Nurse Sarah highlights lack of services for Lymphoedema sufferers
THIS Friday is World Lymphoedema Day and a Co Wexford nurse who works with sufferers of the condition is highlighting the lack of services available to the thousands of people affected by the illness across the country.
Lymphoedema is a chronic swelling which can effect any area of the body, most commonly the limbs.
Primary Lymphoedema can be genetic or hereditary. Secondary Lymphoedema can be as a result of having surgery, cancer, radiotherapy and a complicated fracture.
Rathnure woman Sarah Barron is a qualified Registered General Nurse. Having worked extensively in some of Sydney’s largest hospitals, she continued her studies in Australia and qualified as an orthopaedic and emergency care nurse.
Now working as a practice nurse in a GP surgery in Wexford, she has studied reflexology and works one day a week in Hope cancer support centre in Enniscorthy as a Lymphoedema/ Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist.
Sarah said: ‘ Throughout my nursing career I have come in contact with a lot of clients struggling to cope with Lymphoedema and the psychological effects of this condition. As a result of this I was inspired to study Lymphoedema and FG Manual Lymph Drainage in the UK.’
Combining the Reflexology and FG MLD has proven to be very successful in reducing limb swelling and reducing pain, she said.
‘March is Lymphoedema Awareness month and March 6 is World Lymphoedema Day. We, as nurses and therapists, wish to higlight Lymphoedema and the lack of services available for the thousands of people affected by this incurable condition in Ireland and millions worldwide.’
Sarah works privately from Rathnure or and has practiced from the Hope Cancer Support Centre in Enniscorthy for ten years.
For anyone with queries about Lymphoedema they can contact Sarah on 087 2035740.