My left Leg - A walk with Lymphedema

Whew!!!! What a time I have been having. But I survived it...well, I am surviving it. I am struggling once again with my left leg (literally). Let's take a look back (a few blogs ago) I have twin cyst on my left knee, that has caused excruciating pain. Mr. Dr. man gave me an injection of steroids, well there lies the problem. 1) I was pain free for approximately ONE week. Don't get me wrong during that week I was grateful 2) Due to lymphedema I am not supposed to have any injections, intrusions, tightness etc. on my legs. Therefore from that I began to have more problems with...you guessed it "my left leg". I will not blame Mr. Dr. man entirely because this is part of the "condition" and I am learning the do's and don'ts. Anyway, My leg is wrapped again 8 layers of wrapping from gauze to something that resembles fur, sponge and 4 non-stretch ace bandages. As if that doesn't sound bad enough it has been 90 degrees where I live. Can you say HOT! So with the heat and the multi-layers my leg feels like it is in it's own personal sauna. Don't laugh or smile at my misery please,thank you. Ok it's 12:00 midnight and it starts to itch, being the innovative person that I am I found a nice long back scratcher and slowly eased it down my my over crowded leg and began to scratch just a little and guess what, IT ITCHED MORE!!! So I scratched more and more and more. Now the bandaging is too loose, my leg hurts and I simply can not take it. So through my half shut eyes, I take it off, ALL OF IT, LAYER BY FREAKING LAYER aahhh relief finally. My leg still hurts but I slept. Now the alarm goes off 6:30 am and I have a problem. How in Gods name am I going to get this "crap" back on. Out of frustration I begin to cry. I have no one to call and I cannot do it myself. I am reminded of how alone I am. I called a friend who does a great job at calming me down and we begin to think together. I tried to make arrangement to go to the hospital so they could re-wrap "my left leg but no one could do it until afternoon. I cannot go that long for it would cause me to have a major setback and cause problems. Ok so I take a deep breath and asked my mother...well let's just say all layers are on and it's staying up. Now I am looking for my lesson in this madness. I instantly realize 1) I have to think first, before I react even in an "urgent" situation 2) I need to always have a back up plan (this will take help me to "not panic") 3) Calm the heck down and 4) No man is an island.

I need you. I need someone that I can rely on, I need to be able to ask for help and be able to receive/welcome the help that is offered. It takes nothing from me, I am no less because I could not do it alone.

Did you get it?

~peace~