Lymphedema Podcast

https://www.pandereshoes.com/products/barista-clearance

Pandere Shoes is a female run shoe company that wants to give you the shoe experience you deserve. My interview here with Laura Oden, Founder and CEO, tells of her personal experience with Secondary Lymphedema and her struggle with footwear. Being from Alaska she also relates to the struggles of accessibility, or wearing bags over her feet when shoes wouldn’t fit. After listening to our conversation I hope you visit their online shoe store to find what they might have for you.

Photo by Ivan Diaz on Unsplash

The National Lymphedema Network has not yet published their position statement on their website, however you can listen to my interview with Jeannette Zucker, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA for the summarized version. We discuss also the NLNs’ daily webinars during the month of March to help spread awareness and education for Lymphedema Awareness Month. All webinars are available for free on their website (the fist webinar topic was the COVID-19 vaccine site).

Does this girl look like a monster to you?!

On March 6th of this year, I received an email from Olivia. She had joined us in celebrating World Lymphedema Day earlier via our live hangout event (IT WAS A GREAT TIME!) Although she has had lymphedema for many years now, this was her first time to really participate in WLD. She told me in her email “I am so glad that I finally mustered up the courage to get involved. As I had said in the chat, I am a 23 year old who was born with primary lymphedema across my entire body and boy has it been a rollercoaster of a life! “

In the moment I made it about me, I am human and generally the first person I think about it myself, sorry. Her email made me feel proud that I withstood the challenges of scheduling the guest speakers, creating the advertisements, practicing on the live stream platform, waking up early, getting a baby sitter, and managing to still pump while away from my son. (Yeah, I went there)

But five seconds after reading the email I thought “WOW, I am so glad she had the courage to join us. It must have been such a relief to hear stories from others who share her experience. She must have felt so alone all of these years!” and that brought me to tears. The next morning I read her blog post and looked her up on Instagram. More tears!

Olivia is a beautiful woman with a radiant smile, killer piano skills, and voice to boot! I am jealous of anyone who can sing, it is the one talent I wish I had.

Reading Olivias’ blog entry made me think of so many children who feel this way or will face these same challenges is we don’t do something: Cora, Kyli, Emma, Brylan, Noah, Tristan, Miguel, Mark, Ryland, Klaus…the list literally goes on and on in my mind. To the point of fury! As a mother now, I see this disease through a new lense. Before Holt, I was empathetic, compassionate, and sad for those who live every day with this disease. Now, with my son in my arms, I am hell bent on helping children learn the treatment regimen as early as physically possible to diminish the effects of fibrotic tissue in babies, finding mental health professionals to support the families, and teaching more CLTs how to effectively treat children throughout their lives and not just once a year check ups.

Olivia, I sincerely hope I did your blog post justice by reading your heart felt words for others to hear. You are radiant. Do not let anyone else ever treat you like you are less: beautiful, worthy, able, or deserving of happiness. You are not a monster on the playground, you are a WARRIOR.

Provided by Lohmann and Rauscher

Pun intended! The Tribute line from L&R provides endless opportunities to conTRIBUTE to your night time success over your Lymphedema. Head to toe the Tribute Night garment can be customized to your needs. Even if you are looking for a off the shelf option, L&R has you covered there, too!

Lindsay and I really dive deep into the specifics on the Tribute line from start to finish, L&R puts your needs and feedback first to provide you with the best night time garment possible. Listen here to learn more!

Today’s episode is a look forward at the month of March and a look back on why I started Lymphedema Podcast! I hope you enjoy hearing my story of how I became a PTA, CLT, and then advocate.

Find more information about the events happening for Lymphedema Awareness month by visiting their websites:

National Lymphedema Network: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n8lEPc8SSCOKWczYjgewfQ

Amanda Sobey: https://www.facebook.com/am.sobey/events/?ref=page_internal

Anna Maisetti: https://www.instagram.com/stile_compresso/

Kathy Bates: https://learn.ticketspice.com/2021-wld-celebration

and me, Lymphedema Podcast: https://viewstub.com/World-Lymphedema-Day-with-Friends-

There are more happenings taking place that you should take advantage of all month long! Browse social medial for more options!

I hope to see you Saturday at my Live Virtual Hangout!!

Are you a CLT who would like to learn more about Oncology Physical Therapy? This summit is for you! Listen to my conversation with Elise Cantu, PT, DPT, CLT and Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT to learn just what to expect at the this amazing VIRTUAL conference! Too many exclamation marks?!?!? I just want you to understand how excited I am to share this opportunity with you. The tickets are CHEAP (fun story for how they chose pricing in the episode) and the replay is available for 365 days! It does not matter if you are not in the field of physical therapy, these topics will apply to anyone treating oncology patients in their setting/disciplines.

Sign up here before early bird pricing ends on February 28th!

Alexa Ercolano, the Author of Lymphie Life blog.

On January 13, 2021, The Lymphie Life celebrated 10 years of guidance, advice, and encouragement with the Lymphedema community. Alexa is a top notch gal who started the blog and a shout into the dark to see if anyone shouted back…and they did!

Listen to our conversation of how within the first 48 hours of the blog being live went. Enjoy!

Caroline Pinney with Juzo is joining me again to talk about quality compression versus crap-pression!! Never fall victim again to compression promises that fall flat!

If you have been with me from the beginning you know I talk a lot about the importance of compression. It is the FOUNDATION to long term results while keeping a healthy and active lifestyle when living with Lymphedema. Extremely important!! So much so that it really makes a difference when you have the right fit, pun intended, when choosing your garment provider.

Juzo has an exceptional line of products in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors. As mentioned in our conversation they even have a self measurement guide to help you during this unusual time to measure and order from home. I have said it before, they really think of everything!!

Follow this link for the Upper Extremity self measuring guide from Juzo

Follow this link for the Lower Extremity self measuring guide from Juzo

Check out the Lymphedema Podcast YouTube channel for the unboxing video that will be out later this week!!

Brylan Williams, Primary Lymphedema

Pediatric Lymphedema can be a challenge, especially when you may not have much experience treating children with Lymphedema. The purpose of this conversation with Amber, CLT at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, is to give you some advice for modifying your current evaluation process.

Keep in mind that you are the key to this child’s success! Teach the parents as much as possible to ensure home compliance. And if you ever need assistance of any kind reach out to Brylan’s Feat Foundation for help.

Special thank you to Joe Zuther for the invitation to be a guest on Lymphedema Blog, and to Amber for taking the time to discuss this important topic.

Grab a notebook and pen for this one! Part 3 of my conversation with Dr. Chen is ready for you to take some notes. We are so fortunate to live in this moment in time where there is data to support a clinical cure for lymphedema. I am not naive to think this procedure will be available to all who need it, but I can’t help but wonder what a difference this will make in the lives of so many. Every time I think of the child, mother, Uncle, or grandparent who WILL receive this life changing procedure, I get tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. The future is here, your time is now! Go to this website to make an appointment with Dr. Chen or contact their office more details.