Questions regarding lymphedema

It can be both
Dear TKMomma - Lymphedema can start both ways. I thought I had a problem last summer after a trip to Chicago to visit friends. We walked a lot outside and my fingers swelled up (which wasn't that unusual in the heat) but what WAS unusual was they didn't go down and they hurt badly!

Neither my Onc, BS or PS thought it was a problem. They told me, "If you have LE it is minor." Grrrrrrr! Yeah, and gonna get worse! My PCP doc took my seriously but before he referred me to a certified LE therapist he wanted to do a doplar ultra sound of my arms to see if I had any blood clots. I didn't.

Finding a GOOD LE therapist can be very difficult but I'm going to post a link to a website that a couple of women with LE started and it provides the best information I've been able to find. It will address your question above along with how to find a therapist. I hope you don't have it. But the earlier you can get treatment, the better. The link takes you to the homepage. You can search whatever links you think you might need.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

anything is possible!
Oh,..lymphedema.... how different for all of us. It can start slowly or not.... it can happen quickly after lymphnodes are removed or compromised...or take years to start. It is just one of those unknowns many of us deal with. However, when it starts, it is best to get treatment to manage it asap to prevent it from getting worse. Mine started after surgery 3 months....just a little swelling in the fingers. And yes, one of my Oncs kind of blew it off and said to wait til after radiation finished to get treatment. Well, I was still in chemo at the time and rads had not started yet. From my reading on the Lymphedema Network website and other articles, I KNEW I wanted to seek out treatment quickly and so I did. Once again, we must be our own advoctes. Now, your lymphedema may never increase or it can change over time......... there is no absolutes with this. But do find a certified specialist who will be of help to you so you can manage it. Good luck, Hugs

Questions regarding lymph edema
I noticed a slight swelling on the upper arm, starting late afternoon. In the morning it's all gone. No swelling in the rest of the arm or the fingers. I am planning to make an appointment with my internist, I know he has some patients with lymph edema, see what he has to say and take it from there. I am in a Medicare HMO and have to go through him to get to a specialist. Haven't been able to find a massage therapist close by (live in West Houston. I am going to insist on having this thoroughly checked out!
Marlene