Patti
Please, do not let your mother-in-law go through with any surgery until she has had her lymphedema treated! If what you say about your doctor is true, it is frightening. There is effective treatment for lymphedema called Complete Decongestive Physiotherapy and should be delivered by a therapist certified in the treatment of lymphedema. Your doctor sounds as though he might be ignorant regarding the treatment of lymphedema. Lasix does not help true lymphedema. Surgery can and usually does just make the lymphedema worse and then the surgery results may be less than optimal - sometimes tragic. Please get more info. I suggest you contact the National Lymphedema Network. May God bless your efforts.