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Six Weeks On: IPCT Update Six weeks after completing my two-week intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPCT) treatment, I’ve now been remeasured and further steps are being planned. As expected, my leg has shown some slight rebound in certain areas, while in others, it has remained the same or even reduced further. Considering how much my activity levels fluctuate, especially on very active days, I’m pleased with the current measurements. Still, I remain focused and det

Exploring Support: Applying for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) After a recent conversation with the nurses at Clatterbridge, they suggested that I may be eligible for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) under the long-term or chronic illness category. Until now, I’ve never really considered my lymphoedema as a “disability” or something to formally declare as an illness but after talking it through with others, it makes complete sense. Lymphoedema has a daily impact on my

The Unseen Weight: An Image Obsessed World Although my swelling might not look as extreme as the images that appear when you Google "lymphoedema," the mental and emotional strain it causes is very real and often invisible. As a young woman living in a society that places so much value on appearance, managing this condition can feel debilitating. Whether I’m on a night out with friends, in a dance class, wearing shorts or a bikini in summer or trying on a pair of jeans that d

The Wrap-Up: IPTC Three & Four / Four - The Results Following my previous sessions, I’ve now completed the full two-week course of intermittent pneumatic compression therapy (IPCT) with two final appointments. Both sessions followed the same procedure as before with the Flowtron machine set at 40 mmHg, providing firm and consistent compression throughout the treatment. At my final session, the wrap from the previous treatment was removed and I was pleased to see that there ha

Stepping Up The Pressure: IPCT Two / Four Two days after my initial appointment, I returned for the second session of my two-week compression drainage therapy. The process was very similar to the first. My previous compression wrap was carefully removed and I began another 30 minute session with the pneumatic compression machine. However, this time there was a notable change. The pressure setting on the machine was increased from 30 mmHg to 40 mmHg (millimetres of mercury). T