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Egads007
Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
edited March 2018 in Lymphedema

Hi all!

I'd greatly appreciate your wise opinions on something I've wondered about since my lumpectomy 4 years ago. A small area of swelling appeared directly under my breast about half way through my 5 week daily rads. It measures approximately 3 x 3 inches wide. When I spoke to my rad onc he said it would probably disappear after my rads were done and that he would have the Lymphedema people in touch with me. They never did contact me and I let it go because it's never bothered me a bit. No pain, pulling or any other sensations....it's just there, I call it my rib fanny pack. The only difference I see is if I have a really intense workout (i use weights regularly and lift heavy). The pouch then extends around my side under the shoulder blade in a 1" wide trail. This disappears within 24 hours of the workout. Im assuming this is Lymphedema but not sure because of the lack of symptoms. I'm alsoassuming it's too late to fix after all this time. Any thoughts?

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited March 2018

    Welcome . Just in a hurry here so I can't elaborate but hopefully others will chime in. Yes that sure sounds like it. Go to stepup-speakout.org where our girls developed a wonderful best ever website to get educated and find a therapist in your area that can look at you and determine if you do have lymphedema. If so, You need to get this under control so it doesn't progress into something worse down the road.

    Those are LE symptoms your listing.a intense workout can send lymph fluid rushing in and if you had nodes out or fried by radsthen there is no way of draining the fluid so it collects as you have described. Not always will you have pain etc. Keep posting your questions we'll try to help. Try wearing a men's ( not womens, sleeves are wrong) Underarmour brand compression tee a couple sizes smaller when you work out and see if that helpsalso wear if swelled.

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2018

    I agree it sounds like lymphedema. I get a band of fluid next to my breast under my armpit that comes and goes depending on what bra I wear. You can definitely get this treated! So far I am lucky that if I go braless it goes away but I have a lymphedema person I can get in quickly with in the event that it doesn't go away.

    Definitely see if you can find a specialist!!

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited March 2018

    Yes a tight bra band is not good. It will make my breast swell and achy. Also I have to wear a bralette instead of a T-back style joggerbra as they don't cover as much near arm pit. Regular bras are totally out of the deal for me. Underwires not suggested either. Think dressing like old lady here. Compression Cami is best.Oops I am old!

    Egads. Drink tons of water and see if backing off weight a little helps. I follow PAL exercise program made by a university for lymphedema. I started out with measly one pound weights as they suggest and am up to 81/2 pounds for triceps and 11 lb for biceps. Each time I move up I add only one pound. So far so good and this prevents the lymph system from getting overtaxed with fluid. I could lift much more but don't want to ruin a good thing I've got going. PAL rules are if you quit lifting you have to start right over with one pound. That why I'll never quit. I lift three times a week. PAL suggested about ten gentle stretches before lifting to prepare lymph system. I do this.

    The website I gave you tells you how to exercise safely.

    Do join us on kick butt thread, no competition there's just encouragement.

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited March 2018

    Hi everyone and thanks so much for the replies and resources...they’re invaluable! Here’s the thing, my little pouch under the rib has never gotten bigger nor smaller no matter what I lift. It’s been there since rads and long before even lifting a coffee cup. I bench press 75lbs and have started deadlifting recently with 50 lbs. my lunges are done with a total of 50 lbs and squats with 45 lbs. I’ve of course built up to this over 2 years slowly. I lift approx 4-5 days a week combined with cardio. The only time I get the ‘extension tail’ of swelling around to the back is after body weight push ups or 60 lb chin ups on the assisted machine. It never lasts more than a day. I guess by isolating the pecs during the push/pull ups must trigger the swelling, something I better back off on until I get a qualified therapist’s advice...and immediately get some compression garments as you all so kindly suggested. I’ve been checking out the stepup page suggested too...so helpful I thought I was doomed with a rib cage fanny pack forever lol

    Thanks again to all of you, the warm welcome and helpful advice is awesome...hugs4u is right, it is a kick butt thread!

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2018

    Hey Hugz...how often do you increase your weights?

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited March 2018

    gb, it's taken me about two years to get up to this weight lifting three times a week. I'm an old dog with other arms issues besides le so I took it real slow. I'm in for the long haul and can't see myself doing triceps at ten pounds for a long time. I've not had sore muscles once at this pace nor le flare from exercise.

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