OK, so I have lymphoedema in my left leg, which means my lymphatic system doesn't work properly and if I don't wear a compression stocking every day my leg will swell up. In black and white it looks very simple, but there are all sorts of complications and considerations impacting on my day to day living. But that's just what you try to do. You live with lymphoedema and try to make sure that it doesn't take over your life.
At this time of year I have to start thinking about wearing insect repellent to bed. Yes, this does sound completely ridiculous, as I'm not living in some sub-tropical, mosquito-infested paradise. Lymphoedema means that you have to try and keep your skin in as good condition as possible, and try not to get cuts, grazes and bites, in fact anything that could let the bacteria in and potentially cause an infection. Cellultis is NOT the lymphie's friend and I do go to great lengths to try and avoid it. As I am taken to be a tasty meal by every biting insect in a three mile radius, in the Summer I moisturise with aftersun containing insect repellent at bedtime, meaning I'm maintaining the condition of my skin and repelling the biters at the same time. Last night it was actually very chilly and the windows hadn't been open during the day, so I never thought there was need to use the repellent stuff. I woke up with a large bite on my hip. Where was it hiding? And how had it survived the cold? In it's thermal undies, just waiting to get it's teeth on me? Luckily it wasn't in a place effected by my lymphoedema, so I'm not anticipating a problem, but it does indicate the time is here for insect repellent when I'm sitting out in the day and at night. Sigh.
This is just a small vignette of what it's like to live with lymphoedema. My blog is actually part of a much bigger project - more to follow!
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