Kicking cancer's ass - day 1454

Two months ago I developed lymphedema in my left arm and hand.  It was instant.... one minute I was fine, the next my hand blew up.  The risk was always there.... having more than twenty lymph nodes removed meant my chances of getting it were pretty high.  It could have happened right after surgery, or a month after surgery, or now, four years later.  Or it could have never happened.  If I had a choice I'd pick never.

I've seen a lymphedema specialist who showed me how to wrap my arm for maximum compression, and I've spent almost a thousand dollars (after insurance!) on a pump that is supposed to help move the built up fluid away from my arm and throughout the rest of my body.

It's quite the contraption, and I have to wear it for an hour every night.
So after almost four weeks of Flexitouch treatment....

And an even longer time wrapping my arm before bed every night....

This is what my left arm/hand looks like (and this is with wearing my sleeve and glove all day):

Discouraging to say the least.  Obviously it's getting worse despite the my efforts to contain it.  

What can I do?  I can wear the bandaging 23 hours a day..... which is not only uncomfortable and hot but makes it virtually impossible to do simple things like work on my computer (I'm pecking at the keyboard like Hubby usually does) or even wash dishes.  Or I can look into purchasing a custom sleeve and glove, which will hopefully work better by fitting better.  That will cost hundreds of dollars.

It's depressing that those are my best options for treating a condition I will most likely have the rest of my life.  

I have my six month check up in Dallas Tuesday with Dr L (my breast surgeon) and I hope she has some other ideas that could help.

Lymphedema is more than annoying..... it's ugly and uncomfortable and painful.  And expensive. 

Stupid cancer.