News Article: LE Not Dx for 10 Years

This is an article from Salisbury, NC - a man who developed leg LE after a car accident, and wasn't diagnosed for almost 10 years, even though he was seeing doctors regularly.

From the article: "Merritt did survive, but the most lingering issue was a badly swollen left leg. Doctors told him that he might never walk again, and that blood clots had caused the leg to swell. The possibility of amputation was discussed.

For more than 9 years, Merritt fought to cope with his disability. He looked for work that he was physically capable of doing. Long term movement or even standing made the condition worse."

Finally he was diagnosed correctly:  Merritt had served in the Marines from 1994-1998, so he visited the Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury for treatment. Doctors tried to find the cause of the swelling and prescribed water pills, elevated legs, and compression socks, though these had been recommended to Merritt for years. He knew they wouldn't work, and he asked for more help. He was referred to Rowan Regional Medical Center shortly after another VA doctor mentioned lymphedema. A doctor at Rowan Regional referred Merritt to Pam Roseman, owner of Lymphedema Solutions on Mocksville Avenue.

Merritt credits Roseman for an almost complete recovery after only a month of treatment. "She gave me my life back," he said. "The leg is back to near normal size for the first time since the accident nine and a half years ago.

He suffered needlessly for 10 years when relief was only a month of treatment away.  I really felt for him when I read this article.  He was alone with no one to turn to and no one to give him advice.  We in the BCO community have each other, and can lean on each other for support and information (especially Binney and Kira).  Armed with that information, more and more of us are politely confronting our health care providers about LE and the medical community's lack of awareness.  Everytime we educate someone else about LE, it has the potential to help not only b/c patients, but people like this fellow.  

http://www.salisburypost.com/Lifestyle/031812-Lymphedema-qcd