Linfocintigrafia, a experência de Pernille

Como doentes de linfedema perguntam-nos bastante vezes sobre a nossa experiência com linfedema e o exame de linfocintigrafia. Já relatei aqui  uma das minhas experiências e agora é a vez da Pernille, uma  da vozes do lymphedema que podemos encontrar no instagram, o fazer.

Esta também não foi a primeira vez que  Pernille  experienciou a injeção necessaria para obter o contraste necessario a este exame mas lá ler as orientações que nos são deixados no seu post, autoroizado a ser aqui publicado.

Caso não tenham tido oportunidade de aprender inglês peço, por favor, que accione google tradutor,  assim não perderão "em directo" o que esta dinamarqueza nos relata.

LYMPHOSCINTIGRAPHY

Today I had a lymphoscintigraphy in my local hospital. It is a procedure that provides images of the lymphatic system by injecting tiny amounts of radioactive particles and then images are taken at different times to see how fast and how the particles "travel" through your lymphatic system and your tissue.

This is the second time I had it done and this was the sum of the procedures (for the leg). I got a small injection in between the big toe and the second toe on each leg. Then I had to walk for 20 min without the stocking and return to have the images taken lying down very still. Today I had the second injection on the top of my foot at the base of the space in between the big toe and the second toe. Last time I had it under my foot (ouch). Then I had to walk again for another 20 min and return to get the images taken. This time I have to collect my results in 5 days while the first time I got them right away. I got images from both sessions along with explanations.

Here are some tips for you to prepare:

• Leave your jewellery at home (it's just easier)
• Wear clothes and shoes that are easy to remove and put on again
• Wear ample walking shoes (for leg lymphies)...my foot started to swell in the time I was without compression so it was a good thing I could fit in the shoe
• Ask if you could apply EMLA cream in advance because it does hurt especially on the bad leg (think about a needle going through a piece of tissue or a piece of leather...that is how I felt the difference between the two feet)
• Bring some antibacterial wipes so you can wipe your feet as you walk to and from the machine to the place you need to dress (you never know where that mop has been, cleaning that floor)
• Consider a piece of paper to stand on when you get dressed
• Remember your gloves for when you put on the stocking again and if you swell a lot then perhaps bring an old stocking which will be easier to get on if you get stressed by such procedures.
• It was quite chilly in the room I was in, so consider your clothes as you need to be comfortable for a length of time (I wore a tank top and a blouse but could have done with a thicker top or cardigan).
• If you are by yourself bring your headphones so while you do the walk around the hospital you can listen to music
• Don't drink a liter of water before and make sure you go to the bathroom in the walking period as you have to lie still once the images are taken. I believe it was at least 20 min each time (for me).
• All in all it took 2 hours from I arrived to I left.

I hope this can help you prepare for such a procedure and I would love for your to share your tips and especially if you have arm lymphedema or some other body parts to compare our experiences.