To ask if anyone has had a Lymphatic Drainage Massage

[LuckyShark]

Well yes I probably am asking here in AIBU. BUT I wanted as many answers as i coukd get asap.

I am always on steroids due to Addisons Disease. Usually this isnt a problem and I manage life on them well.

However at the moment im having a flare up of another autoimmune disease and the treatment (until they can figure something out) is more steroids.

I am very bloated with what I know iswater weight. I feel like if i push on the skin on my arms, legs, stomach I can feel pockets of fluid.

I started doing a basic lymphatic drainage massage on my face and neck and I can see the difference really clearly. My eyes arent hooded with swelling anymore, my chins are down to 2 instead of 5. I have cheekbones again.

Normally I would think all this is instagram bullshit. But the more i look into it im starting to think its not

Any practitioners locally seem to be physiotherapists which makes me think this has to be legit.

I just feel so bloated and uncomfortable that I would try anything.

But im 100% against woo. Ive been too ill too long and had too many people try and sell me shite that my tolerance for people preying on the ill is zero. Usually I would run far away from something like this

But does it work? I can see the facial results but am I clutching at straws here?

Any experiences i would really love to hear about, good or bad.

P.S no change to diet, all relatively healthy, low on UPF, lots of working to hit the right macros etc to try and improve the state of my crap health. Have put on 3 quarters of a stone with no extra calories - now being about 9st 5 at 5"5". Dont care about weightloss just to stop feeling like im pumped full of air/water

Thank you

A quick google suggests that If you’re on steroids you should be cautious because the skin and surrounding tissues can be weakened, so overfirm massage can cause tearing. Lymphatic massage is meant to be gentle but you should be very sure that you’re going to an expert practitioner. It can be beneficial for lymphoedema but results do vary - some people respond better than others

I go to a place that has lymphatic massage roller machines. I love it, feel so good afterwards. You can control the pressure and speed of the rollers

I have several every year as I have lymphoedema which flares up a lot during the Summer. Definitely find it beneficial. The guy I see was recommended and he is brilliant.

A friend is having it due to lymphoedema after cancer treatment. He says it's uncomfortable but is definitely helping.

Ooh can you link where you get your face message tutorial?

It’s definitely not woo, there’s solid science behind it. When I had it during and after breast cancer treatment to reduce swelling after lymph node removal and help prevent lymphoedema. I’d give it a go and see if it helps. Make sure you do go to an expert, it’s not just random massage but needs to be done in a specific order and direction.

The other think you need to do is plenty of exercise using your large muscles as those are the pumps of the lymph system.

@nomas i was rubbish and cant link
But the first video i really looked into as i was sure it wasnt woo is on YouTube
Its by a creator called Cancer Rehab PT
And its her video called Face, Head and Neck Lymphatic Drainage Routine
Its very clear on explaining how and why she/we are doing the things we are doing and the reasons behind each action
Its about 15mins long but a lot of it is teaching.
Ive practiced quite a bit so dont use the video now- but did in the beginning. I wanted to make sure i was doing it correctly and not causing myself any harm
But i can feel the difference. There is an openness to my chest, I have swelling in my ear canals (due to my other AI condition) and I can feel the pressure and swelling go down.
Again hooded eyes have gone and my face is a lot less heavy.

Thanks for the replies. I think i will phone a practice and go through my medical history and see if a physio is willing to work with me. I do think i could get benefit from this, and due to your positive stories I dont feel the nagging that this is woo.
Which to be honest as its done by medically trained staff and theres lota on YouTube by medically trained people I should have not questioned it.
But a lot of the time conditions become buzzwords and I was hoping this wasnt one of them...and it seems thankfully like this could be beneficial

Where’s that?

Airborne Elephant I know thats the other issue, my flare has me down and im not able to move about as freely as id like.
Trying to up the movement as much as I can and push through. Thank you for reminding me how important it is
I hope you are on the road to recovery after your cancer treatment

I am recovering, thank you. Not perfect or anything like it but enjoying life.

Believe me, I understand how hard that is. But it really will help - it’s not the intensity that is important but the regularity, so if you can possibly get out for a 5 minute walk in the sun a couple of times a day that’s great. Or anything else you can do 💕

@SummerDaysOnTheWay Hertford in Hertfordshire. Roller Fit

Bob and Brad on YouTube are physios and have a video on this for the legs. It's really easy to do (you just need to lie flat and have a couple of pillows handy)and did help with my swollen ankles last summer. It's offered to cancer patients after lymph node removal, my mum has it for her swollen leg after ovarian cancer.