Diane’s story

The full story

Diane and her husband came to a consultation with Alex at the Oxford Lymphoedema Practice. Alex listened to her medical history and discussed both why lymphoedema happens, and Diane’s concerns regarding the future. He then carefully examined and measured Diane’s arm. This showed mild lymphoedema with a small amount of swelling. Diane then underwent ICG Lymphography, which demonstrated the lymphoedema, and guided Alex’s treatment recommendation. Diane and her husband then had an opportunity to discuss the operation, recovery, and likely outcomes.

Diane decided to go ahead with LVA surgery. She underwent the operation under local anaesthetic (meaning she was awake during the procedure), with both Alex and Dominic operating on her arm at the same time. This meant her operation proceeded rapidly, and she was able to go home on the same day.

Diane’s post-operative recovery was simple, and she was reviewed in clinic three months after the operation. She was already showing improvement in how her arm felt, and her measurements showed that her left arm was slightly smaller than her right arm. After six months, she began to gradually reduce the amount of time she wore her compression sleeve. When she was last seen in clinic two years after her surgery, her arm remained smaller than the right side, despite her not wearing a compression sleeve. Diane feels that the operation has transformed her life, giving her renewed hope for a bright future free from swelling.