Lymphedema and work

Hi Nibbana,

While you're waiting for the always-helpful advice from your fellow members here, you may be interested in checking out the main Breastcancer.org site's page on Lymphedema and Your Job. There are also some good tips and advice in the Reducing Risk of Lymphedema and Lymphedema Flare-Ups section.

Hope this helps!

--The Mods

Nibbana, LE does impact our ability to work: personally I have to wash my hands a lot, so I don't wear my glove at work, and rely more on night time wrapping.

Binney and I were called upon to advocate for a nurse who was an experienced ER nurse, and someone lodged a complaint that her sleeve/glove were non-hygienic. I believe she prevailed, with the help of her union rep.

Lifting is an issue, and you may be just fine, or it may be too much if it's frequent and you get muscle strain and you have no control about amount/frequency.

LE is a disability, but that's a whole issue to deal with.

I know when I worked at a job, a little over three years ago, that required a lot of writing and some lifting, I flared at the start, and would wear my sleeve/glove off and on at work, and literally drove to work in a night garment. Over time, it got better.

How much you chose to reveal, how supportive your work environment is, are all factors.

If you are able to exercise and are fit, it sure helps.

Kira

I'm both a personal trainer and a fitness instructor - by definition, my job involves lifting weights all day whether demostrating an exercise for a client, spotting someone while working the floor or teaching class.  I teach a lot of different classes from Pilaties to boot camp.  Most of the classes I teach are strenious and involve heavily using my arm.  I often teach several classes per day - .  I even teach Body Pump during which I Clean and Press about 30 pounds over my head multiple times.  My lymphedema started in my truck and breast during radiation last fall - and yes, I was teaching during radiation.  Did lifting weights cause my lymphedema?  I'll never know for sure - but I don't think so.  I had an infected seroma and cording after surgery - so the signs were there.  But I wasn't willing to give up my job.  

While I lift heavy weights - I never lift a lot more than I'm used to.  I bump my weights up gradually.  My arm was bothering me for weeks while I waited for my sleeve order - lifting wasn't helping.  But, since I've had my sleeve, I've noticed that on these hot humid days when my arm is feeling bad it actually feels better after I teach.

So, there is hope -  you may be just fine lifting heavy weights if you wear your compression garments.  But - you're going to need to be careful.  You're body is telling you right now that you need to go slower if your arm is bothering you while lifting.  As I tell my clients - we're not in a race here, we'll get there eventually if we go slow.

I've been okay so far - hopefully the swelling will stay under control - I'm doing everything I can to be compliant and keep the lympedema from progressing.  I also remind myself daily that I can't worry about the future - I can only enjoy today.