Cellulitis and Lymphedema
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
July 27, 2009 11:04pm CST
I've been away from my computer for almost 3 months. I had a 4 day stay in the hospital when my right leg swelled to twice it's normal size and got infected with cellulitis. Since then, I've been diagnosed with lymphedema, a condition where your lymphatic system is working less than optimal, either from age, injury, or lymph nodes being removed like after breast cancer. Some people develop it after puberty, and no one ever knows, or misdiagnoses them, thinking they are just obese. Excess fluid that is not removed through the system builds up in the lower extremities causing the swelling. I've been doing lymphedema physical therapy 3 times a week for a little over a month. It is to stimulate the lymph system and get the fluid removed by compression bandages and massage of the lymphatic system. In that time, my right leg has lost 25 1/2 inches of it's size and I've lost 18 lbs. of fluid. I began on the left leg a week ago, and in bandaging it from toes to knee, it has lost 12 inches in one week. Next, comes compression hose so swelling will not occur again. I'll be so glad to get rid of the 3 times a week therapy and the compression bandages which are like a soft cast from toes to almost the panty line. Very bulky, unwieldy and somewhat uncomfortable. Hopefully, you'll see me a little more often.
6 people like this
13 responses
@ElicBxn (63394)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I was going to say - long time no see - but I guess you sort of noticed that.
Yikes! that cellulitis HURTS! I got it once in my right ear lobe - no idea WHY, but the darn thing swoll up to 4 times its normal size, hurt and itched like MAD! They put me on anti-inflammatories that only seemed to work 8 hrs when it should've been working 12. That was a year or so before I found out about the corn allergy - and, yes, after checking it, they have corn starch in that particular pill....
I'm glad you are doing better - 18 lb of fluid is NOTHING to sneeze at. The guy watching out diet yesterday guessed that the roomie was carrying about 4-5 lbs excess fluids and want her to get back on her compression pump stuff. If she had shed that, she'd've been down a few more lbs too.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Wow! Never heard of it on an ear lobe! How strange! Of course, my doctor 1st told me cellulitis was an "old people's" disease, and he'd never seen it out of rest homes. Shows how uninformed a lot of the medical community is with this stuff.
2 people like this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Sorry to hear of your troubles. Glad you are doing better. Keep it up and look forward to better days.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I am so happy to hear your medical problem is improving and glad to see you back.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Thanks. You'll only see me on me days off, but hopefully more often.
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Oh i am so sorry that you have been so ill..My aunt had that Cellutis and i also had it once in my arm and it is very painful..I am happy you have caught it and getting treatment..You had so much fluid on you..I do hope you will recover & get back to your good health.Good luck to you dear...![](/Content/images/emotes/sad.gif)
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1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
28 Jul 09
I'm so sorry that you have had such a rough time of things. I can only imagine how uncomfortable all the bandaging is and especially at this time of year. On a happier note, I am glad to hear that the treatment is helping you and that you are on the road to recovery. Wishing you the best and glad to have you back here.![](/Content/images/emotes/happy.gif)
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@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Thanks so much for all the good wishes.
1 person likes this
@sherinek (3320)
• United States
1 Aug 09
Happy that you have overcome the worst. Thanks for a lesson on Cellulitis, the first time I heard of such a thing. So, after all these treatments you will be totally recovered right? My prayers are with you. Take care.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
5 Aug 09
The cellulitis is treated and cured with antibiotics. The lymphedema, if not treated, will cause the legs to swell again, fluid will get "stagnant" and infection or cellulitis will again happen. The swelling is not curable. Compression hose keeps it under control after you finish the therapy and lymphedema massage treatments that get rid of the excess fluid. I'll be glad to be in the compression hose and out of these huge compression bandages! Thanks for the prayers!
@GardenGerty (159754)
• United States
30 Jul 09
This is educational for me. I have heard of both cellulitis and lymphedema and in looking back I knew at least one elderly person who was treated by the method you describe. I hope you get to feeling better soon and that you can keep the infection at bay.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
29 Jul 09
Oh dear, I was thinking as to where had you gone for a long time and now I hear this! glad to know that you are more than halfway through recovery…wish you complete recovery at the earliest and hopefully we’ll be having more and more participation from you.
1 person likes this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
1 Aug 09
I had no idea, estherlou. But then, I've been gone myself for a while now and just getting back into the swing of things last few days. Hope everything clears up for you.
@BarBaraPrz (46490)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Jul 09
WOW! How awful! Glad to hear that you're having success dealing with it. Here's to continued success. I imagine those compression bandages would also be very warm this time of year.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
28 Jul 09
Thanks. So far, they are not bothering me too much. I have noticed however, that I don't even need to cover up under the sheet at night...my legs don't get cold from the fan and the air conditioning. LOL
1 person likes this
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