LymphUnited eNewsletter
Volume 1
October 2021
LymphUnited eNewsletter
Volume 1
October 2021
Volume 1 – October 2021
Welcome to the very first LymphUnited eNewsletter, which we hope you find interesting, informative and enjoyable. Most importantly, we hope there will be something that you find beneficial to improve your quality of life and to help you to live better with lymphoedema.
We would welcome your feedback at Hello@lymphunited.com.
Christmas Stocking?
Are you someone who is difficult to buy Christmas or birthday presents for? Here are some fantastic gift ideas to put on your Christmas list this year – to suit all budgets – from special oedema socks to made-to-measure clothes, all with member’s discounts available.
Socks can be an easy ‘go-to’ Christmas present for many. However, traditional or novelty socks may not be helpful for someone with lymphoedema as the tight elasticated tops often create a tourniquet effect around the ankle or calf, causing discomfort or pain. Our friends at Sock Shop produce a specialised range of healthcare and wellbeing socks called IOMI FootNurse, designed to aid feet, ankles and legs, especially for people with lymphoedema or diabetes.
Iomi footwear
Shane Doughty, Director told us “We’ve heard stories about people who just couldn’t wear socks during wintertime, before they found IOMI socks, which is unimaginable. It is very heart warming and rewarding for us to see first-hand, the positive difference our products can make to someone.”
Using your Lymphoedema United Member Discount Code, you will receive 10% off all products listed on their Meet the Suppliers page.
Using your Lymphoedema United Member Discount Code, you will receive 10% off all products listed on their Meet the Suppliers page.
Shirts, Jackets, Trousers are not easily bought ‘off-the-shelf’ by someone with lymphoedema, which can lead to purchasing oversized, unflattering clothes that hide our swollen limb(s). Having made-to-measure clothes has always been only for the rich and famous, but things are now changing for the better. As a member of Lymphoedema United you can use your unique discount code to get money off, making the purchase even more attractive. As a suggestion, family and friends could club together to purchase a voucher or give you money to spend on one of the companies listed on our Meet the Suppliers section.
The upside to this is that your family and friends have contributed to a present that you will really benefit from, and the clothes will be made exactly to your specification and measurements, taking your oedema into consideration. We have several companies on our website that will be extremely happy to help you to feel fabulous in clothes. The investment will reward you time and time again, as founder Matt Hazledine can vouch for.
Dress 2 Kill & i Tailor
Visit Meet the Suppliers and check out the range offered by iTailor, an online service and Dress2Kill an affordable tailor with a difference, based in London Waterloo and Andover, Hants.
Jeans for lymphoedema legs are practically impossible to buy on the high street and buying online can be costly. Ordering different styles and sizes, spending time returning many pairs that just don’t fit swollen legs is all very disheartening. Levi’s Lot 1 provide a solution, with bespoke made-to-measure jeans that could be a fantastic Christmas gift from loved ones clubbing together to buy you something that is truly life-enhancing. Elizabeth Radcliffe – Master Tailor at the London store – has worked with customers with lymphoedema and is extremely sensitive and considerate, making the whole experience exciting and pleasurable.
Levi’s Lot 1
Elizabeth told us “Before I spoke to Vicki and met Matt, I had never heard of lymphoedema and I am delighted to be able to help people with this disease by creating perfectly fitted bespoke jeans. Jeans that you will have and cherish for life.”
Vouchers are available via the Levi’s page on Meet the Suppliers section, with an attractive reduction in price using your member’s discount code. A voucher for Levi’s Lot 1 jeans makes a fabulous Christmas or birthday gift, as our founder Matt Hazledine knows. “The made-to-measure jeans hid my lymphoedema completely, helping me to feel good in clothes again. My confidence and self-esteem increased considerably. Lot 1 are well worth the investment considering how many times I wear them.”
So, go on, put yourself first this Christmas and ask for gifts that will make a difference and help you to look better and feel more confident with lymphoedema.
New book by Matt Hazledine
Matt shares his personal experiences across 25 subjects and gives 40 useful tips that have helped him whilst living with lymphoedema for the past 10 years. In addition, over 20 medical experts in the lymphoedema sector provide trusted information and helpful guidance. Both elements of this book will help you to live better with lymphoedema. 25% of profits are donated to the Lymphoedema Research Fund. On sale now. See website for details.
If you have lymphoedema or know someone who does, this book will provide invaluable information from the experts and useful tips to help you better manage the condition, improving your quality of life and mental wellbeing.
Lymphoedema, a chronic and often debilitating lifelong disease that can have a detrimental effect both physically and mentally.
Matt Hazledine shares his personal experiences and useful tips, plus authoritative information and guidance from over 20 medical professionals and experts, with the aim of helping you to live better with lymphoedema. We cover the four cornerstones of treatment: Compression, Skin Care, Healthy Lifestyle & Movement and Lymphatic Drainage.
With lymphoedema knowledge is power, and you will learn about; Finding the right therapist, Help and support networks, Self-management techniques, Therapies, products & surgery and Research to find a cure.
Whether you read the whole book in one go or turn to certain chapters that focus on specific subjects, this is a must have lymphoedema bible that can be referred to again in the future, when needed.
By buying this book, you will help to raise money to fund research in the hope of finding a cure for lymphoedema. 25% of profits from book sales will be donated to The Lymphoedema Research Fund managed by St George’s Hospital Charity. Join me in the quest to fund research, so scientists can find a cure to help future generations to live better without lymphoedema.
I wish I’d had a book like this when I was diagnosed with lymphoedema 10 years ago.
Meet the Author
In 2011, at the age of 40, Matt experienced a severe episode of cellulitis in his left leg, which hospitalised him for 13 nights. This subsequently caused a significant swelling called lymphoedema, a chronic lifelong disease with no cure.
In 2021, to commemorate 10 years of living with this life-changing condition, he wrote this book to share his extensive experiences and useful tips to help other people to live better with lymphoedema. Matt is joined in the book by over 20 medical professionals and experts, who contribute invaluable information and trusted guidance about lymphoedema.
Previously, Matt has been a trustee of the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) and raised over £20,000 for various charities. To raise awareness of the disease and bring the male voice to the fore, he has featured in the Health Section of the Daily Mail, written for newsletters, blogs and books and been interviewed on local hospital radio. To support others with lymphoedema, Matt has launched a new website www.lymphoedemaunited.com uniting all sectors of the lymphoedema community in one place, while donating 25% of profits from his book and website to The Lymphoedema Research Fund and other Lymphoedema related charities.
His passion and purpose is to help people with this lifelong condition, raise awareness and money for charity. LymphUnited is his new brand for many social media platforms to encourage fellow sufferers to unite and share their experiences.
Lymphoedema Research Fund
In February 2021, our founder Matt Hazledine and Professor Peter Mortimer discussed the importance of funding and research to find a cure for lymphoedema. The Lymphoedema Research Fund was set up as a registered charity in 2002, with the objective of raising money to fund research and find a cure. Matt committed there and then to donate 25% of pre-tax profits generated from the sales of this book to support this worthwhile charity. Join us in the quest to help others to live better without lymphoedema.
The Lymphoedema Research Fund is now managed by The St George’s Hospital Charity and we asked the CEO, Amerjit Chohan to tell us more.
“St Georges Hospital is a tertiary referral national service providing expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment and continued support for those with lymphoedema. Patients with lymphoedema of all causes are treated, including primary lymphoedema (adults and children), and secondary to other problems (e.g. cancer-related lymphoedema, chronic venous oedema, lipoedema). The aim is to restore people with lymphoedema to as high a level of independence as is possible within the limits of their capabilities. Since lymphoedema is a chronic condition, the need to provide ongoing support is acknowledged.
St George’s Hospital Charity is working hard to raise income to support and promote medical and scientific research focused primarily on lymphatics and the lymphatic system with a view to achieving advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lymphoedema and other disorders of the lymphatic system.
The charity aims to fund research that will focus on:
Supporting high quality medical and scientific research in which lymphatic biology and disorders of the lymphatic system are the main focus.
Promoting interdisciplinary research that will result in advances in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lymphoedema and other lymphatic disorders.
Providing funding for small and large scale clinical trials for possible improvements in treatment for patients with lymphoedema and other lymphatic disorders.”
“With Your Support we aim to help the 200,000 plus people who suffer from lymphoedema and other disorders of the lymphatic system each year.”
The Lymphoedema Research Fund needs to raise £250,000 to begin the research programme with the aim of finding a cure for lymphoedema. Currently £90,000 has been raised as of 30th September 2021. On every newsletter we will update the amount raised and feature it in the same position, below right, so we can track progress. If you would like to make a donation to the Lymphoedema Research Fund, visit the Supported Charities page of our website and click on St George’s Hospital Charity – Donate Now link. Thank you for your support.
Bitesize News
Available Now
Top Tip
Research the products available on the Meet the Supplier section. Discuss with your therapist or GP to see whether another solution would be more suitable for you. Research the best products for you
Lymphoedema Research Fund
Target: £250,000
Raised: £90,000
Date: 30th September 2021
Available Now
Top Tip
Connect with other people with lymphoedema by joining online forums, attending focus or support groups, visit patient-based websites for information about events. Talk about it!
Lymphoedema Research Fund
Target: £250,000
Raised: £90,000
Date: 31st December 2021
Follow us on:
www.lymphoedemaunited.com
Helping you to LIVE BETTER with LYMPHOEDEMA
Medical Advice Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
All material on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regime and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Reliance on any information provided on this website, by our employees and others appearing on the website is solely at your own risk.
For the avoidance of any doubt, Matt Hazledine has lymphoedema and is not a medical professional.