Lymphedema and Pregnancy

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amyelizabeth94
amyelizabeth94 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi all, 

I've been reading for awhile, but this is my first post.  Last week I had a one-step PBMX with 1 sentinel node removed on both sides.  My husband and I are ready to start trying for kids again soon and I'm trying to learn more about how pregnancy may trigger lymphedema.  Does anyone have information on this or perhaps can point me in the right direction?  Thanks!

Amy 

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited May 2012

    Hmmmm, Amy, I had already developed lymphedema proir to my pregnancy, so I may not be of much help. BUT, I will tell you that overall it did not make it worse. I do tend to take on some fluid toward the end of the third trimester, so I got some treatment during that time, but I really just kept doing what I always do which was to wear a sleeve during the day, wrap at night and self MLD. Good luck on expanding your family. I had a perfectly normal pregnancy (uh, well, other than tearing my placenta at 11 weeks thinking I could still do the monkey bars-- luckily the baby was okay!) and a perfectly healthy baby! You go for it!

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2012

    Amyelizabeth, what a happy plan!Cool Best wishes to all of you!

    Being pregnant results in lots of blood pressure checks and assorted sticks for blood work and IVs, so you'll want to work out with your doctor how you're going to deal with that. Some of the women here use wrist bp cuffs, which may be a safer option for you. IVs can be done in the neck (sounds worse than it is). Many women who have BMX opt to have blood drawn from their feet. If that isn't a viable option for you while pregnant, then see if you can skip the tight tourniquet and use a butterfly needle on the back of your hand. Just best to know what your plan is for all that going in, so you don't have to fight every inch of the way.

    There's a lot of information available about pregnancy with primary lymphedema, but I've never seen your question asked anywhere before!

    Here's a page you can share with your doctor that might help her/him grasp your risk and how s/he can work around it:
    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/essential%20informat%20for%20healthcare%20providers.htm

    Do keep us posted on what you discover and decide. Happy hugs!
    Binney

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  • amyelizabeth94
    amyelizabeth94 Member Posts: 3
    edited May 2012

    Thanks! I have an appointment with a lymphedema trained PT on Monday and will ask her.  I'll post back if I discover anything outside of the recommendations above.    

    I wish I would have read this forum thoroughly before having my sentinel nodes taken with prophylactic surgery (pathology indicates only 1 was taken per side). I really love my breast surgeon and she normally doesn't takes nodes with a PBMX.  However, when I expressed concern about finding cancer she said while it was unlikely they would find anything given my clear MRI, she could go ahead and do it because my risk of lymphedema was very minimal given my weight (5'3 105 lbs), no radiation, frequent exercise, and plentiful nodes.  She said I didn't need to take any precautions.    

    I also consulted a Lymphedema Dr. at a Lymphedema Center prior to surgery and she said I had little risk as well and wouldn't need to take precautions outside of weight lifting. She didn't even take measurements, but said to come back after surgery.  

    Anyway, so here I am.  I plan to have babies soon, am a frequent flyer (4-5x a month), lift a lot of weight for work, and used to use hot tubs/steam rooms often.  On the bright side, my nodes were clear, I am recovering very well so far (great range of motion, no swelling, no cording, no seroma, no infection), so I'm hoping my risk will remain low.  

    Last question- Can an MRI tell how many nodes you have before surgery?  Logic tells that me a risk factor of developing lymphedema would be how many nodes a person had before surgery.  However, I haven't seen that discussed anywhere.  Has their been research on this?   

    Thanks again!

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