Sarah Buller is a model, lives in Nice and is the mother of two children. When she was three months pregnant with her first child she began to notice the inflammation in her left leg, but she thought it would be a normal pregnancy symptom (many women have swollen legs during pregnancy). However, the swelling was over, so he decided to see a specialist.
They performed studies, scanners and tests and told him that he might leave after pregnancy, but unfortunately it was not. Within a few months he was diagnosed with a Primary lymphedema, a strange condition that has no cure and left your left leg at twice its normal size.
During her second pregnancy, the situation worsened and she felt lonely and depressed, so she decided to contact other women who have been through the same. Thus he learned of a surgery that could help relieve his symptoms, an intervention he underwent three months ago.
Sarah has made her case public because aims to raise awareness about this forgotten pathology through his Instagram account (@lymphosaurus_rex) and his blog where he has photos, videos and testimonials the day to day of his illness.
What is a lymphedema?
Lymphedema is a chronic disease. characterized by the accumulation of a fluid, called lymphatic, in the tissues under the skin. It is the result of the blockage of lymph vessels or lymph nodess caused by the accumulation of large amounts of lymphatic fluid in the affected region. This causes inflammation (swelling), most commonly the limbs uni or bilaterally, but it can also appear in other regions of the body.
Lymphedema can be primary, as in this case, whose cause is unknown and usually hereditary (one in 6000 people born with primary lymphedema), or secondary, usually after surgery, and very common in the case of patients with cancer of mom.
Unlike edema, one of the most common discomforts in pregnancy, in both problems too much fluid accumulates in one limb, but only lymphedema is a consequence of a drain obstruction related to abnormal development of lymphatic pathways before birth.
Women are three times more affected than men, the left leg is more affected than the right (60% versus 40%), the upper extremities are rarely affected and tend to appear in menarche and pregnancy, which would suggest a hormonal cause
Affected people experience symptoms such as pain, swelling, feeling of tightness and heaviness possible recurring superficial infections, in addition to psychological symptoms.
So. Swollen. Swimming doesn't do much to help at the moment. The combination of hot and humid is a killer. Bring on winter I say (which is totally unlike me !!). #lymphedema #weirdestdiseaseever #kankles #lymphaticdrainage #lymphaticsystem #lymphatic #vlnt #lymphnodetransfer
A video posted by @lymphosaurus_rex on Aug 14, 2016 at 6:38 p.m. PDT
Does lymphedema have a cure?
Currently, it has no cure, but there are three surgical procedures that help relieve symptoms. Sarah underwent a lymph node transplant in May, a technique that involves removing lymph nodes from another part of the body and moving them to the affected area.
The lymphatic problem will continue to affect the person, but it is possible that the physical symptoms can be reduced and even disappear until both legs are the same size.
According to published data, patients can show a perimeter decrease of up to four centimeters, in up to sixty percent of cases.
Photos | @lymphosaurus_rex
Via | Daily Mail
More information | UCM
In Babies and more | Blood circulation problems during pregnancy, can they be prevented ?, Discomfort in pregnancy: edema
