A proud resilient warrior Navigating the lymphedema journey
By Jennifer Albert
OnJune 17, 2010, I was involved in a partial head-on car collision on the way to work. That day changed my life forever. My name is Jennifer Albert, and I’m a 47year-old solo mom and police officer working and living in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). The accident caused soft-tissue injuries to my neck and spine, dislocated ribs, and burns in the hip area, most likely from the
How and what I eat then sets the tone for my leg and the rest of the day. I have found that a gluten-free and dairyfree diet works best to manage my inflammation. Eating a diet with healthy proteins and vegetables provides enough fuel for my exercise routines.
tests to rule out Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). He advised that the initial car accident had injured my lymphatic system in the groin area. The subsequent fall I took on Canada Day had further damaged it, leading to swelling of the entire leg and foot. At the age of 41, I was officially diagnosed with secondary lymphedema. Little did I know how it would impact my life.
seat belt. After my accident, I noticed an odd swelling in the left groin area that no one seemed to be able to explain. Then, in 2018, while celebrating Canada Day, I tripped on a shepherd’s hook, which then vaulted up and left me with an injury to the left groin. That’s when my left foot began to swell. I was referred to a vascular surgeon, who ordered a CT scan and other
Many factors now affect my daily life due to my disabilities. My day begins and ends with focusing on choices that are best to manage the lymphedema in my leg. After I wake up, whether I slept well or not will help decide how my leg starts for the day. There are so many extra decisions to make before 9 am. Next, I put on my compression garment, which can be exhausting and takes time away from my son. How and what I eat then sets the tone for my leg and the rest of the day.
I have found that a gluten-free and dairy-free diet works best to manage my inflammation. Eating a diet with healthy proteins and
My workouts are always well-planned and purposeful, allowing me to stay healthy while avoiding aggravation of my lymphedema. I had to modify some of my exercise routines. I’ve abandoned my CrossFit training, as the excessive weights negatively affected the swelling in my leg. I now exercise using lighter weights and with more repetitions.
Every decision I make throughout my day relates to my disabilities and how I can create the best environment to succeed. I continually expand my knowledge of lymphedema management to enhance my skills and equip myself with the best tools. I am under the care of a certified lymphedema therapist. Alongside my deep oscillation machine and vibration plate, I have a variety of tools that enable me to
manage my diagnosis effectively. I wear daytime and nighttime compression garments and have tried acupuncture, dry brushing, cupping, and percussive massage therapy to help manage fibrosis. However, the financial stress and costs associated with successfully managing lymphedema cannot be ignored. Each garment and each tool can be a costly source of stress in itself. Stress is a known factor that negatively impacts our lymphatic system. As a police officer, stress is what I deal with on a day-to-day basis. Shortly before my lymphedema diagnosis, I had suffered a mental health injury while in the line of duty. I was subsequently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which was the biggest surprise. The direct relationship between stress
and lymphedema is impossible to ignore. I am fortunate enough to have a therapist that I see twice a week who helps me manage my PTSD. I am very thankful to have some work-related insurance benefits. Still, my heart goes out to those who have no financial support or coverage.
There are lifestyle elements I had not counted on, such as shopping for clothing and considering how it fits and whether it will aggravate my groin or leg—or wanting to take my girlfriend on a nice date and struggling to find high heels that will fit my foot with my garment on, that are comfortable yet also make me feel confident. Or wanting to go see a concert with my sister and realizing halfway through that the heat and swelling are becoming too much for my leg and knowing that I will be “punished” for it later on. All these small things we take for granted that I no longer do or have to modify the activities.
Specialist Clinic for Lymphology
European Center for Lymphology
The Foeldi Clinic, European Center for Lymphology, in the Black Forest, Germany offers a special treatment.
4 WEEKS of intensive lymphological decongestive therapy includes:
• Specialist medical care by experienced MD‘s
• Daily decongestive therapy by our specialised lymphedema therapists (expert manual lymph drainage and bandaging) and many different decongestive movement therapies as part of group therapy
I continually expand my knowledge of lymphedema management to enhance my skills and equip myself with the best tools. I am under the care of a certified lymphedema therapist.
Lymphedema can be an expensive, isolating and lonely disability. To that I say, you are not alone. You are seen, and there are so many tools at your disposal. My greatest comfort is connecting with others through social media and podcasts, reaching out to those who have had similar experiences. Those who struggle with lymphedema are a community of welcoming, resilient individuals. They are warriors with stories to tell, and I, for one, am proud to be one of them. LP
Picturesque Black Forest mountain range in close proximity of Switzerland and France
Price for a 4-week treatment: 15.000 US $ (with accompanying person in the same room 20.000 US $)
Price for a 4-week outpatient treatment: 13.000 US $
• Wound treatment if necessary by our certified wound experts and psychological support if necessary by our psychotherapists
Contact: Dr. Tobias Bertsch Medical Director tobias.bertsch@foeldiklinik.de Do
• Accommodation and meals at the Foeldi Clinic
www.foeldiklinik.de/en/