Flare-up after unrelated surgery--looking for ideas

RosesToeses
RosesToeses Member Posts: 721
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi everyone,

I posted a bit here about a year ago when I was first diagnosed and beginning my LE journey.  Up until this past week, with consistent glove and sleeve use and occasional MLD, the LE has been pretty well under control.

But now I'm having my first major flare-up and it's a bit frightening.  Last Friday I had some fat grafting and nipple reconstruction.  No one touched my LE arm, but I have to think something about the surgery is causing this since it came on less than a week after.

Before this, over time MLD and compression was enough to clear up my stage I LE without wrapping or other measures,  so I'm keeping an eye on it and hoping that will be the case again here (I'll need to call my PE, I guess, if it doesn't get better).  But, I'm also looking for suggestions.

Does anyone know if there are drugs (tylenol, oxicodone, miralax, antibiotics?) that might contribute and I should stop taking?  

I have an elastic binder around my hips where they took fat and fixed the dog ears--the swelling is in my arm and hand, but I'm wondering if the binder might be blocking overall lymph flow or making my breathing less deep and causing problems?  Anyone ever hear of that happening? 

I think it could just be the trauma causing my body to produce extra lymph that's pooling, but if there's some adjustment I could make to help things get better, I'd like to do it.

Has anyone else ever had this happen?  Any tips or ideas?

Thanks so much!

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Comments

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited January 2014

    Rosestoses, I suspect you're correct in thinking that the nipple/dogear surgery had disturbed the lymphatic system.  My LE did just fine after similar surgery, but to my surprise I had a lot of trouble in the few days after I got the tattoos nearly a year later.  Thinking about what had happened, I realized that the tattoo was invading my LE quadrant--the upper body on the side where I lost nodes and developed LE of the arm and trunk. Even though I had no nerve sensation to be able to feel the tattoo procedure, all that needle work must have resonated with my lymphatic system and brought unusual quantities of lymph to the quadrant.  Fortunately for me, it subsided within three or four days, but it sounds like yours is hanging on.

    The shallow breathing could be part of the problem, I think.  The binder gives compression, which would be a good thing for LE, except that you have no need to compress/constrict lymph in your lower ab area. So perhaps the double effect of compression where you don't need it (for LE) and restricting your breathing is doing what you think it is.

    I wish I had some ideas for solving the problem.  Pain draws lymph the point of an injury, so if you're having pain in or near the swelling, taking a pain reliever could help. Otherwise, I'm not knowledgeable to comment on any meds that either help or worsen LE in this kind of situation.

    The standard LE routine of elevating your arm and fist pumping, stay well hydrated, and try to move so your muscles can help pump the lymph certainly apply.  Hopefully some others will have better suggestions than I've thought of that can help you put the lymph in its place.

    Carol

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  • mnmbeck
    mnmbeck Member Posts: 313
    edited January 2014

    I've always assumed that surgery of any kind to that quadrant would cause a flare-up.  We are always warning us not to get a papercut for goodness sake....I can't imagine what an assult to our lymphatic system it must be to have a surgery!  My understanding of this is that anything in the 'quadrant' could cause problems, so I have been surprised to hear that having a problem is rare.  Glad, but surprised.  I assume this is what happened for you.  I would definitely call my CLT or whoever usually treats your LE.    Good luck...prayers for happy healing.  This is no fun. 

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  • RosesToeses
    RosesToeses Member Posts: 721
    edited January 2014

    Thanks, Carol and mnmbeck, I appreciate your input and good wishes!  I'm sorry, Carol, that you had trouble with the same thing with the tattoos--that's something I hadn't thought about!

    With the initial swelling, it took a month or so to go down completely with the MLD and compression, but it did eventually go away.  I've had times since where my arm has felt heavy but with compression and care, it passes.  I really can't tell by looking unless it's in my hand, though (knuckles or no knuckles?).  If it doesn't seem to be improving as I heal and care for the LE arm and hand, I will call my PT (sorry about the "PE" above, not sure what I was thinking, probably flash back to high school gym class :P but PT is what I meant to write!).

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  • Daninayd
    Daninayd Member Posts: 58
    edited January 2014

    Rosestoses, sorry to hear about your flare up. My left underam recently swelled up and I am still learning how to control the lymphedema.

    I am scheduled to have an implant exchange on February 5th, along with nipple sharing graft and fat grafting. I have been thinking about the possible negative impact on my trunk and underam. I have had bilateral cancer and three nodes removed from each side but only the left arm (thank God) is affected.

    I am very nervous about this surgery because of possible lymphedema flare ups.

     

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited January 2014

    Daninayd, hello!

    There are some things you can do when having surgery in an area with lymphedema that will make recovery easier. Some tips here:

    http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Med...

    Wishing you smooth sailing and quick healing!
    Binney

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  • Daninayd
    Daninayd Member Posts: 58
    edited February 2014

    I had my second exchange surgery three weeks and I am happy to report that my lymphedema did not flare up. In fact, I had no issues at all. Now, I will have to build back my arms strenght, which will take a while. 

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited February 2014

    Daninayd, that's great news!  Good luck on the arm strength, and if you've not looked into it yet, there are some precautions you can take to get those arms back up to snuff while minimizing the risk of a lymphedema flare.  You can read about that here:

    http://stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20for%20S...

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