Pump & Bandage Special

This is a Lymphedema pump, that squeezed my arm for about 30 or 40 minutes to try to drain the lymphatic fluid out of the areas where it is pooling. When this sleeve was removed, it looked like a chef had been pumping my arm in twenty little waffle irons. I'm now wrapped up with three ace bandages, reminiscent of the Michelin Man. I have to keep the bandages on overnight and pray, pray, pray that the swelling subsides.

After spending three, yes three, hours with the Lymphedema Specialist, I have "mild" lymphedema. It is a permanent, chronic condition that if goes untreated, can result in a big, fat, hard sausage-arm. Now, the goal is to bring the swelling down over the next few weeks with three times per week sessions of lymphatic massage and the giant waffle iron sleeve. If it fails to reduce in the next few weeks, it will permanently be bigger than the other arm.

What does this mean? The good news is I don't have to wear a compression sleeve daily. Huge relief.I'll have to monitor every single workout, what weight I pick up: from a grocery bag to my cat,as well as "vigorous activity"....whatever the heck that means.

If I start to see swelling, I can wrap my arm overnight with the ace bandages. Which, by the way, is incredibly uncomfortable. I will have to wrap the arm every time I fly. Forever. That doesn't seem like such a huge deal compared to the day to day vigilance. Pilot lessons may be out, however.

So, time will tell what will affect this. I'm convinced that the swelling must come down because I refuse to have a fat elbow and forearm forever. Time will tell what will exacerbate this. I'm going to do my stretches and slowly build the strength up in this arm and just pray that the wrapping will be rare occasions. I WILL get my pre-cancer arm and body back.

On that note, I also had my recommended consultation with the head of plastic surgery at Scripps to discuss options if I want corrective surgery after radiation. There are some options but, the best news all day (sadly)is that although fat transfer is very popular these days, I'm too lean to harvest any fat from. After all the bread, cheese and pain au chocolat from Napa, that is indeed good news.