So now I have lymphedema

When does this misery end?

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

I went to the emergency room yesterday because the right side of my body was swelling up. From the right side of my face down to my neck and my entire right arm from shoulder to finger tips. Some swelling where my mastectomy scarring remains.

The tissue was swollen and it hurts when I touch it.

I was freaked out. I had started to swell about three weeks ago and I’d hoped it would go away. But it hasn’t. It’s gotten worse.

Well, yesterday they diagnosed it. I’ve got lymphedema.

This is something that can happen to mastectomy survivors.

My mastectomy was four years ago. I thought I didn’t have to worry about this anymore. I was wrong.

Thanks to the constant tests since my brain surgery — the blood tests and blood pressure tests and so on — there has been a lot of stress on that right arm. And finally it has apparently succumbed and now I’ve got lymphedema.

I am very upset.

I don’t want to be brave right now. I am just angry and scared.

This condition is incurable but it can be managed. I don’t want a condition that can only be managed. I want a cure.