Heat worsening lymphedema?

Heat can increase LE. Do you have a PT or someone you work with who can advise you?

Does he have someone covering his practice?

Do you usually wear your sleeve and glove/gauntlet? It could be not wearing it that brought on the swelling. There is also the possibility that you either did more (or less) than usual but didn't realize it. For me the more I do (the more active I am) - the less issues I have.

Some do say they have more issues when it is warmer/hot but I don't. The bitter cold of winter gives me a lot more issues.

As I said, I don't have issues from heat but from cold. I never really thought about exactly how long but do make sure I spend more time in the gym as I can't get outside doing what I usually do when it's warm. In below freezing temps with subzero wind chills and everything covered in snow or worse -ICE -can't ride the horses, ride my bicycle, mow yards, garden, play with dogs and my bunny outside (too cold for them to be out for any extended time). So I do go to the Base gym a lot more and spend more time 'doing stuff' there. But it really isn't as good as being able to get outside and do 'stuff'.

I also use my FlexiTouch twice a day (instead of once a day) for a few days which definitely helps. Also use my night sleeve every night and the over sleeves for it when needed.

You might want to try wrapping at night if you don't have a night sleeve - some do.

I'm in the heat-bothers-my-arm more-than-cold-does camp and even though its still technically summer, our weather has turn fall-like which agrees with my LE for now. Next week higher heat and humidity so more problems. I do hope you can get it back under control. LE is a never ending concern, besides BC. What a double-whammy for those of us suffering from LE.

Amy

Emily, a LE flare does more than cause swelling, it causes an emotional reaction as well--panic, even despair sometimes, maybe anger, heightened depression and/or frustration. I'm not sure why that is, though I suspect it's at least partly a physical reaction, since the lymph system is body-wide and controls a number of over-all functions. In other words, expect anxiety, but also know it gets better, usually pretty quickly.

Have you learned to wrap your arm? If not, that's a worthwhile project, because it's one of the best ways to bring down the swelling, and knowing how to do it yourself means you don't have to keep a LE therapist in your pocket.

I live in the desert, and my therapist always has a heavy workload in the summer, especially August and early September, when the humidity goes way up and adds insult to misery. But as Kicks points out, ANY extreme temps can cause flares. Next time you're going to be out in the heat you'll know to take precautions such as wearing your sleeve and glove or gauntlet and taking some indoor breaks from time to time to cool down. If it's not too humid, a spray bottle to douse your clothes with works well too. I can spray my sleeve as well during most months--just so it dries out pretty quickly and doesn't stay damp and invite skin problems. Stay extra super hydrated too--water, not alcohol or caffeinated beverages.

Exact recovery times would be impossible to say, since it depends on individual differences, but with self-mld, wrapping and good self-care, I've managed to get it back into control in two or three days.

Please do keep us posted! Gentle hugs,
Binney

Emily, a good LE therapist also has to be a head therapist--besides re-engineering our entire lymph system, they do have to see us through all the angst and frustration. Two for the price of one!

Hugs--and chocolate helps too!
Binney