I Am Really Glad To Be Back in Stride Again!
Having issues with lymphedema (swelling) in my left arm. To help remedy that I’m down 30 lbs using keto and now going to get my arm wrapped to hopefully reduce its size. This last swelling was due to sunburn.
(Some research and anecdotal evidence suggest a ketogenic diet may also help those with Lymphedema.)
Anyway, after editing, adding a picture, and pressing POST. I panicked! 😱 I think the post went to my general FB page and not the closed group!
Why?
- Why had I panicked? “What was I ashamed/embarrassed about?”
- Was it that I didn’t want people to see what was going on with me now?”
- I mean, “I’ve been wearing compression sleeves for a couple of years.“
I’m still unclear, regarding my panic. But I decided, “It’s okay. It’s done & out there!” Then I couldn’t find the doggone post! Yep, it disappeared! So, I decided to write about it and post it on my blog site. Yep, the one I stopped in January of this year, but evidently – I’m starting again.
For two years I posted every Thursday about Healing, Breast Cancer and Body Image at Hwrichard.info This time may not be as frequent – once a month, every two weeks, or new and different topics. Who knows?
What Counts?
I’m beginning again! So welcome back or if you’re new to the site, I’m glad you’re here also – buckle up! It’s gonna be an interesting ride.
“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King
Love ya,
Dr. Harriette
Wow, what a week! Over the past weekend a mosquito or a spider bit me on the arm that has lymphedema. EEK!
I’m getting ready to change my closet over. I’m trying to remember to use only my right arm to haul stuff. (Yes, I’m wearing my sleeve on the left arm and now that that’s settled, let’s move on.) It has been winter for so long I haven’t even thought about changing it over until this week. It’s still kind of cool. We’re in the last three weeks of school. During this Spring semester, I haven’t pulled out the summer things yet, because it’s been cool or raining and cloudy.
Just as I was about to think I didn’t have to do anything about my lymphedema, it would flare up! 
This one is a tougher one to write. It’s about the loss of intimacy and relationships. Two sayings come to mind:
“My 1st breast cancer surgery was a lumpectomy. The 2nd surgery, 3 years later was a mastectomy.” This post is about my lack of understanding about what to do after the tram flap reconstruction operation failed, what you are not told and what you can do. Oh, a tram flap is when part of the abdominal muscle group (skin, tissue, fat) is moved onto the breast area. “TMI?” Now, along the way, there is a muscle cut, a ‘new’ belly button, and some other things happen. To make a longer story short, my breast mound did not grow and there were complications.
I really don’t talk much about lymphedema. But here goes. Lymphedema can occur at any time after a mastectomy to remove breast cancer. At least, that’s what happened to me.