Published by the Medical Vein Clinic Clinical Team | Medically reviewed by Dr. Joshua Trock, DPT, RVT, CLT-LANA, Lymphedema Specialist
A Patient’s Journey Through Lymphedema, Heart Failure, and Recovery
This is the story of Judith Divvens, a San Antonio patient who spent years misdiagnosed and deteriorating before finding Medical Vein Clinic. At her worst, Judith weighed 260 pounds due to lymphedema, was in stage one congestive heart failure, third stage renal disease, and could not walk from her bedroom to the bathroom. Untreated lymphedema can place dangerous pressure on the heart and kidneys when fluid builds up in the body’s tissues. After four targeted vein treatments over two months at Medical Vein Clinic, followed by lymphatic therapy, Judith lost 62 pounds, eliminated her congestive heart failure diagnosis, restored her circulation, and returned to an active life. Her case shows how untreated vein disease and lymphedema can cascade into life-threatening conditions — and how early, targeted treatment can reverse that course.
Years of Misdiagnosis and a Medical Crisis
Judith Divvens is no stranger to medical procedures. She started racking up surgeries like a ball player does stats starting in 2010. She’s had back vertebrae fused (twice), a rotator cuff repaired, tailbone opened up, and a knee replaced. When she and her husband, a retired military vet, moved to San Antonio from North Carolina in 2018, they embraced the warmer winters and great culture.
But then she started having really bad neck pains, followed by another surgery. During those medical procedures, Judith gained weight that was increasingly stubborn to lose. She sought the advice of a doctor who put her on water pills, but she kept retaining water she was unable to eliminate, and her legs and abdomen just kept swelling. After nearly six years of water pills, one day, she struggled to walk from her bedroom to the bathroom and collapsed on the floor. The paramedics who attended her that day said she was essentially dead. Her lips were blue, she wasn’t breathing, and had no pulse. The medical team defibrillated her heart and determined that all the excess fluids had pushed into her lungs, and she was basically drowning. After a four-day stay in the hospital under the care of a cardiologist, much of the water weight came off, only to return, with a vengeance. It was finally determined that it wasn’t water that was creating the swelling, but lymphatic fluid. Years of water pill therapy had impaired her kidneys and other organs, and Judith, at 5’10”, topped the scale at 260 pounds due to lymphedema. Lymphedema is chronic swelling caused by a damaged lymphatic system, often triggered by vein disease or surgery. The lymphatic waste fluid in her body couldn’t be eliminated due to poor circulation. As a result, Judith was in stage one of congestive heart failure and third stage renal disease.
“We didn’t even have a life, we couldn’t do anything fun,” Judith reflected. “I could just get out of a bed and sit all day and go pee in a port-a-potty next to the chair, and I needed help doing that. My husband used to have to roll me over like a log to get me to move. A lot of times I was going to sleep and figuring out how to not wake up. I was going through depression. I couldn’t get on an airplane and see my family.”
How Medical Vein Clinic Diagnosed and Treated Judith
One of the ladies in their senior living center told Judith and her husband about Medical Vein Clinic, and she made an appointment with one of our trained vein and lymphatic specialists. Before they could treat her veins, she needed to shed some of the fluids. Our team sent her to a trained massage therapist who taught her how to wrap her legs from her upper thighs to her toes to help push the fluid through the body. After she shed 20 pounds, an MVC doctor went to work on her legs using sophisticated ultrasound equipment to pinpoint the bad veins that needed to be treated. Dr. Joshua Trock, Medical Vein Clinic’s lymphedema specialist and certified vascular technologist, used diagnostic ultrasound to identify the damaged veins driving Judith’s lymphedema. Judith had a total of four treatments over two months to close veins that weren’t working and reroute her circulation to good veins. These included ultrasound-guided vein mapping and minimally invasive closure procedures to reroute blood flow away from damaged veins and into healthy ones. MVC’s experts advised that it would be eight months to a year or so for the new veins to start working and eliminate the excess fluid.
The Results: 62 Pounds Lost, Heart Failure Reversed
“Lo and behold,” Judith shared, “one day I woke up about 1.5 years later and my body just really wanted to walk. I started doing active doing stuff, cruising, enjoying life. I went 260 pounds to 198 and from wearing 5X clothes to a size 18 today. My memory has come back, my circulation is now working and I can keep off the weight now! I have no more congestive heart failure. After my body system got a chance to release all the poisons in there, I now can go to the gym, swim, and walk.”
Judith’s Results at a Glance
- Starting weight: 260 pounds — ending weight: 198 pounds (62 pounds lost)
- Clothing size: 5X down to size 18
- Congestive heart failure: stage one — resolved after treatment
- Renal disease: third stage — improved after lymphatic fluid eliminated
- Mobility: bed-bound and using a portable commode — now goes to the gym, swims, and walks
- Timeline: approximately 18 months from first treatment to full results
If you are experiencing leg swelling, unexplained weight gain, or have been told you have lymphedema, Medical Vein Clinic’s specialists in San Antonio can help. Call 210-622-8000 or book online at medicalveinclinic.com/book-an-appointment. We have two locations: Stone Oak and Northwest San Antonio at Alamo Ranch.
Paying It Forward: Judith’s Legislative Work for Lymphedema Patients
Patient Advocate: Judith’s Legislative Win for Lymphedema Patients
Judith believes all her surgeries caused the lymphedema. “Your body is going through a lot of stress. Anything that puts stress on your body is going to do that.” Now in her seventh decade, she is healed and paying it forward. She led a successful legislative initiative to get Medicare and TriCare to reimburse lymphedema patients for the medical supplies to wrap their legs, ensuring they don’t have a roadblock to receiving the care they desperately need. She now encourages others with lymphedema to go through the procedures and treatments. “It’s a process, but so worth it!”
Frequently Asked Questions About Lymphedema and Vein Treatment
Does Medical Vein Clinic treat lymphedema in San Antonio?
Yes. We treat lymphedema and lipedema at both San Antonio locations, and Medical Vein Clinic is affiliated with the National Lymphedema Network. Care is led by Dr. Joshua Trock, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Registered Vascular Technologist with national LANA certification in lymphedema therapy. He combines diagnostic vascular ultrasound with advanced lymphatic therapy, an approach few clinics in San Antonio offer.
Can vein treatment cure lymphedema?
There is no cure for lymphedema, but treatment can reduce swelling and keep it well controlled. When vein disease is contributing to the swelling, treating the faulty veins can ease the load on the lymphatic system and improve symptoms. The goal is to manage the condition, prevent complications, and protect your mobility and quality of life.
What is the connection between vein disease and lymphedema?
The veins and the lymphatic system work together to move fluid out of your legs, so a problem in one can strain the other. When vein disease lets blood and fluid pool in the legs, it can overwhelm the lymphatic system and lead to or worsen lymphedema, a combined condition sometimes called phlebolymphedema. This is why an accurate diagnosis matters, since treating the vein component can make a real difference in the swelling.
How long does it take to see results from lymphedema treatment?
Many patients notice reduced swelling within the first few weeks of consistent therapy, though timelines vary by individual and severity. Lymphedema treatment is ongoing rather than a one-time fix, so results build and are maintained through continued care. Your specialist will set realistic expectations based on your specific condition.
Can lymphedema cause heart failure?
Lymphedema itself does not cause heart failure, but the two can be connected. Congestive heart failure can cause fluid buildup and leg swelling that resembles or worsens lymphedema, and severe untreated swelling adds strain on the body. This overlap is one reason a proper evaluation matters, so the true cause of your swelling is identified and treated correctly.
Does insurance cover lymphedema treatment?
Coverage varies by plan, but many insurers cover diagnosis and treatment when the condition is medically documented. The federal Lymphedema Treatment Act, which took effect January 1, 2024, now requires Medicare to cover lymphedema compression garments and supplies, and many private plans follow Medicare’s lead. We verify your benefits before your appointment so you understand your coverage ahead of time. Call 210-622-8000 to confirm your coverage.
What is the first step if I think I have lymphedema?
The first step is a specialist evaluation to confirm whether you have lymphedema and what is driving the swelling. At Medical Vein Clinic, that includes diagnostic vascular ultrasound to check for any vein disease contributing to the problem. Call 210-622-8000 or book online to schedule an evaluation with our lymphedema specialist.
