for Barb S.

[Guest guest]

At 08:07 PM 9/23/05 -0700, you wrote:

> Well, most recently, I have developed lymphedema and great water

> retention that causes a loss of mobility and great pain. It has gone on

> for six months now and I went through a barrage of tests, CAT scans and

> such that turned up a liver lesion and a 'vague nodularity' in my right

> lung but nothing that would cause the water retention. Thus I am sure it

> is Gleevec. My patience is just very thin at this point and my temper is

> close to the surface. The constant pain really wears away my patience. I

> get so tired of it I cry. I am visiting with my oncologist Oct. 3 to see

> what we might be able to do... lasix just doesn't do it.

Hi Barb,

I have a suggestion that might be helpful if it is not something that you

have tried. There is a special type of message (actually a couple

varieties) called lymphatic message. I did this maybe 6 months

ago.....because I was doing some heavy metal detoxification and wanted to

move the toxins more to get them out of my body. It was quite unusual

feeling......I was told that my lymphatic system was indeed sluggish. This

made me think that this might actually be where some of the fluid

retention/edema is with Gleevec. My lymphatics were especially sluggish

where I seemed to notice some IM swelling, like the insides my thighs just

above the knees. I really felt significantly different after the session.

Often my legs feel tight.....which I notice when I squat down....like very

tight pants,

only it is skin! and this helped.

This type of massage is done with folks who have lymphedema post

mastectomy, etc. If you want to try this, call an LMT and ask if they are

trained specifically to do lymphatic massage....or you might ask at a

breast cancer group, etc for a recommendation. Anyway, wanted to share this

info with you

as it might be helpful.

C.