A tip for those with mild LE

Options
Linda1966
Linda1966 Member Posts: 633
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

A few months ago I went to a naturopath to see if they could help with reducing the s/e's of aches and pains that Ive lived with the last few years.

Unexpectedly I have a great new s/e which is the mild le Ive had on the inside of my elbow extending towards my wrist ever since about a month after the 2 ops that removed 18 lymph nodes is no longer bothering me at all. I dont have the bumpiness running down the inside of my arm and havent felt that tingling of pain since seeing them and certainly havent had to wear my sleeve. I havent even been doing the massages lately as I havent had the tinge of pain which is always the precurser before it flares.  I do work that is physically demanding on my arms in particular and that hasnt changed, so I can only assume one of the following has worked to stop the build up in my tissues.

1/ changed from standard pharmaceutical calcium in a solid pill to green calcium in a liquid capsule - I take 2 a day.

2/ a very expensive probiotic - which Ive never taken before in my life and dont know much about but take religiously now

3/ was advised to change from using margarine to butter which hasnt been hard to do.

Im still taking my arimidex and though they gave me other pills and diet change advice the above are the only changes Ive actually made. The arimidex, 2 calcium and the probiotic along with a 3mg melatonin to help me sleep are the only pills I take and I take them at night.

My aches and pains are so much better now and the brain fog appears to have dissappeared. My qol has improved dramatically and I no longer feel 50 years older than I am.

Hope this info helps someone else with mild lymphodema. I know le can't be cured, and Im still very careful, but just wanted to share whats happened to me as I'm kind of shocked that my LE isnt bothering me anymore. I had no idea anything other than the massages and sleeve could help in that respect. 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited August 2012

    I am increasingly convinced thatprobiotics are extremely important. My mother appears to have cured constantly recurring pneumonia with a solid probiotic cure. It sounds improbable, but there is no other explanation.



    I started probiotics during chemo to reduce the thrush. It had the added benefit of minimizing stomach issues from all the drugs. I have continued taking it every day, since the letrozole can also cause issues both stomach and UTIs. So far, knock wood, both are OK. But I have also seen suggestions that a healthy digestive tract will help rid the body of excess estrogen better, for example.



    Interesting that it might also help with LE. Mine has stayed really minor after the initial flare at the end of chemo. It would make sense that if your digestive system is healthy, you would have less build-up of toxins in tissues, but what do I know.



    Thanks for posting.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited August 2012

    Thanks for sharing your information. Could you give me an idea on what kind of pro biotic to buy?

    I have never taken them other than for thrush, but I think i may take your advice and try them again. Along with the calcium plan. I never used margarine.

    I have the achiness, heaviness and bumpy arm like you described and I am so tired of it, 2 years now.

    Thank you.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Linda1966
    Linda1966 Member Posts: 633
    edited August 2012

    I really dont know much about probiotics, I just know Im feeling so much better lol. The bottle says it has 8 strains of good bacteria. I just bought the one that the naturopath recommended and that they had there at the health food shop. Hopefully someone like Mommine who seems very knowledeable about them will pop in and clarify.  

    I dont have any medical proof, but I think the improved overall qol is from the combination of the pills with the le being improved more as a result of the liquid green calcium,  but its really just my gut saying that. To me it makes sense that with the liquid calcium going to my bones and not flooding my tissue like the other ones Ive been taking for 3 years did, I would have improved circulation.

    I have a bone density scan coming up next month and then the usual mammo, us and blood tests in November so it will be interesting to see if the improved absorption of calcium via the liquid capsules shows results. Hope so cause I really really dont want to have another treatment of zometa to strengthen my bones as I had a very bad reaction to it last year.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Dejaboo
    Dejaboo Member Posts: 2,916
    edited September 2012

    Id also love to hear more on Probiotics & LE.....

    Anyone else out there take them & feel it has helped.  And what kind do you take?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories