March 6 is LYMPHEDEMA AWARENESS DAY!

Well, I have been incredibly lucky in almost completely reversing my LE. However, I do still wear a sleeve and gauntlet when flying or exercising and anytime the arm feels funky (like today actually). So, I will certainly be sporting my sleeve on the 6th and although I detest the pink ribbons, I may decorate the sleeve with a pink ribbon and see what happens.

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I actually think the upside down  pink ribbon is  a much  better  representation of  what I will call " BC TX INDUCED"  LE than the butterfly!  It would get more attention as well- people would constantly be trying to ' correct your pin' and then you could explain.

I wish this could be our official logo.  I have been rather frustrated with my area medical ctrs and hospitals of late who keep telling me that they have services for BC.  BC is NOT LE!

I love the idea of the water balloons - fluid filled.

I spoke to someone from the ACS last week and asked for their help to promote awareness , but they pointed out that they do have ' that brochure'.  Yep, they do!  ( Sure wish my BS had given it to me   )

Thanks for the head's up Binney. I will be emailing my local newscasters. You know I fought the heads of the anesthesia department over her misconceptions of LE. Because of all of you, I was armed with lots of facts to shoot her down.

I also handed out stepup-speakout literature to the head of the surgery department of the clinic that I go to.

I am so NOT afraid to go head to toe with medical professionals over their lack of knowledge.

Oh, and the surgeon I had for my appendectomy told me that he learned that 10% of those that had sentinel nodes removed get LE. I don't know where he got the information from. But if you figure that so many of us are mis and underdiagnosed or don't know we have it (like me, until I read about it from you fabulous ladies), the total is probably higher.

I think the idea of waterballoons is FANTASTIC. That is how I describe my LE sometimes. Like  you are squeezing a waterballoon and how it gets bigger and the balloon "skin" gets tighter.

just googled it, upside down pink ribbon is sort of a thing for young survivors who want a better test, or to reflect all the tears

but around a drop of water maybe is unique

Thats awesome. The date is the same date that I adopted my grandbaby. I will always remember it. I like the teal ribbon.

Think I am going to brave all the nosey people and not hide my sleeve and glove for awareness day. This could have a two fold purpose. One...educating the community and two... maybe I will finally get over my vainess/shyness and show the world that I wear ugly medical gear. If it turns out for the good then I may come out of hiding for the whole week just to extend the awareness day.



So I will be in the big city walking this week, weather providing....I am going to wave my glove in front of everyone encouraging them to inquire. Come on you nosey people....it's your chance to ask me and not get the answer "shark bite".

Has anyone got a brief explanation about LE for me?


Should I say I got a condition called Lymphedema from cancer surgery? They took out my lymph nodes so I could be cancer free but at the same time not having lymph nodes means you collect stagnant fluid in your arm and can't drain it. The sleeve and glove keeps my arm from collecting too much fluid. I would not like to be too wordy, if anyone has a briefer explanation or one that is clearer please fire away!

Hugz, I felt self-conscious about the gear in the beginning. However, it helps me and last summer I wore it almost all the time, on PT's advice, because it gets really hot down here. It being summer meant that covering up was not really an option most of the time.

If people ask, I tell them I had surgery and lost lymph nodes. Then they ask how much longer I need to wear the sleeve (thinking it is a short-term, post-op thing) and I tell them that the problem is permanent, although I am lucky enough not to need the sleeve all the time. Then they either ask if it hurts or start telling me all about the tennis elbow they have and asking if I think a sleeve might help them, lol.

we are here! Horton the elephant, spokesperson for national lymphedema awareness day! He's blue, but he ain't no butterfly!

Binney!! LOVE IT...Truncal!!!!

LOL

It says:  Lymphedema is a disease which gets very little attention;  lymphedema, the black hole of health care?  You are not alone;  6th March, international lymphedema awareness day.  Posted it on my FB and sent it to everyone I know, both "patients" and professionals.