my previous PCP increased it when my THS was 0.0.  My thyroid levels are now normal.  Go figure!  Of course, the test I really want to see - the CA15-3, was sent out and that result isn't ready yet.  Hopefully tomorrow.  

I did see a lymphedema specialist after I had my cellulitis in October.  I was hoping not to have to do that again because (surprise, surprise) I'd feel guilty taking time off work.  I did go on-line and looked up truncal lymphedema and some of what I've been experiencing sounds like that, some doesn't.  Hopefully, the rest of the bloodwork results will give some idea.

DD washed the dishes and cleaned the cat box yesterday (it's her cat).  I had a dream last night that my DIL folded my laundry for me.  I can't imagine that happening because she's in VA and I'm in NY.  My family is supportive to a point.  My big brother calls me to check on me, sends flowers and visits when I'm in the hospital.  DH made sure I ate and did dishes and laundry, but emotionally he hasn't been there.  He can't deal with it even though he's had his own cancers (melanoma and kidney cancer). He has no clue that I've been in pain and not feeling well for over 2 weeks.  My DD has been great, but she's 19 and she'll have plenty of time when she's grown up to deal with my crap - I want her to enjoy her youth while she still can.  My boys call and check on me a couple of times a week.  I have an adopted daughter who we took in when she was 15.  She came from an abusive family.  She's 34 and has decided she "needs to make herself happy"  She left her husband and their 2 kids (12 and 2) for a creep.  She has the kids Sunday afternoon - Wednesday morning.  I'm sorry, but there is NO WAY I could leave my 2 year old for 4 nights a week.  To make matters worse, I found out after the fact, that she was telling her husband she was visiting me when I was in treatment when she was running around.

I'm so glad this site and you guys are here.  You've been my lifeline through this all.

Jane just reminded me about the litterbox.Missed that today.

Thankyou I like his legs.