Wendy Williams says she has 'ONLY 5% feeling' left in her foot amid lymphedema battle
Wendy Williams has been battling lymphedema and says that she only has 'maybe five percent' feeling left in her foot. She spoke to TMZ on Tuesday, June 28 and lifted her swollen leg to show fans her condition. The health disorder caused her to step down as the host of her own 'The Wendy Williams Show,' which aired its final episode on June 17.
Wendy, 57, said, "Do you see this? [My foot] is up and down. I can only feel maybe five percent of my feet, do you understand?" She clarified that she does not really need a wheelchair and is fully capable of standing up on her own.
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As explained by Mayo Clinic, lymphedema refers to "tissue swelling caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that's usually drained through the body's lymphatic system. It most commonly affects the arms or legs, but can also occur in the chest wall, abdomen, neck and genitals. Lymph nodes are an important part of your lymphatic system. Lymphedema can be caused by cancer treatments that remove or damage your lymph nodes. Any type of problem that blocks the drainage of lymph fluid can cause lymphedema."
Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and lead to skin changes and breakdown. "Treatment may include compression bandages, massage, compression stockings, sequential pneumatic pumping, careful skin care and, rarely, surgery to remove swollen tissue or to create new drainage routes," Mayo Clinic adds.
Follow up questions asked to Wendy included how she was doing 'physically'. She replied that she was doing 'better than' anyone. The TV personality further confirmed that she was “100 percent retired” from 'The Wendy Williams Show' but was willing to put in an hour or two as a guest host for 'The View.'
Wendy further clarified that just because she is retiring from TV does not mean that she is going to be forgotten. She plans on producing her own podcast which she hopes will bring her money and more free time. She explained, "When you’re famous, podcasts will make more money for me, being famous, than doing ‘The Wendy Williams Show'."
A production source had told The Sun after her retirement, “The wigs are still there since she didn’t come and get them so they’re being thrown out." The source added, "Production is not even bothering to try to donate the chair to a museum – as ‘The View’ did with their original table after 10 years. They gave it to The Smithsonian.”