Fitzgibbon Hospital

She Gave Me My Life Back

     Can you imagine living a life full of depression, fear and self-doubt caused by a disease you didn’t even know you had?  Such was the life of Marshall resident, Keith Martin who was diagnosed with Lymphedema.  The swelling in Martin’s legs was debilitating.   That was until he met Tammy Curry, therapist at Fitzgibbon Hospital. 

     Martin often took middle-of-the-night jaunts to the local discount store to shop because he wanted to avoid the stares and glares of other shoppers. The bodily movement required to complete tasks of daily living became difficult chores Martin.  Even getting into a car was difficult, and walking through a store was even more so.  So much so that Miller had to use the electric cart to accomplish his grocery shopping.

     Martin was hospitalized last summer for Cellulitis (a skin infection), something he had experienced on other occasions. The swelling of his legs was so bad that one doctor even recommended amputation. A few days later, a therapist at Fitzgibbon Hospital saw the size of Martin’s legs and shared his condition with Tammy Curry, Certified Lymphedema Therapist.

     That one conversation made all the difference.

     “I had been going to doctors for four years, and no one even suggested that this treatment could change the course of my life,” said Martin.

     The treatment Martin beams about is called Lymphedema Therapy, which Curry uses to reduce the swelling caused by retention of fluid within the extremities.  This retention is not only uncomfortable; it puts additional stress on the heart and other organs.

     “I had gotten to the point where I couldn’t walk without an oxygen tank,” continued Martin.

     Martin’s health began to deteriorate when he quit his job to take care of both of his ailing parents who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.  A change in activity and schedule, paired with the emotional stress of losing both parents was a challenge that started Martin’s downward spiral into depression.

     Martin credits the Lymphedema Therapy Program at Fitzgibbon Hospital with lifting him out of that spiral. Martin now swells with excitement as he talks about his newfound activity as he continues to see weight loss and a reduction in swelling.

    “I’ve lost over 50 lbs of fluid so far,” said Martin.

     “I measure him every appointment, and so far he has lost over 150 cm of fluid from his ankle to his knee.  That’s almost 5 feet!” said Curry.

     The specialized training Curry received to administer the Lymphedema Therapy was very expensive, and was made possible through pledges, memorials and gifts to the Fitzgibbon Hospital Foundation, formerly Fund Development.

     “Andy (Andrew Snyder, Rehabilitation Services Manager for Fitzgibbon Hospital) caught me in the hallway and asked if I knew of any grants that would help us provide this training,” said Mary Keller, Foundation officer.“I responded that I thought this therapy would fall within the lines of the work of our Foundation.

     The Fitzgibbon Hospital Foundation paid for Curry to receive the training, something that Martin says makes him very thankful.

     “I feel like she gave me my life back. I now have so much joy. I have been able to reduce my diabetes medications, and even bought tennis shoes this week.  I haven’t done that in years!” said Martin.

     Lymphedema is often misdiagnosed as obesity, said Curry.  While obesity complicates the disease, Lymphedema is a treatable condition and like most diseases, it is much easier to treat if it is caught early.

     “If you suspect you might have Lymphedema, there are some symptoms that you should talk with your physician about,” said Curry.

These symptoms include:

• Sudden or developing swelling of the hands or feet.  When seen in the feet, ankles may be very large with tissue cascading around the ankle and heel.  Socks may cause a depression ring around the legs.  When located in the hands, rings may get tighter and may become difficult to remove.
• Heaviness or achiness in arms or legs
• Dry or crusty skin (often from seepage of fluid through the pores of the skin)
• May have a lumpy quality to skin
• A recent trauma to an area of the body

     “You may also develop Lymphedema after being treated for cancer, even as long as 10 years after the treatment was completed,” stated Curry.

     While Martin suffers from all of these symptoms, he now has a new symptom that is a direct result of Curry and her work; a new lease on life.

     “You see the world with the eyes you look through.  I see with different eyes now.”