Building Your Team

by sandra | Apr 8, 2019 | Uncategorized

Lymphedema is a chronic condition and. it takes commitment to keep it in check. Even then, there are bound to be set backs. One of the most important things to do after a diagnosis of ANY condition is to

Build Your Team. It takes a lot of time and maybe even some wrong choices to eventually get a good team together to help you in your journey with lymphedema. Here’s a list of who you should recruit.

YOUR LIST OF RECRUITS:

Physician: The primary doctor on your team may change over time. It is important that you always have a doctor who is able to oversee care, treat infections, and provide scripts for therapy . Someone may initially have a wound doctor diagnoses and recommend lymphedema treatment but may not continue to them once the wound has healed. In the same way, an oncologist may initially give a script for therapy and other treatment but over time an Internist or GP may be needed to call in the case of an infection. If you are having trouble finding an appropriate doctor, ask some of your other team members for recommendations. CLICK HERE for information on how to talk to your doctor about lymphedema..

THERAPIST: You need a certified lymphedema therapist (CLT) you can see regularly. It is important that this person has completed a 135 hour certification course in Complete Decongestive Therapy. The therapist should have the initials CLT after their name. This stands for Certified Lymphedema Therapist. The initials LANA stand for Lymphology Association of America. A therapist who has these initials has passed a comprehensive examination demonstrating knowledge of the lymphatic system and lymphedema management. There are weekend classes that can be taken and even lymphatic massage classes that give an introduction to lymphedema therapy however you want a CLT to be on your team to help manage your lymphedema. After you identify someone who is a CLT, it is important that this person is someone who is easy to learn from and communicate with.Ideally, this relationship will be a long one so finding a person who is both good at what they do and also easy to communicate with is important. I recommend having a therapist who fits into the regular insurance world (in the US) and also someone who you can go to every once in a while to help you with maintenance of your lymphedema.

Click here for a pdf to help find a lymphedema therapist

Click Here to schedule a phone consult with me

A Certified Fitter. This may also be your therapist or it can be someone different. Everyone has their areas of interest and it may be that your therapist is not as interested and therefore not as up to date on all the latest in terms of compression and garments that are out there. Compression is one of the main treatments of lymphedema management so again, having someone who you can get a hold of and communicate well with is very important. A poorly fitting garment may be worse than none at all. Check your local DME shop as many of them have a fitter or Click Here to find a fitter

An advocate: As humans, we are meant to live in community. We are meant to help each other out when we need it and rejoice in the good times. I strongly encourage you to find a person or many people who can be there for you. They can be an extra set of ears during appointments, help you wrap yourself when it is difficult, encourage you and provide accountability. They can lift your spirits when you are discouraged and celebrate your victories. Find that person and talk to them about what you may need. Need help figuring out what to say? Click Here

or Here

A support group: It is important to find people further along in your journey and over time also be that person to someone else. With lymphedema, there are so many practical questions like shoes and clothes, opinions on pumps, lotion and garments as well as if things like success of alternative medicine. It is great to have a place to learn about things as well as share your life knowledge. Additionally, no one knows exactly what you are going through but people who share a lymphedema diagnosis are more likely to have gone through the same thing as you and are easier to vent to . There are online facebook groups and in person support groups. Local hospitals may have a support group or you may be able to find one on the MEETUP app. The important thing is to find the support.

Fitness Accountability Partner: Fitness is a very important component to managing your lymphedema. Your lymphatic system works best at a normal weight. Keeping as close to a normal BMI as possible will help to keep your lymphedema symptoms under control. Additionally, muscle contraction which happens in exercise is necessary to help move your lymphatic fluid. Your fitness routine may involve group classes, an online program, a fitness buddy or a personal trainer. One thing is for sure…. Having accountability helps consistancy.

The importance of building your team is so important. Having the people you can count on set up and ready to go when you need them reduces stress and allows you to live your best life. Your team may grow over time. Nutritionist, Chiropractor, Podiatrist, Acupuncturist among others may be additional members you add along the way. Through it all, remember that being able to easily communicate with these people is key to them working well with you on your journey.

Cellulitis FAQ

by sandra | Jan 30, 2019 | Uncategorized

Cellulitis can land you in the hospital with IV antibiotics fast! In my (many) years as a therapist, cellulitis is something people seem to be routinely uneducated about. Recovering from cellulitis can be a long and difficult journey. Those with lymphedema are at higher risk for cellulitis and having cellulitis can cause damage to the lymphatic system. Knowing the signs of cellulitis and how to reduce your risk of getting it are important.

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection usually caused when bacteria enter a wound or area where the skin is open such as a scrape, sore or incision. The most common bacteria that cause cellulitis include Group A ß – hemolytic streptococcus (Strep), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Strep), Staphylococcus aureus (Staph). Staph and strep bacteria are commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes of the mouth and nose in healthy people. The infection happens when there is a break in the skin that allows the bacteria to enter.

The symptoms of cellulitis are skin that is red, swollen, warm or tender. You may also experience fever, chills or fatigue. At times people also have leaking of clear fluid or pus in the swollen area. If any of these symptoms occur, call your doctor to develop a plan of attack.

Anyone can develop cellulitis, but some people have a higher risk than others. If you fall into one of the higher risk categories, you should watch any injuries to the skin carefully:

Lymphedema: Lymphedema is swelling due to a damaged lymphatic system. The swollen and stretched skin can crack and the protein rich fluid allows for bacterial growth.

Impaired immune system: People who have an impaired immune system are more vulnerable to contracting infections in general. These include people who are undergoing chemotherapy or who take corticosteroids.

Chronic illnesses: Illnesses like diabetes can increase your risk of developing infections. People with diabetes are particularly susceptible to getting sores on their feet and lower legs, which can become infected.

Skin conditions or disorders: Skin conditions and disorders can cause breaks in the skin. These include eczema, shingles, even so-called childhood illnesses like chicken pox.

Obesity: People who are obese have a higher risk of having cellulitis and of getting it again.

History of cellulitis: If you’ve had cellulitis before, you do have a higher risk of getting it again.

Here’s how can you reduce your risk of cellulitis:

Keep feet clean and dry, including regular washing of feet and changing socks.

Keep feet moisturized to avoid cracking

Examine skin of feet and legs for any open sores, cuts or scrapes and monitor them for signs of infection.

Use antibiotic cream on open skin and keep injuries covered with bandaid if possible.

Keep your nails well-manicured. When cutting your fingernails and toenails, you want to take care not to injure the surrounding skin

When getting blood drawn, take from a body part that has not had cellulitis

Treat infections promptly.

Avoid injuring your skin.

Treat lymphedema Of all the medical conditions that increase your risk of getting cellulitis again, lymphedema ranks highest. Lose weight. Research shows that if you are overweight or obese and lose weight, you reduce your risk of getting cellulitis again.

Stop smoking. While more research is needed to know whether smoking increases your risk of getting cellulitis again, research suggests it might.

What’s the big deal? First of all, Cellulitis can be very painful. It can, if left untreated lead to sepsis which is life threatening.

Cellulitis causes swelling and swelling in itself can cause problems…

Shoes do not fit. Not having proper footwear can lead to a multitude of issues such as inability to exercise, slips and falls, and risk for additional skin injuries.

Also, skin is vulnerable to more cracks and scrapes when it is swollen. This is due to the lack of flexibility of the skin. When there are open areas on the skin, the chance for bacteria to enter the body increases and the chance for cellulitis increases.

Swelling can make moving difficult. If the swelling in the lower leg, it can become nearly impossible to pull your feet underneath your knees far enough to allow the body to stand. Swelling can make walking difficult due to the weight of the limb

Ultimately, and maybe most importantly cellulitis like many illnesses has a mental aspect to it. Things like no shoes that fit, trouble standing up, leaking fluid all make it hard to lead an active lifestyle. Anytime, you have to give up things because of an illness, you can feel down and depressed. That is why it is so important to recognize cellulitis and fight hard to keep it from returning. LIfe is worth it.

Talk with me

What more info?

If you have or had swelling especially in your legs that has persisted, you may have a condition that can be helped through lymphatic treatment.

Click Here

Schedule a Visit

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rashes/cellulitis#tips

https://www.sepsis.org/sepsis-and/cellulitis/

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/c/cellulitis.html

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/rashes/cellulitis#tips

Exercise for Lymphatic Health

by sandra | Jan 2, 2019 | Uncategorized

New Year, New Goals

Exercise on your goal list for 2019? Here are my tips for exercise that also benefits the lymphatic system….

Yoga: Yoga in my opinion is one of the few exercises where you feel better immediately after over doing it! Yoga focuses on breathing and stretching the skin and soft tissue. It also can get your circulation going which moves the lymph. Yoga is great because it fits all shapes and sizes of people. Chair yoga is wonderful if getting down to the ground seems intimidating or is just not happening. You can get lots of benefits from yoga without getting to the floor.

Restorative yoga is my favorite and I recommend it to almost all my clients! As an added bonus, you rarely sweat so you can put your pjs on and then go to exercise! Who doesn’t love that?

Restorative yoga has you maintain positions for an extended period of time so your soft tissue really stretches out. This can be very good for those areas that have fibrotic tissue, troublesome swollen areas or painful areas. Allowing all those tissues to stretch results in releasing softening of tissue, increasing circulation and more mobility.

Remember that yoga is about your own journey and should not be competitive. It gives you a chance to slow down, listen to your body and help it its healing.

If you are in the chicagoland area and are looking for an excellent and non intimidating yoga class, check out Inner Jasmine yogain Hinsdale. You can also schedule a manual lymphatic drainage session with me before or after your class. Click Here

Walking: Walking is, for many, the least intimidating of exercises. But, if you are able to get up and walk… no big deal… take a moment and be grateful for that ability. I have worked with lots and lots of people in rehab for whom getting out of a chair and walking, even a few steps, can be a huge accomplishment. And when you are unable and have to depend on someone else to do the everyday tasks like use the bathroom or get the remote that was dropped, you value the ability to walk.

You can walk for a workout without much in the way of preparation, financial commitment or planning. It gets your muscles moving and when the muscles are moving, the lymph is moving. Remember if you have an issue with swelling to wear compression when walking. Another great thing about walking is that you can accomplish something while you walk. Catch up with a friend, walk the dog or listen to a podcast. (I am a podcast addict so if you need any recommendations, just reach out!.

You might be lucky enough to live where you can walk to do errands. Combining errands with walking isnt cheating, it’s still exercise. Parking your car in the strip mall and walking to 2 stores rather than driving in between still counts as walking and exercise. Your body doesn’t know the difference.

Meditation: Maybe its not exercise but it does make you tune into your body and focus on breathing. And breathing is lymphatic exercise. Meditation also exercises your ability to control your mind and thoughts to allow for a positive mental attitude. Many times meditation calls for deep belly breathing which can be relaxing but also helps clear the lymphatic fluid from your abdomen so that the fluid from other parts of your body has a place to go.

Need some help getting your lymphatic system moving? Schedule a complementary phone consultation with me to get you going in the right direction.

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What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage???

by sandra | Dec 4, 2017 | Uncategorized

“What exactly is manual lymphatic drainage?”

I was asked this at a recent wellness meet up. I was reminded that the technique I use all the time frequently requires explanation. It needs to be explained even to people who work in health care. If you are wondering what manual lymphatic drainage is, I will do my best to explain it here.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle manual therapy technique used by therapists. It encourages the movement of fluid (called lymph) through the body. It is a slow and gentle technique that feels like a stretching the skin. Small lymph capillary are located just under the skin. With an understanding of the lymphatic pathways, certified therapists are able to encourage the movement of this fluid away from swollen, inflamed or painful areas.

Who can benefit?

MLD is most common in the treatment of lymphedema but also has been found to be beneficial for those who have swelling due to almost any reason including surgery, sprain, lipidema or arthritis. Those with autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis may gain relief from pain and swelling through MLD. It is also widely used after cosmetic surgery to reduce swelling.

Why is this important? Swelling and inflammation often lead to problems with mobility. Simple daily tasks like standing up from a chair, getting out of bed and walking can become difficult with swelling. Also, daily living tasks like getting dressed or putting groceries away can be challenging with swelling.

Who should avoid MLD?

If you have an acute infection such as cellulitis, untreated congestive heart failure (CHF) or an acute blood clot (DVT), manual lymphatic drainage is NOT recommended. Always discuss treatment such as manual lymphatic drainage with your doctor to ensure it is the right fit for you.

If you are in the Chicagoland Area and are looking for a qualified therapist, please don’t hesitate to call or email! I would love to help you on your path to wellness!!

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Ovarian Cancer

by sandra | Sep 12, 2017 | Uncategorized

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Ovarian Cancer is a sneaky disease. Many of the symptoms are very vague and can be discounted easily. Fatigue, bloating, back and abdominal pain and urinary urgency or frequency are all symptoms that can be associated with aging or a less than healthy lifestyle. None of them are so alarming that they would have you making a call to your doctor but I urge you to do so if any of these symptoms persist. Make an appointment and get checked out because here’s the thing: Early detection of ovarian cancer is everything. According to the national ovarian cancer coalition, only 19% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed in the early stages. But those diagnosed in stage 1 have only a 10% chance of recurrence. Those are pretty good odds!

Women can suffer from lower extremity lymphedema after ovarian cancer treatment. Lymph node removal or possibly even the surgery itself can cause swelling of the legs. This can happen immediately or several years following a diagnosis and surgery. If you are feeling a heaviness in your legs or if you notice that your legs swell on a more regular basis, please speak to your doctor about manual lymph drainage to relieve these symptoms. If you are in the chicagoland area, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected]