Time flies,huh? I had a final today for Peds & ob. It's been a stressfull few weeks. I passed the class and will start a new semester on Monday. I will also be starting my second year! Wow!! I can't believe I have made it this far to be totally honest. Our class started out with at least 30 people. We are down to 13. To celebrate I went out and bought some new scrubs. :)
I have been going to the gym too. I have lost another 2 pounds. It is coming off so s-l-o-w!! I have to admit, I haven't been wrapping my leg very much. I can tell the difference too. :( I get SO frustrated because of the pain it causes in my foot. I"m not sure if it's the foam or what but it feels like my foot is being crushed. Also, my toe wraps aren't staying on very well. Once they start sliding off there is no way to fix it or rewrap them without rewrapping my whole darn leg!! It's just been so nice not being in the bandages. My hubby and I will wrap tomorrow though and leave it on for as long as I can stand it.
I have looked into finding some kind of support group for people with Lymphedema. I think it would help. But I haven't had any luck finding any in my area. Maybe someday I will start one.
I'm off to get some much cleaning done on my day off. Enjoy your day to the fullest!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Where does the time go?? I have been so busy with school and trying to finish up 3 projects that are due soon. I hope I can finish up this weekend.
I went to my last therapy appt yesterday. I was measured and she took pictures. Around my knee I'm actually a little more swollen than when I started. But I'm hoping with losing weight it will go down.I am down a total of 25 pounds so far. I have a long way to go but I WILL get there!
I became close to one the the occupational therapists.I saw her 3 days a week, about 2 1/2 hrs a day for 8 weeks. She was on another floor working but came down to see me to say goodbye. It was bittersweet.I'm so happy to be done because it's really time consuming. But I will really miss our talks. She wants me to keep her updated on my progress so I'm sure we will be in touch. I even cried and hugged her. The staff at the lymphedema clinic is wonderful and she helped give me hope and they gave me the tools to live a normal life when I didn't think it would be possible. I just have to accept my new normal. Some days I do accept it,other days it's harder.
At clinicals this week I met an lpn who has had lymphedema for over 20 years. To look at her you can't even tell. She has it in her leg as well but it's from her knee down. She did pull up her pant leg and she was swollen. But seeing her after having it for so long gave me even more hope that things will be okay.She never went to therapy,wraps her leg or learned the manual lymph drainage massages. Hopefully I will have even more progress since I am doing those things.
I went to the gym yesterday and it felt great! My toe piece came in last week and I am able to wear my shoes. It's a little tight though. I may need to buy another identical pair in a bigger size because I don't know how much longer I can put up with it.I have been having some foot pain and I don't want to make it worse by wearing too tight of a shoe. I'm hoping with exercising it will help some of the swelling to go down though.
Have a great weekend! :)
I went to my last therapy appt yesterday. I was measured and she took pictures. Around my knee I'm actually a little more swollen than when I started. But I'm hoping with losing weight it will go down.I am down a total of 25 pounds so far. I have a long way to go but I WILL get there!
I became close to one the the occupational therapists.I saw her 3 days a week, about 2 1/2 hrs a day for 8 weeks. She was on another floor working but came down to see me to say goodbye. It was bittersweet.I'm so happy to be done because it's really time consuming. But I will really miss our talks. She wants me to keep her updated on my progress so I'm sure we will be in touch. I even cried and hugged her. The staff at the lymphedema clinic is wonderful and she helped give me hope and they gave me the tools to live a normal life when I didn't think it would be possible. I just have to accept my new normal. Some days I do accept it,other days it's harder.
At clinicals this week I met an lpn who has had lymphedema for over 20 years. To look at her you can't even tell. She has it in her leg as well but it's from her knee down. She did pull up her pant leg and she was swollen. But seeing her after having it for so long gave me even more hope that things will be okay.She never went to therapy,wraps her leg or learned the manual lymph drainage massages. Hopefully I will have even more progress since I am doing those things.
I went to the gym yesterday and it felt great! My toe piece came in last week and I am able to wear my shoes. It's a little tight though. I may need to buy another identical pair in a bigger size because I don't know how much longer I can put up with it.I have been having some foot pain and I don't want to make it worse by wearing too tight of a shoe. I'm hoping with exercising it will help some of the swelling to go down though.
Have a great weekend! :)
Friday, January 18, 2013
The past 2 days have been a blur. I went to the dr and have a sinus infection. I thought for sure I had strep because my throat feels like it's on fire! I'm on an antibiotic and hopefully will start feeling better soon.I can't stay awake and just want to sleep. The kids and I have a 4 day weekend,I don't want to spend it sick!
I went to therapy this morning. My foot is still wrapped for now but I'm wearing my thigh high compression stocking! It feels strange.From being wrapped my skin is so sensitive.I admit, it's a pain in the butt to get it on. I have to wear rubber gloves so I don't put a hole in it.I worked up a sweat trying to pull the darn thing up! I will need to adjust it through out the day I'm sure but once it's on it's very comfortable actually.My foot piece should be in by the end of next week.I don't have to go back to therapy until it's in. Then they will take one last measurement!
It's kind bittersweet,I guess.It will be wonderful not going there 3 times a week! We are there for usually 2 to 2 1/2 hours each time.Brian and I have learned so much but I'm still nervous about being on our own with this. I know if we have any questions or concerns we can call though. I have gotten close to my occupational therapist and will really miss talking to her. I'm sure we will be in touch from time to time.She has already said she wants to be kept up to date on my progress.
There may not be a cure for lymphedema but I'm doing everything I can to improve.And who knows, maybe some day there will be a cure. :)
I went to therapy this morning. My foot is still wrapped for now but I'm wearing my thigh high compression stocking! It feels strange.From being wrapped my skin is so sensitive.I admit, it's a pain in the butt to get it on. I have to wear rubber gloves so I don't put a hole in it.I worked up a sweat trying to pull the darn thing up! I will need to adjust it through out the day I'm sure but once it's on it's very comfortable actually.My foot piece should be in by the end of next week.I don't have to go back to therapy until it's in. Then they will take one last measurement!
It's kind bittersweet,I guess.It will be wonderful not going there 3 times a week! We are there for usually 2 to 2 1/2 hours each time.Brian and I have learned so much but I'm still nervous about being on our own with this. I know if we have any questions or concerns we can call though. I have gotten close to my occupational therapist and will really miss talking to her. I'm sure we will be in touch from time to time.She has already said she wants to be kept up to date on my progress.
There may not be a cure for lymphedema but I'm doing everything I can to improve.And who knows, maybe some day there will be a cure. :)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I'm really frustrated today.Not with just my leg but everything else too.School and their disorganization and not having enough time to get everything done.I'm starting to get sick and the foam and bandages are bunching up behind my knee and it's driving me nuts! I have to leave for clinicals soon so I don't have time to rewrap my leg. But if I take it off my leg will swell even more.I'm just trying to stick it out until later.I need to quit whining ;)
I had theapy yesterday and go back tomorrow.My thigh high garment should be in, then I will get measured for the toe piece.I lost a little and am down almost 22 pounds now. I still have a long way to go but I'm getting there! I would like to lose at least 100 pounds total,probably more.When I get there I want to get a one piece compression garment to wear at night too. Instead of all the wrapping it's all one piece and you can just tighten with velcro. I would still use the foam and bandages at least once a week because it's a more controlled compression.But it's a goal to work towards!!
I had theapy yesterday and go back tomorrow.My thigh high garment should be in, then I will get measured for the toe piece.I lost a little and am down almost 22 pounds now. I still have a long way to go but I'm getting there! I would like to lose at least 100 pounds total,probably more.When I get there I want to get a one piece compression garment to wear at night too. Instead of all the wrapping it's all one piece and you can just tighten with velcro. I would still use the foam and bandages at least once a week because it's a more controlled compression.But it's a goal to work towards!!
Friday, January 11, 2013
Moving right along
It's been a busy day! I'm glad to be home to put my feet up for a few minutes.
I went to therapy this morning and was measured again. She ordered the thigh high compression garment I will have to wear. I also will need a special garment for my foot because of the swelling in my toes. Hopefully within two weeks I can get out of the layers of cotton,foam and bandages during the day! It's a little overwheling to think about wrapping my leg every single night for the rest of my life. But I'm trying to think positive,take deep breaths and just focus on today.
I think the thing I'm most looking forward to is getting back to the gym! I had a good routine going before this happened. I went at least 3 days a week after I got out of class. I'm really looking forward to it. I've been doing some things at home but it's difficult with the bandages and surgical shoe I have to wear.I have mostly focused on my diet to lose weight these 7 weeks.I must be doing something right because I'm down 20 pounds. :) I do jumping jacks,squats,crunches and leg exercises on the floor so I get some activity in.I miss walking and the elliptical though!
I'm thinking of having my hubby take pictures of my leg wrapped up,just to share with you how it looks.We'll see...
I went to therapy this morning and was measured again. She ordered the thigh high compression garment I will have to wear. I also will need a special garment for my foot because of the swelling in my toes. Hopefully within two weeks I can get out of the layers of cotton,foam and bandages during the day! It's a little overwheling to think about wrapping my leg every single night for the rest of my life. But I'm trying to think positive,take deep breaths and just focus on today.
I think the thing I'm most looking forward to is getting back to the gym! I had a good routine going before this happened. I went at least 3 days a week after I got out of class. I'm really looking forward to it. I've been doing some things at home but it's difficult with the bandages and surgical shoe I have to wear.I have mostly focused on my diet to lose weight these 7 weeks.I must be doing something right because I'm down 20 pounds. :) I do jumping jacks,squats,crunches and leg exercises on the floor so I get some activity in.I miss walking and the elliptical though!
I'm thinking of having my hubby take pictures of my leg wrapped up,just to share with you how it looks.We'll see...
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Rearview Mirror
I need to stop looking in my rear view mirror.Instead of focusing on the past I have to start looking forward and learning to accept things as they are now. Some days are better than others. I may sneak peeks but I don't dwell on things that can't be changed. But other days I can't get out of this depressed funk I keep going into and I get mad at myself for not losing this weight sooner.
I don't even know if being thinner would have made a difference or not. Would I still have Lymphedema if I wasn't overweight? I guess I'll never know. And I need to be okay with that.
In July of 2012 I had surgery on my inner right thigh to remove a lymph node. I had a very bad infection and I need to be more grateful that it was contained to just that lymph node! I had to see an infectious disease specialist and was told they have no idea how I may have contacted this type of infection but it was something they usually only see in a third world country. Yikes!
A few weeks after surgery I knew something wasn't right. I'm very lucky that I had already known about Lymphedema. I knew it wasn't normal swelling and I also knew what NOT to do. A lot of people listen to their doctors who are not educated about this and they end up making things worse.
I'm in week 7 of therapy and hopefully will be finished in the next few weeks. But I will have to deal with this condition the rest of my life. I will have to wear layers of cotton,foam and bandages every night and a thigh high compression sleeve and toe wraps every day.I will also have to do manual lymph drainage massages every day too.I'm so thankful for such a loving and supportive husband.He has learned the special techniques and helps wrap me and says he doesn't think anything of it.
I'm determined to get this weight off.There is no cure but I'm sure it will make things a little easier for me.I'm down 20 pounds since starting therapy but have a long way to go.I also need to work on looking ahead and not looking back. I'm ready for this journey.I just need to focus on my bright future and not dwell on the past.
I don't even know if being thinner would have made a difference or not. Would I still have Lymphedema if I wasn't overweight? I guess I'll never know. And I need to be okay with that.
In July of 2012 I had surgery on my inner right thigh to remove a lymph node. I had a very bad infection and I need to be more grateful that it was contained to just that lymph node! I had to see an infectious disease specialist and was told they have no idea how I may have contacted this type of infection but it was something they usually only see in a third world country. Yikes!
A few weeks after surgery I knew something wasn't right. I'm very lucky that I had already known about Lymphedema. I knew it wasn't normal swelling and I also knew what NOT to do. A lot of people listen to their doctors who are not educated about this and they end up making things worse.
I'm in week 7 of therapy and hopefully will be finished in the next few weeks. But I will have to deal with this condition the rest of my life. I will have to wear layers of cotton,foam and bandages every night and a thigh high compression sleeve and toe wraps every day.I will also have to do manual lymph drainage massages every day too.I'm so thankful for such a loving and supportive husband.He has learned the special techniques and helps wrap me and says he doesn't think anything of it.
I'm determined to get this weight off.There is no cure but I'm sure it will make things a little easier for me.I'm down 20 pounds since starting therapy but have a long way to go.I also need to work on looking ahead and not looking back. I'm ready for this journey.I just need to focus on my bright future and not dwell on the past.
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