Lymphoedema (lymphedema)
Reader # 1
I am 63 years old and suffer from what I believe is lymphoedema. My legs and stomach are very swollen with water retention. One leg was stripped of varicose veins 30 years ago. The past two years I have been diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease, high blood pressure, thyroid abnormality, severe arthritis, vitamin D deficiency, severe swelling of my legs and stomach (255 pounds when three years ago I was 178 pounds). I am taking five medications and a low dosage asprin daily but my swelling persists. I walk two miles daily and do light weights or swim four times per week for 45 minutes. Your column is interesting and I need help.
Reader # 2
Can anything be done to improve on hereditary lymphodema? Is there any tests that can confirm this? What exactly is the cause? It started in puberty but now my ankles and legs are really big. I am 30 and not over weight.
Answer
Exercise is very important to help prevent the congestion of the lymphatic system which causes lymphoedema type water retention. I cannot say that the Waterfall Diet will be the answer to what looks on the surface to be a complex medical case, but it sometimes is, so it’s well worth you reading the paperback edition to get the information. It has a section on lymphoedema and if you decide to give the diet a go (on an experimental basis) it could help your water retention and improve your general health.
Hereditary lymphoedema is quite rare. Parts of the lymphatic system become blocked, so massage is important, among other things. We have to remember also that a genetic disorder does not mean a condition cannot be improved with diet and nutrition. Some abnormal genes simply cause the body to require more of certain nutrients than other people. Problems relating to deficiencies of those nutrients can then arise but can go away if you make healthy changes to your diet or (in some cases) take the right nutritional supplements.
It is not just genes which are hereditary. Eating habits are too, so if the family diet is lacking in some way, the resulting health problems can seem to be inherited.
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Comments
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time August 14, 2010 at 10:41 am
Go to your GP / family doctor. You need to do this quickly as it sounds serious.
Comment from Linda
Time August 15, 2010 at 2:26 pm
I agree that dedeficiencies can look hedreditary but are not. In this case it is my great-grandmother, grandmother and aunt and me who have it and not my mother. It’s onset was around 14 for no apparent reason and it just gets worse and worse. My diet is good and I do lots of exercise. Yes maybe extra something would help….but what? Can you direct me to some good studies done on this problem.
Comment from Linda Lazarides
Time August 17, 2010 at 8:33 am
Yes of course! The book recommended on this site is all about water retention, it has a section on lymphoedema, and studies are discussed in the book.
Comment from Nicole from Glowing Beauty
Time November 18, 2010 at 1:46 am
My sister had this same problem and was able to cure it through intense exercise. However not everyone has time for that – the book gives some good suggestions.
Comment from Calgary Apartments
Time December 3, 2010 at 9:02 am
I absolutely agree that eating in a healthy way is the best step to gain healthy lifestyle. We have to bare in mind the food that we take in order to know if it will cause water retention or any difficulties. For some people, they have limitations to their diets to avoid water retention but still sweats a lot.
Comment from Millie Davies
Time August 10, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I have Neuropathy now for 21 yrs. I have another problem now. I have legs that swell and are painful to touch. Now sores break out and are full of water and they leak all day and night. What kind of a doctor should I seek out. Can’t hardly walk and so painful now. Thank you. Millie