I am not sure if the magnesium and zinc will help with cramps or not. Usually the cramps are do to a deficiency with potassium. I would do some research on the internet and see. I don't think the antiinflammatory drug would hurt if you are swollen. My doctor didn't even know what lymphedema was or how to treat it. I had to go to an internal medicine doctor for help. I hope this helps a little. Sorry for the late post but am new here.

Nammers is right about the potassium. I take potassium because my body for some reason my body doesn't get what it needs.

I would love to know the number of lymphedema patients who were prescribed diuretics by physicians who were clueless about lymphedema.

I know I was prescribed diuretics for about 5 years off and on before I was finally diagnosed. My PCP even kept uping the diuretic thinking that it would help. I kept telling them something was wrong and no one would take me seriously. I kept telling them I was filling up with water and no one believed me. When I was diagnosed I was on the verge of CHF. Now I am doing the wraps and it is coming off but I have NO ENERGY at all. I can sleep easily for 14-16 hours and still be lethargic. Anyone else had this problem?

Hi, i also experience this feeling of being lethargic most of the time, but my problem could be that i sleep less hours, it is troubling me, i sleep around 2 or 3 or sometimes at four. Last night i slept only for three hours. I had to wake up because my first class was at 7H40. I am suffering from insomia big time, i wish i can take sleeping pills sometimes so that i can have a peaceful sleep and wake up well rested the next morning.

I suggest you go and see your doctor so that you can have your iron level checked, it could be that you are low on iron and that makes one tired all the time. I once had that time of feeling when my normal sleeping was not disturbed. Went to see the doctor and i was told that my iron level was low, there were times i even felt like i am about to faint, but now that is sorted it is just the sleepless nights that makes me tired. May be i should try some pain killers to ease the pain, some days are better than the others, so i get to sleep, but more often i do not sleep. What bothers me is even when the pain is minimal i still struggle to sleep, i think it is also because of the depression i am going through.

Wow, we sound like a broken record. "My doctor didn't know anything about lymphedema", Very frustrating. I was precribed anti-inflammatoy and after a week of taking them (they can be very hard on you), I knew they were doing noting at all! Stopped taking them.

I am waiting for a complete knee replacement for a torn mescius SP? (ligament) that got really torn BUT my surgeon said that the lymphedema really intensified the problem. He was also reluctant to do the operation because of the lymphedema... apparently blod clots are a major threat.

I feel the health care system really needs to start taking this disease more seriously. Life is not fun when you can't walk much, can't kneel down, can't go anywhere without wraps or compression socks.... never mind trying to put a shoe on that will fit! I guess because is doesn't kill us... it's low priority.

Note: where I live, they dont even have lymphedema therapists or anything. This website is the source of 90% of my information.