Monday, April 09, 2001
I finally, finally had my appointment with a physical therapist who specializes in lymphedema. She also looked into the reasons behind the shoulder pain I am having. She took measurements of my arm, and told me that the arm has to be 30% larger than normal before most people are aware of it being swollen. That's a lot! My arm is swollen in areas and not swollen in others. Then we looked at muscle strength and range of motion. She said that the left arm is much weaker than the right arm, so the muscles in that arm are smaller, meaning that the arm is actually more swollen than the measurements show. She said she believes that if my insurance approves the treatment, that after treatment, my left arm will actually be smaller than the right. This jibes with what several of the women in my support group have told me about their arm circumferences. She said this also explains the pain I'm having. The muscles that support the shoulder, being weak, are also more easily fatigued. They aren't able to support the arm like they need to, so whenever it isn't supported, it pulls on the shoulder capsule and, along with the swelling in the area, causes pain. She also told me that in Europe, everyone who has had lymph nodes removed or irradiated is automatically diagnosed with lymphedema and receives the treatment. I would be considered as Stage 0, which means that there is no pitting. She told me that I had been very wise to press the doctor to give me the prescription for evaluation and treatment. So now, we wait on the insurance to say yea or nay as to whether I can get the manual lymphatic drainage therapy. In the meantime, she will teach me how to wrap my arm and help me strengthen the shoulder. I am so relieved to be starting on this. I've been in so much discomfort with this shoulder and been so frustrated at the length of the wait to be seen. I try to stay positive and not dwell on it, but it's hard!
posted by Karen Weber Monday, April 09, 2001
Tuesday, April 10, 2001
This morning I ordered the bandaging I'll need for my arm - it comes from Florida so it won't be here for a few days. I don't have my first treatment appointment until Friday morning, and they are shipping it 3 day mail, so it might get here in time. I also ordered the book that the PT recommended. The women in my support group have also highly recommended this book: Lymphedema: A Breast Cancer Patient's Guide to Prevention and Healing by Jeannie Burt and Gwen White. I also spent some time this morning studying the list of Don'ts the PT gave me. I was familiar with all of them, except the admonition that all exercise should be done early in the day. I'm not sure of the rationale for that, so I'll have to ask about it. I am swimming in the mornings now that it is warmer, but that's not going to be possible in the winter months. I need to wait until the sun is on the pool and the water has had a chance to heat up a bit. So I need to know how much of a problem that would be.There are days when it feels like treatment will never end. I had hoped I was done and would just need a sleeve. I am frustrated by the discomfort, though, so I know that taking time for treatment is very important. I'm also frustrated with my brain, and maybe more frustrated with people that tell me it's just normal aging. I know that there is some decrease in cognition as you age, but I don't believe the amount I've noticed would be normal over the course of a single year in the mid-40s. I'm very frustrated with my almost complete lack of short-term memory mostly. I had hoped it would get better as my energy recovered, but I'm not noticing any improvement.If anything, now that I am trying to work more, it seems worse to me because I have so many thoughts that flit through my mind and then take off for never-never-land.
Chemotherapy Gets a Boost with Trastuzumab
eLymphNotes
posted by Karen Weber Tuesday, April 10, 2001
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Why Am I Getting More Fat On My Belly - Is It Menopause? - great short article by Covert Bailey on the perils of menopause.CellWorks Circulating Cancer Cell Test for Breast Cancer
Lymphedema Therapists in the US
posted by Karen Weber Wednesday, April 11, 2001