Thoughts on Lymphedema

I think you covered one of the most important items well: do not buy a compression garment from a drug store.

You need to be measured for garment by a physical therapist experienced in lymphedema. You will need a prescription for the garment and a second one for seeing the therapist.

If you are at risk for lymphedema as a result of an axillary dissection, breast cancer web sites have lots of information and resources for you.

I think you covered one of the most important items well: do not buy a compression garment from a drug store.

You need to be measured for garment by a physical therapist experienced in lymphedema. You will need a prescription for the garment and a second one for seeing the therapist.

If you are at risk for lymphedema as a result of an axillary dissection, breast cancer web sites have lots of information and resources for you.

I think you covered one of the most important items well: do not buy a compression garment from a drug store.

You need to be measured for garment by a physical therapist experienced in lymphedema. You will need a prescription for the garment and a second one for seeing the therapist.

If you are at risk for lymphedema as a result of an axillary dissection, breast cancer web sites have lots of information and resources for you.

Colleen,

Exercising in the pool also provides natural compression. It helps quite a bit actually.

I also use a Flexitouch machine every night.

So between the compression garment in the daytime, an hour in the pool every day, and the Flexitouch in the evening the lymphedema is pretty well controlled.

Unfortunately, other health isses have kept me out of the pool and kept me from wearing the garment lately and I can tell I am "filling up" with lymphedema.

Cheri

Colleen,

Exercising in the pool also provides natural compression. It helps quite a bit actually.

I also use a Flexitouch machine every night.

So between the compression garment in the daytime, an hour in the pool every day, and the Flexitouch in the evening the lymphedema is pretty well controlled.

Unfortunately, other health isses have kept me out of the pool and kept me from wearing the garment lately and I can tell I am "filling up" with lymphedema.

Cheri

Colleen,

Exercising in the pool also provides natural compression. It helps quite a bit actually.

I also use a Flexitouch machine every night.

So between the compression garment in the daytime, an hour in the pool every day, and the Flexitouch in the evening the lymphedema is pretty well controlled.

Unfortunately, other health isses have kept me out of the pool and kept me from wearing the garment lately and I can tell I am "filling up" with lymphedema.

Cheri

look into getting a  Reid Sleeve for night time (made by peninsula medical.) its been highly effetive for me and is less intrusive to sleeping than a pump. 

getting it paid for by insurance was a hassle, but wrth the effort. i also take it  with me on airplane rides to reduce swelling in the air.

good luck!

look into getting a  Reid Sleeve for night time (made by peninsula medical.) its been highly effetive for me and is less intrusive to sleeping than a pump. 

getting it paid for by insurance was a hassle, but wrth the effort. i also take it  with me on airplane rides to reduce swelling in the air.

good luck!

look into getting a  Reid Sleeve for night time (made by peninsula medical.) its been highly effetive for me and is less intrusive to sleeping than a pump. 

getting it paid for by insurance was a hassle, but wrth the effort. i also take it  with me on airplane rides to reduce swelling in the air.

good luck!

I also have lymphedema in the left leg. I missed the prime time to have it reduced just due to other physical stuff going on with the mel. But, I saw a PT who specialized in lymphedema who did the manual drainage and wrapped me in compression wraps ( like the michellin man) for several weeks to get it reduced as much as possible before fitting me for the custom compression garment. The wraps were a pain because they are bulky and have to be worn all but a couple hours out of every 24, but they DID help reduce the edema. Once this was accomplished I was measured for a compression garment. The garment is made in germany and goes from base of toes to thigh, with a badn around my waist to anchor it. Insurance covered it and it does a far superior job to the heavy strength jobst stockings I was buying. We discussed the flexitouch machine, but since I had active mets in the abdomen at the time, it was recomended against. Also… trying to get it propped every few hours for a little while above hear level is helpful ( but I rarely actually DO this).

Hope this helps some. It is definitely beter controlled if you keep on top of it.

Tina

I also have lymphedema in the left leg. I missed the prime time to have it reduced just due to other physical stuff going on with the mel. But, I saw a PT who specialized in lymphedema who did the manual drainage and wrapped me in compression wraps ( like the michellin man) for several weeks to get it reduced as much as possible before fitting me for the custom compression garment. The wraps were a pain because they are bulky and have to be worn all but a couple hours out of every 24, but they DID help reduce the edema. Once this was accomplished I was measured for a compression garment. The garment is made in germany and goes from base of toes to thigh, with a badn around my waist to anchor it. Insurance covered it and it does a far superior job to the heavy strength jobst stockings I was buying. We discussed the flexitouch machine, but since I had active mets in the abdomen at the time, it was recomended against. Also… trying to get it propped every few hours for a little while above hear level is helpful ( but I rarely actually DO this).

Hope this helps some. It is definitely beter controlled if you keep on top of it.

Tina

I also have lymphedema in the left leg. I missed the prime time to have it reduced just due to other physical stuff going on with the mel. But, I saw a PT who specialized in lymphedema who did the manual drainage and wrapped me in compression wraps ( like the michellin man) for several weeks to get it reduced as much as possible before fitting me for the custom compression garment. The wraps were a pain because they are bulky and have to be worn all but a couple hours out of every 24, but they DID help reduce the edema. Once this was accomplished I was measured for a compression garment. The garment is made in germany and goes from base of toes to thigh, with a badn around my waist to anchor it. Insurance covered it and it does a far superior job to the heavy strength jobst stockings I was buying. We discussed the flexitouch machine, but since I had active mets in the abdomen at the time, it was recomended against. Also… trying to get it propped every few hours for a little while above hear level is helpful ( but I rarely actually DO this).

Hope this helps some. It is definitely beter controlled if you keep on top of it.

Tina