Some personal news
Whether you've been with me for awhile or only a few weeks, you probably know that I have a chronic condition called lymphedema. Earlier this month, I shared some background about lymphedema and how it manifested in my left foot and lower leg in March 2023. In that blog, I told you to stay tuned here for more lymphedema updates.
Well, here goes.
At 7:30 a.m. ET this morning [March 27, 2025], I am undergoing a lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA), which is a microscopic sugical procedure to bypass my lymphatic veins into my circulatory veins. We're talking about veins that are the width of human hair (!!!). The goal is to create "exits" for the lymphatic fluid in my left leg to alleviate the swelling and achy, heavy feeling I constantly experience. Although there is no cure for lymphedema, I'm cautiously optimistic about the results.
Pre-surgery testing in December showed, among other things, that nuclear dye injected between the toes in my left foot never reached my groin after five hours, whereas the dye injected between the toes in my right foot reached my groin in half hour or less. As the surgeon explained, the faulty lymphatics in my left leg are like trying to squeeze toothpaste out of a tube while the cap is still on. (It feels like it too!)
The surgery is a two to four hour procedure, so depending on when you're reading this, my incredible surgeon could be doing his painstaking, microscopic work. Please send positive vibes -- and for me to stay sane! I'll be off my feet "babying the limb" for two weeks post-op. As in, not putting any weight on my foot, resting with my foot and leg elevated, and using crutches or a walker whenever I need to get around. No driving!
Stay tuned here and on Instagram @jmtspeaks for updates. I bet you're not on the same journey as me (I sure hope not), but as always, I'll be honest and share what I'm learning with the hope that it can help you the next time life throws you a curveball. As always, it's about authenticity.
Thank you for your support!
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