When I was in my 30’s I remember my father wearing those ugly white Ted hose. He told me he had Lymphedema. When I turned 40 I found out what that word was. I woke up one morning with redness in my lower legs and the swelling started. Little did I know I was in the fight of my life. I had several rounds of cellulitis that was so bad I was admitted in the ICU with congestive heart failure. One hospitalization they removed 30lbs of fluid from me in seven days.
I was forced to take early retirement and apply for disability. This disease has controlled ever aspect of my life and I would withdraw into bouts of depression and go weeks without leaving my house. Finding clothes and shoes that fit my legs and feet was next to impossible. I couldn’t wear shorts or skirts because people would stare, laugh and whisper.
I just tried to get my insurance to cover my Farrow wraps and was denied three times because they will only cover a garment if I had a open sore. I was actually told by a woman at my insurance company that they would be glad to pay my hospital Bill if I had cellulitis and pay for my leg to be amputated if that was necessary but they won’t pay $200 for a compression garment to prevent the cellulitis. I know manual drainage and compression garments work and know the importance of good skin care and using the garments and pumps to keep my Lymphedema under control.
I was forced to give up my job and part of my life because of the Lymphedema.
I have Lymphedema but Lymphedema doesn’t have me.
