Is this Lymphedemia?

Options
sgreenarch
sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi, I'm new here and just need some advice. Bit of a crazy story, here goes:



Diagnosed in July 2010, had unimx, no chemo, no rads. Sentinel node bx along with three nodes removed. I'm close to normal weight (same damned 15 lbs for the last 15 years...) and am very active, either walking or swimming an hour a day. In November my father was dx with leukemia, I live 6000 miles away, and I've flown back and forth 5 times since January. (five 12 hour flights in all.) Never thought to wear an arm sleeve as I never had any problems. I do wear leg stockings and try to walk a lot on the plane. I started to get a bad pain in my elbow (surgery side) after the first flight and it's gotten increasingly worse. I have no problem swimming a mile but it hurts to squeeze the toothpaste tube or lift anything. There's no hotness or redness but the pain is spreading beyond my elbow. Joint is painful to touch. Doesn't really look swollen but it's hard to say. Seems to be getting worse, but there is no sign of infection. I do have lots of joint pain on tamoxifen but this feels different and worse. Anti inflammatories don't help, (but swimming does, a little.)



I do have travel insurance for emergencies but prefer to go to my drs back home. Will see someone here if I need to but just wondered what you thought.



Thanks, Shari

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited April 2012

    Hi, Shari:

    Not to be an alarmist, but you need to call your dr. and get them to check you out for clots - tamox. can cause blood clots.  It's probably a strain - but at the least you need to make sure you don't have a blood clot, and getting evaluated for lymphedema can't hurt.  Then you will know exactly what you're dealing with.

    Best of luck to you - if you do actually have lymphedema, we will be here for you.  Smile

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 16,882
    edited April 2012

    I agree with suzybell I am not an alarmest either really--but changes that u can't figure out it's just best to call the Dr. or see a Dr.Just so u know and it can ease u'r mind. U have a lot going on now and it's best to make sure u'r OK. And if by some chance there is something it's dealt with right away. Good Luck.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited April 2012

    Good luck, I hope you've gotten an evaluation to makes sure it's not the serious stuff.

    I personally think the standard info that lymphedema is always painless is rubbish.  When I developed lymphedema, the very first thing I noticed was a persistent pain that felt in character like a pulled muscle but didn't correspond to where a muscle went, it involved patches of skin.  First on my chest, then my forearm.  I had that pain for a while, maybe weeks, before I could see any swelling.   I'm very skinny - you can easily see that I'm swollen before the absolute number measuring around my arm is anything anybody would notice, and that's how I was diagnosed.

    So I don't mean to cause anxiety, but obviously you're already thinking about this enough to be posting here.  If there's nothing like a clot going on and it doesn't get better, do you have the opportunity to see if you could get a session with a good certified lymphedema therapist?  Even if it turns out to be lymphedema, you would be catching it very early and could hop right on learning how to keep it in check.  If it's not lymphedema - and I hope it's not - doing these things aren't going to hurt you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Member Posts: 528
    edited April 2012

    Hi, Ladies,

    Thanks so much for your immediate concern. I followed your advice and checked it our with a dr. Seems I have a wicked case of tennis elbow, without the tennis, of course. Alleve helps a bit, which is telling. Truthfully, I am having lots of joint issues since starting tamoxifen, and they have worsened considerably since my oopherectomy in November. When I get home I'll go to a good orthopedist and get a thorough check up. While I'm here with my dad, far from home, I've got to just avoid big problems. Thanks for helping me out.

    Shari

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sas-schatzi
    sas-schatzi Member Posts: 19,603
    edited April 2012

    Shari------Glad you have a diagnosis. When somethings new like this happens, always start with PCP first as soon as possible versus thinking other worst case scenarios. A treatable problem left untreated in the early phases can lead to significant later problems.

     Please, google "LYMPHOMA and LEUKEMIA Society". RE: your DAD. The LLS has grants available with approved applications. Everything is explained on their web page.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories