Re: Anyone had firsthand experience with Panniculitis/lymphoedema?

Right back at you! We've certainly had a lot of fun working through the differences in software, language, and time zones, but it is starting to flow effortlessly now for most part I think with room for fine tuning as we go. One of those MT things where one door just closed in time for a new one to open.

What has amazed me is that, apart from the differences in spelling, the dictation itself is really no different than doing it for another US state - in fact with you adding addresses and with the wonderful lists with names of referring and other physicians for each patient, the issue of Oz areas and facilities has been minor.

ozgal wrote: 
Hi fellow SMTers,

Wonder if anyone has any first hand experience with lymphoedema and panniculitis. I know lymphoedema is pretty much a condition people get after cancer treatment where lymph glands are removed and the lymph collects rather than draining - usually in arm on side of lymph removal. I have not had the "C" word or any treatment like that, thank goodness. I went to see my general practitioner on 24th December. I'd been having a problem for a month or two whereby after sleeping I'd wake up and my lower legs (sock distribution) would be a light red colour (erythema?) and my left foot swollen and puffy. The right one is probably puffy too but the left looks about 1.5 times the size of the right foot. Mainly the outer ankle and the bridge of the foot.......the fleshy bit of the foot between the toes and the ankle that you see when you look down.

Anyway he said I needed to get my varicose veins checked out with a Doppler scan (which I have done - technicians said I had "leaky valves" from groin down, but they had seen worse and my legs would not fall off if I did not have surgery....Ozzie way of saying, "yeah you have a problem...but you will not die tomorrow". Very laid back we are in Ozland. I have a referral to a female vascular surgeon....who is supposedly tops in her field. I will make appointment this coming Monday. (Christmas, New Year, camping away and bloody hot weather my excuses for not doing so sooner).

Doc also said I had panniculitis - something about some malfunction of the fat beneath the skin or some such. Also talked about skin being our protective layer, etc., and barrier to infection and to make sure I took care of myself and avoided injury (infection) etc.

Over summer I've had swollen left foot lots with our heat (recent patch of over 40 C/104.4 F days). I also went away camping on 9th January for a week and my feet got sunburnt....of course the left foot a lot worse than the right.

I took it easy on my camping holiday, de-stressed, walked like a crab with my puffed up foot and stayed out of the sun from the moment I got sunburnt, and that's pretty much it.

Since I've been back home I've tried to raise my left foot while working (small IC) as I imagine the position of that foot just sitting there all day and the forces of gravity can'the be good (i.e. causing oedema). Today, thank goodness the weather has cooled down after being up till 5:30 a.m. in the lounge-room with the air-con going. Just got up at 11:30 a.m. and left foot normal size now the weather is 26 Celsius ( 78 F) instead of 40 (104 F).

I do not usually eats lots of salty foods (being a total sugar freak) but sometimes I indulge in salty crackers - maybe once every six weeks, so do not think salt intake is the issue. I must mention here though that I do have a weight problem. I'm 5'6" and currently weigh 104kg (I was 115kg in August, lost 15kg and put 4kg back on over Christmas - worst time of year for my sweet tooth).Thought it worth mentioning as I know weight can affect swelling, fluid retention, etc. I don't drink tons of water (and know I should). Find it much easier during hot weather but rest of time am pretty slack.

I've heard exercise should help but with my foot being swollen it's hard to walk lots and none of my shoes fit on that foot.

Also, doc recommended compression stockings (which I have not got yet) as the thought of getting them on in this heat is more than I could stand.

Sorry about long-windedness of this but if anyone has first hand knowledge of any of the above I'd be interested in hearing about it.

Special thanks to Rae Morrill BTW who has been my saviour since I posted an SOS looking for MT assistance. What a woman. Has really helped me out big time, excellent worth ethic, great turnaround and a witty chatter. Thanks Rae - you are one in a million.

Thanks folks for bearing with me. Any thoughts/comments greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

ozgal (Julie, Melbourne, Australia)



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