History

As my first writing, I'm will explain how the journey of my Lymphoedema began.

In February 2016, I was training at a performing arts college in Liverpool, working towards a Diploma in dance. Alongside this I was rehearsing for various stage shows with different companies while living a healthy lifestyle. One day, during a dance class, I noticed very acute swelling in my right ankle. I was signed off from dancing and had an appointment with my local GP. With minimal knowledge from the of the where the unexplained 0.5cm of extra fluid came from, I was referred to the vascular clinic at my local hospital for a Deep Vein Thrombosis scan to check for severe blood clots as well as various blood tests. Luckily, these came back all clear but the fluid was still visible across around 5 inches of my lower leg.

Following this, I was referred to have an MRI scan on my pelvic region to check for any blockages passages or any object pressing on an opening into my leg which was impairing it's flow up and down. Having waited 6 months for a scan and received the results, which showed no impairment in my pelvis, I was diagnosed with Lymphoedema by the vascular doctor in December 2018.

A year and a half after multiple appointment with doctors to figure out the problem and its route cause, the swelling in my leg had increased to around 2cm and was spreading further around and up my leg towards my thigh.

Immediately after diagnosis, I was fitted with a Class 1 off-the-shelf compression stocking at a local pharmacist which I was to wear in the daytime for a minimum of 10 hours a day. I have to admit that for the first few months I was reluctant to wear this compression as no one knew about the ongoing discovery of my condition. I was very pessimistic about my leg due to researching and seeing such extreme photos and posts about other cases online.

A few months later, I was offered a place at university and began to have more motivation to self manage my leg to improve or maintain the size. I began to come to terms with the fact that this was the start of a very long journey which will be with me for life. Now, my right leg was around 4/5cm bigger in circumference compared to the left. I was then upped into a Class 2 compression stocking and began to ease it into my lifestyle by wearing it more during general activities as well as sport. Starting university, people were introduced to me with my condition present and I began to see my compression as a part of me and who I am. This made it much easier to incorporate daily compression usage into my life as it wasn't a new change for the people around me.

With little action from the NHS, I quickly found that the Lymphoedema research is severely underfunded in the UK and if I wanted to change the trajectory of my life and career, I had to take more of the weight into my own hands. I researched as much as I could to gain knowledge and comfort in my condition and tried as many self management techniques which I could find from trusted health care websites. I began to see a private specialist consultant in North Wales where I paid for 4 sessions of MLD treatment (Manual Lymphoedema Drainage treatment). Furthering this, I committed to wearing my compression stocking for at least 12 hours everyday, I raised my leg whilst sleeping by placing two large cushions under my mattress and I massaged my leg with a simple emollient (moisturiser) after showers to keep the skin healthy. Above all, I tried my hardest to keep a positive mental attitude about the diagnosis and focused on learning to accept my body for how it was in its new state.

Finally, after repeatedly contacting the NHS and my local GP/hospital, I was able to get an appointment a Lymphoedema clinic nearby. Here, I was fit with made-to-measure compression garments in Class 3 resistance. I had an annual repeat of blood tests and venous ultrasounds which again came back clear and was discharged from the vascular department.