Arm pit swelling

Crystal, there is no single diagnostic criteria for LE, so it's easy for doctors to dismiss it--or apply arbitrary rules, like it has to be 2 cm greater than the other limb (try to apply that to hand swelling...), or a 10% volume increase.

There was a great article by AW Stanton that said that early LE does not "obey" these rules and you have to be alert to symptoms and subtle anatomical changes--like less veins seen, smoothing of the elbow contour

On bc.org, Andrea Cheville says essentially the same thing:

http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/evaluation/diagnosis

According to Andrea Cheville, MD, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic, it’s important to look at the whole picture: not just size and volume measurements, but the appearance of the limb or other body part. “There is no one value or standard you can use to say, ‘OK, if you meet that you have lymphedema, and if you don’t, well then you don’t have it,’” says Dr. Cheville. “For example, there may be no size or volume changes in the arm, but you could have subtle hand swelling or pitting on the arm. So it’s important not to be too locked into arm measurements alone, as that can create a false sense of security. You also need to be watching the arm and looking for the loss of what we call ‘anatomic architecture’ — an inability to see the veins and tendons in the arm as clearly, or less pronounced knuckles, or skin that is less wrinkled and therefore looks younger.”

There are some axilla swell spots by ?Jovi that may help you: I had a hard time finding it, and it's pricey!

http://www.biohorizondirect.com/JoviPak-AxillaPad

I think I used a Solaris swell spot for the dorsum of the hand--which I find large, held on with the hair bands--cost around $17

http://www.lymphedemaproducts.com/products/dorsal-swell-spot.html

And I totally second the idea that you should see a LE therapist

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Finding_a_Qualified_Lymphedema_Therapist.htm

Crystal, I have LE in my left arm and trunk, some in the armpit. I'm thinking of trying an Under Armour Compresson Tee (men's style, so no extra fabric in missing boob area -- I'm bmx as well). I have noticed that some tube-type tops (strapless) can work well for compression in my trunk area.

Ellen

Chrystal I agree shaving the skin tag off could very well have done something. Theres nothing worse than having med profession downplaying/minimising what you know darned fine well is an issue. I hope you find someone more competent.

Kira, how interesting you mentioning about the seroma and in particular about the time frame! I had a seroma after my prophy mx. I had it aspirated but a couple of times after that it swelled up again within less than about a month. Months later ny BS told me it was "just fat". Yeah right, my BC side has NOTHING like it and is flat and it was not included in the surgery area. NOw rewind to the month following surgery.  This is a round about what I was told... there was a real risk from continuing to try to aspirate it as the tissue starts to "web" thereby making many pockets of fluid and making it impossible to aspirate the fluid . Of course I had no reason to doubt this. It sounded plausable.  I still have an area that is spongy and flabby. How interesting you said you can still aspirate after 5 months!