Joachim Zuther, Lymphedema Specialist.
Today I would like to make you aware of an excellent video covering the daily challenges of living with lymphedema.
In this live stream video Sheila H. Ridner, PhD, RN, FAAN, extensively discusses symptoms and issues individuals with various forms of lymphedema experience on a daily basis.
Sheila is the Martha Rivers Ingram Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, TN. She is an internationally recognized scientist and expert in the field of lymphedema and lymphatic research.
Sheila and her team conducted extensive studies lo learn more about what it is like to live with lymphedema, and her research indicates that many of life’s dimensions – physical, emotional, social and spiritual – can be impacted by the presence of lymphedema.
In addition to quality of life issues and the various challenges individuals affected by lymphedema are dealing with on a regular basis, a good portion of this live stream recording is dedicated to the discussion of the many tools available to building a healthier life for those of you living with lymphedema; valuable advice regarding self-care issues, nutrition, exercises and much more is provided.
In the question and answer session at the end of this one-hour presentation Sheila answers important questions often asked by patients.
As special Thank You goes out to the readers of this LymphedemaBlog, who were kind enough to assist Sheila and her team in completing the lower extremity portion of this study.
Click here to view this excellent one-hour presentation of “Living with Lymphedema” (the actual presentation starts at the 4 minute 19 seconds mark; so you may fast-forward if you wish).
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My grandmother is 90 years old with bilateral lower extremity primary lymphedema since puberty. She managed her condition very well up until about 3 years ago when she developed severe peripheral neuropathy that makes tolerating compression stockings impossible. Her swelling in the past year has substantially increased, and she now has significant pain in her legs. She has Alzheimer’s and we manage her care. Her doctors have had her on diuretics for 30+ years and are reluctant to remove them but she has become severely incontinent and we have read the research that discourages their use. At this point, our concern is her quality of life and that she not be in pain. Do you have any suggestions that may help her?
I would suggest elevating the legs as often as possible and explore different compression modalities, such as CircAid or Solaris products
Do certain foods or alcohol affect Lymphodema?
Not that I know of – a low-salt and well-balanced diet is recommended