Kathy Bates discusses her lymphedema... and I am here for it!


Finally, someone is taking this issue public! Yay for Kathy Bates. 

*Disclaimer: This post does contain a few affiliate links. If you make a purchase using these links, I will earn a commission. As always, I sincerely appreciate your support of this blog.

Yassss! I was so excited to see this video clip of Kathy Bates discussing lymphedema on The Doctors Show. Finally someone was discussing a survivorship issue that so many of us have to deal with. Trying to explain to people why you wear sleeves (or what the sleeves are) can be tortuous sometimes. They understand that you had breast cancer but usually have never heard of lymphedema nor are aware that it can be an unfortunate side effect of undergoing a mastectomy.

Speaking for myself, I'm just not always in the right frame of mind (or location) to get into all of that. TSA agents aren't always cheerful when you're trying to explain that you're not wearing your fake tattoo sleeve just because you're a badass -- that it is actually for medical reasons and removing it is a pain in the butt. I digress.

Kathy Bates as spokesperson for the LE & RN


I wish her nothing but success in her new role as spokesperson for the Lymphatic Education and Research Network. We need more information about this side effect of breast cancer treatment to be shared with the public.

Please take a quick look at this video [View: Kathy Bates on The Doctors] as she discusses lymphedema and her issues with this condition. While my lymphedema is not as complicated as hers (I only have it in one arm, not both), I can attest to having a lot of the same problems with it; fatigue, heaviness, pain. My pain is mild (occasionally I will experience some sharp pains but that's infrequent and usually if I've over-exerted myself) but I am in a few Facebook groups with other lymphedema survivors and their stories can be heartbreaking. To be honest, I pray regularly that my lymphedema doesn't get worse. It can really be debilitating.  (google lymphedema if you want to see some really interesting pictures of more advanced cases)


A few things about lymphedema


Lymphedema is not restricted to your arms. Some people have it in their legs. Many of us end up with this condition after breast cancer surgery, but some people are born with lymphatic disease and deal with these issues their entire lives. Others experience some type of trauma that creates the condition. But no matter how you get it, once you have it... you're stuck with it. Lymphedema has no cure.

That's frustrating. As is just about everything else that has to do with breast cancer.

Lymphedema is a survivorship issue that is very important for all of us to understand; patients, survivors, caregivers, friends, and family. There are limitations that this ailment puts on our lives, that everyone needs to understand.


Just a few tips to help you cope with (or understand) lymphedema:


Raymond Weil Jasmine Watch
  1. Infections can be dangerous. You have to stay on guard. Because of the buildup of lymphatic fluid, our bodies are struggling to handle the overload of toxins. An infection puts an already weakened immune system at a precarious risk. You have to be ready to contact your medical team or seek medical attention immediately if you have signs of infection (pain, heat, swelling, rash, fever, or redness)
  2. No injections, no blood pressure cuff, no blood draws... nothing restrictive or puncturing on your affected arm. Never. Some survivors wear first aid bracelets in case of emergencies. 
  3. You must keep the skin of your affected arm clean, washed daily and lotioned regularly. You can't allow your skin to become dry and cracked. It makes you vulnerable to infections.
  4. No heavy lifting. No heavy bags. No heavy purses. Nothing on your shoulder. It aggravates the condition. I am a big purse lover -- but I carry my bag on my unaffected arm and never on my shoulder, well rarely.
  5. Do all you that can, to avoid injury to your arm: no insect bites, cuts, scrapes, burns, etc. Again, you've got to avoid any chances of infections.
  6. Use gloves as often as you can when doing activities like gardening, cooking, craftwork, etc. 
  7. Elevate your arm often. Keeping it above your head or heart is helpful in allowing the lymph fluid to move towards your body and into a larger available lymph vessel (and away from your arm). You don't want that fluid to pool in your arm for too long. 
  8. Nail care is very important. Don't cut your cuticles. If you get manicures, be sure to let your manicurist know to be very, very careful with sharp instruments on your affected arm. 
  9. Use sun block. [I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 100]  I wear my sleeve constantly but on the rare occasions that I don't, I am sure to use sun block. I use it all over honestly and I use a minimum of SPF 50. I think the recommended level is 15, but I'm not taking any chances. My natural tan will have to be sufficient. 
  10. No tight jewelry or watches on your affected arm. I haven't worn a watch since my lymphedema emerged in 2010. It makes me very sad because I love watches, but I'm afraid to take a chance. I have promised myself that if I can get my arm's swelling down more, I may treat myself to a nice (loose) watch. I've always wanted a Raymond Weil. 
  11. Keep your weight moderate and limit your salt intake. Drink lots of water. I need to work on my weight and my salt intake (just being honest) but I try to drink a lot of water. It's a work in progress. But staying hydrated helps the fluid to move around better (I believe). 
  12. There are new reports coming out that say that exercise is good for lymphedema sufferers. In the past, we were told not to over exert our arms but I'm happy to hear that new reports are showing that exercise can be helpful for the condition. 
  13. Wear your compression sleeves regularly and give yourself self-massages regularly. It really helps to control the swelling in your arm. 
  14. Do not get regular or deep tissue massages on your affected arm. If you enjoy massages, be sure to inquire whether or not your masseuse is familiar with lymphatic massage. It is a very different type of massage than normal massages and can aggravate your arm.
     

I have this one, but it's overdue for replacement now.
Gets a lot of attention. Looks cool with a tshirt and jeans.

LympheDIVAs - Arm Sleeve Lotus Dragon Tattoo


To be honest, I worry that people think I'm prissy or lazy when I don't carry heavy bags or refuse to do certain things. I do carry heavy things from time to time, like my laptop bag (that sucker is monstrous) and my luggage when I travel (even on wheels, it can put a strain on my arm). I've had run ins with unhelpful airline attendants and passengers who think I'm there to serve them [See: Lymphedema drives me batty] But the possibilities of ending up in the hospital being pumped with antibiotics is real. And the pain and heaviness that comes from over-exertion is real too. It can take me a couple of days to get my arm down to a manageable size after doing far too much.

I want to be helpful to others. But I know that I have to take care of myself first.






Enough about me... back to Kathy


Go 'head Kathy Bates! I love that you're doing this and I applaud you. The world needs to know more. Hell, survivors and recently diagnosed women need to know that it is possible. Your medical team may not mention much about it at all. They're focused on the cancer, not the after affects.

What do you think of Kathy's new position? If you suffer from lymphedema, will you make your own video? I plan to work on mine right away. And, of course, I'll share it here first. I don't know why this is so exciting to me... but it really is.


Shameless plug: 

My ebook is available for sale. I would really love it if you purchased a copy for yourself or a friend. It's a handbook outlining the steps that I took to get my mind wrapped around being a survivor and to stop feeling bad about my life. If you need a boost to reinvigorate yourself, this is the book for you.

Buy: Reclaim Your Fabulousness!



Alright... that's it for now. Don't forget to check out Kathy's challenge about lymphedema. And be kind to you today. You deserve that.

**Nic Nac Paddywack**




let's connect-brown
Subscribe to the newsletter

(where we discuss the breast cancer life)
(where I discuss any and everything!)
(be inspired, laugh a little, follow my crazy life)

Web Statistics