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Suggest Treatment For Lymphedema In The Legs

Posted on Tue, 6 Dec 2016

Question: I (Age 84) am looking for assistance in caring for my husband (Age 87) who has lymphedema and needs to be in a vascular pump every day for an hour and to wear prescription stockings on both legs from the knees down. Are there people trained to do this?
XXXXXXX

Thank you.

Did you receive his medication list?

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The list of medications wasn't received!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Please, kindly send the list of drugs again for review and guidance. However, compressive stockings and vascular pump are ideal for his vascular issues. I would have chosen over this to any other possible list of medications. At his age, am not surprised he might not love getting into the pools. What I recommend most is that you stay by his side and continue being as supportive and loving as always.

I look forward to receiving the list of drugs for further guidance and assistance.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (25 hours later)

XXXXXXX XXXX
2213 XXXX XXXXXXX XXXX 19810-2749

I am currently taking the following medications and supplements:

MEDICATION NAME     DOSE     WHEN TAKEN     REASON
Amoxicillin     2 gms.     1 hour before dental appointments     Post shoulder replacement surgery
Aleve     220 mg. (1x/day)     Breakfast     Osteoarthritis
Carvedilol     3.125 mg. (2x/day     Breakfast and Dinnertime     Strengthen heart
Dicyclomine (Bentyl)     10 mg. (1x/day)
20 mg. (1x/day)     Before Breakfast
Before Dinner     Calm intestinal spasms
Enteric coated aspirin     325 mg. (1x/day)     Dinnertime     Blood thinner
Folic acid     1 mg. (2x/day)     Breakfast and Dinnertime     Heart health
Mavic (trandolapril)     2 mg. (1x/day)     Breakfast      Control blood pressure
Zetia     10 mg. (1x/day     Breakfast     Reduce LDL cholesterol
B Complex Dietary Supplement:
Thiamin (25 mg.)
Riboflavin (25 mg.)
Niacin (100 mg.)
Vitamin B6 (25 mg.)
Vitamin B12 (25 mg)
Pantothenic acid (25 mg.)
No folic
No Paba
1 tablet
Dinnertime
Dietary supplement
Calcium carbonate     500 mg. (1x/day)     Lunch     Dietary supplement
Coenzyme Q10     200 mg.(breakfast) 100 mg. (dinner)     Breakfast and Dinnertime     Dietary supplement
Vitamin D3     1200 IU (1x/day)     Lunch     Dietary supplement
Align (bifidobacterium infantis)     4 mg. (2x/day)     Breakfast and Bedtime      Digestive system health

10/30/16

I have attached my husband's medication list.
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thanks for the list!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have reviewed the list and this seems comprehensive with a well established plan that is simple to understand and follow through. For the Lymphedema, I suggest you continue with the ongoing measures. Have you also tried vascular pumps from Normatec?

Let me know what the made is, please.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ivo Ditah (14 hours later)

It appears that we have gotten off of the subject. I am looking for someone who would be trained in lymphedema care to assist my husband if I were having surgery and would need assistance for a couple of days. When we had a lymphedema clinic close to our home - which is no longer there - we would see young girls do exactly this kind of work for the therapists. We now go to the lymphedema clinic in the cancer center at XXXXXXX Hospital. My husband's vascular pump was prescribed by his vascular surgeon after he examined XXXXXXX My question to your medical group is: Are there people trained to help patients get into and off of vascular pumps, to put on patients' compression stockings and to remove them? My husband is still quite bright, and is a retired chemical engineer. We have been married 62 years. We are looking for the best person we can find to assist us with his lymphedema needs if the need arises. I apologize for not being more clear. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ivo Ditah (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
We do not have trained persons on the ground!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

We really do not have physical structures on the ground to help you with this. I will rather suggest you ask the hospital staff about available facilities and persons in the neighborhood. This would provide information that you can now build on to prepare for instances when your husband needs care.

I am sorry for this lack of immediate solution to your worry from us. I wish you and your husband well.

Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar