Love, understand and embrace your lymphatic system

When Your Lymphatic System Finally Responds

It is such a relief when your lymphatic system begins to respond to your healthier lifestyle choices.

Is this something you tune into or have observed in your body?

But getting to that point isn’t always easy. I am also not referring to a state of cure because we know - that isn't possible, but the focus is on overall health allowing the body to reduce the chronic inflammatory response, to bring it to a place of calm, if that makes sense, this has been my focus.

I am well aware of what works for me, this will be totally different for you, we are not the same, even if we have lymphatic dysfunction, but something has led you here, into this space of now having to manage life with a lymphatic disorder, so what do you do next?

You now have a myriad of options and choices before you, but lets first explore a little more.

The trigger for your lymphatic dysfunction is different for each of us, we are all unique, we may have a primary genetic dysfunction that has lay dormant all our life, until something happens that initiates or awakens the lymphatic system to respond, or you may have been born with lymphoedema and it was evident from birth even diagnosed while in the womb.

You can still find beauty and purpose in cloudy days - Queenstown, New Zealand

Causes or Triggers, what do you understand or know about this for yourself?

1 - You were born with primary lymphoedema - Primary lymphoedema is a chronic condition where swelling (usually in the arms or legs, but it can affect the face, trunk, or genitals) develops because the lymphatic system hasn’t developed properly.

The next causes are known as secondary lymphoedema -  (which happens after damage, surgery, infection, or trauma, burns, prolonged stress) these can take on many causes - so lets have a little look.

2 - As a result of cancer treatment (surgery, radiation) and the removal of lymph nodes, breast cancer is well recognised as a risk.

3 - You may have had an accident, injury or surgery where your lymphatics have been damaged/scar tissue may develop that prevents lymphatic flow.

4 - Unbeknown to you, you have been just surviving living with prolonged chronic stress, running on high cortisol, flight or fight, short on sleep, without time to restore and recover, not prioritising your health, until the body can’t keep up anymore, something has to give and that may have been your lymphatic system.

5 - Maybe weight gain, obesity related lymphoedema is on the increase, possibly your diet is based on processed foods for easy convenience, and endless takeaways, food addiction, emotional eating, your body is chronically inflamed, your gut health is in a poor state, possibly leaky gut, fatty liver, high blood pressure, diabetes, burnout, placing more stress and pressure on your fragile lymphatics.

6 - Perhaps grief, trauma, and loss, held in the muscle system and quietly carried in the fascia, eventually surfaced in the body as a result of restricted flow.

7 - Sometimes even medications prescribed to help with other conditions such as metabolic health, as doctors often do not ask about lifestyle choices and what is going on for you, they address symptoms first and medicate next, overtime this way of management can impact your health and affect lymphatic flow.

8 - Lipoedema diagnosis and if this progresses which it can for some individuals, but not everyone, it can eventually develop into lipo-lymphoedema where the lymphatic system becomes overwhelmed and lymphoedema develops.

9 - Vascular issues can also trigger a lymphatic dysfunction where lymphoedema develops.

10 - Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by tiny thread-like worms (filarial nematodes) that are transmitted to humans through mosquito bites.

• The most common type is lymphatic filariasis.

• Over time, the worms live in the lymphatic system, causing blockages and leading to swelling.

• This can eventually cause elephantiasis (severe swelling and skin thickening).

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There will be other triggers, if you want to share on this post, would love to hear about them, by sharing we are providing a learning environment for anyone who comes across this blog.

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The truth is, our lymphatic system is a full body organ in its own right, it is silent and unseen. It works tirelessly behind the scenes, protecting us, supporting immunity, keeping balance. But it needs the right environment to function fully, and that means care across every aspect of life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual and social, community and connection is important, we are social beings needing love, friendship and support that we trust.

I know this deeply. I searched for years, doctors, specialists and even lymphoedema therapists, hoping someone would “fix” my lymphatic system. After hitting wall after wall, I realised, the change had to begin with me.

I had to sit with myself and ask, what was I doing? or what was I not doing? What was happening around me? What was fuelling this battle in my body? I really had to reflect and ask these questions for I knew this was not present before in my body and I understood what my triggers were, and once that happened I then had to initiate steps to find ways of improving the health of my body, mentally and physically.

Once I made the choice to change, to look at my habits, my emotions, what was driving me to make food choices, educating myself about how the food industry was impacting those choices was vitally important, everything shifted.

I came across this photo on the left today, I really had to take a moment to pause, because my body doesn't feel any different due to the lymphoedema, chronic pain and all that comes with it, but I truly had not realised the difference in myself, reminded me to celebrate the small steps that have taken time in my hope of saving myself from serious complications, that still exist for me, I so wanted to reach in and hug that me, for I know her reality well.

A Whole-Body Approach

One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned is that lymphatic health cannot be addressed by focusing only on the swollen limb or body part.

It must be viewed as a whole-body system, influenced by lifestyle, stress, emotions, trauma, and environment. Thankfully, more professionals in our community are beginning to bring awareness to this deeper understanding of cause and we have enormous opportunity to learn from this.

As a health coach, this is also my belief. It all must be addressed to calm and care for the lymphatic system. Each of us has our own roadmap. By creating a pathway to wellness, life with a lymphatic condition can still hold purpose, direction, and meaning.

That’s why I’m here. I understand the frustration, the exhaustion, the setbacks. I live it too. But I also know the joy and relief of giving my lymphatic system what it needs, the care, attention, and love it deserves.

And I want that for you too.

Remember ' YOU MATTER'

'explore what matters, living your life, loving your lymph'

If anything here resonates with you, lets chat, reach out and book a FREE no obligated discovery call, lets explore where you are at, and where you want to go, coaching is all about you, it gives you space, time for deep reflection where you are empowered , no longer overwhelmed and calm, you got this, you know this.

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J