Lymphedema garments - Day - Night - What do you have?

Rague
Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just wondering - for those who deal with lymphedema - how many have both day and night garments? There is a big difference between them and how they work.
I have day sleeves and gloves and a night sleeve with over sleeve.

Susan

Comments

  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    I have a sleeve and glove
    I have a sleeve and glove for the day, then at night i wrap my arm with bandages that are similar to ace bandages but they do not stretch as much. That seems to help, i do have some massage to do, but I never seem to do it and some pt excercises. My arm has gotten better, not as swollen. I am hoping to have this under control before the hot summer comes. I can not see wearing these in the hot weather. My lymphedema actually started in the hot, humid weather.
  • ShirleyCurls
    ShirleyCurls Member Posts: 51
    I started with
    a bunch of the ace type bandages, stocking, grey sweatshirt type layer, tape for the fingers. The wrappings were so hot and bulky. I live were its hot and humid, and I would wake up in the middle of the night clawing off the bandages. My arm would also itch. Having hot flashes didn't help. When it was wrapped I felt like I was carrying around a fire place log!

    Once my arm was "small" the therapist ordered Juzo (not Juno) sleeves. I made it to the smallest size! Then I was measured for a glove. It was custom made, do not know who made it. The glove was really tight, got some calluses from wearing it, also difficult to so anything it was so tight.

    For night, I'm suppose to wrap it, but have not for a long time. Its hard doing it with my left hand. Its also uncomfortable to sleep with it wrapped.

    Curious about the night sleeve. Is it comfortable to sleep while wearing it?
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member

    I started with
    a bunch of the ace type bandages, stocking, grey sweatshirt type layer, tape for the fingers. The wrappings were so hot and bulky. I live were its hot and humid, and I would wake up in the middle of the night clawing off the bandages. My arm would also itch. Having hot flashes didn't help. When it was wrapped I felt like I was carrying around a fire place log!

    Once my arm was "small" the therapist ordered Juzo (not Juno) sleeves. I made it to the smallest size! Then I was measured for a glove. It was custom made, do not know who made it. The glove was really tight, got some calluses from wearing it, also difficult to so anything it was so tight.

    For night, I'm suppose to wrap it, but have not for a long time. Its hard doing it with my left hand. Its also uncomfortable to sleep with it wrapped.

    Curious about the night sleeve. Is it comfortable to sleep while wearing it?

    Tribute bu Solaris
    My night sleeve is a 'Tribute' by www.solarismed.com . It is bulky - like a wrap - but slides on just as easy or easier than a day sleeve (expecially if you have added pull tabs). It is thick and puffy and has stitching that encourages the flow of fluid while inactive in sleep. Is it warmer than nothing on - yes - but not as warm or restricting as a wrap. I always use a bit of skin lotion before putting it on and haven't had any or very few 'itchies' But it is real quick/easy to pull off and back on if need be.

    I did not like my first glove either - it's a custom Juzo but my hand is weird - 2 middle fingers as slightly webbed so it cut in and caused calouses (sp?) and PAIN but when K ordered my new ones he changed the measurements a bit and wrote them about the webbing. The last 3 I got recently are great and do compensate for my funny fingers.

    Might need a different compression for glove - just because edema is a lot doesn't mean thta heavier compression is called for. For me, Heavy Compression causes more swelling - a lot more, moderate compression is basically neutal - doesn't drain but doesn't cause any more and light does drain - to some degree but not completely.

    (SCs - do you have the silicon band on the top of your sleeves? I do and love it - doesn't roll or slide down.)

    Susan
  • ShirleyCurls
    ShirleyCurls Member Posts: 51
    Rague said:

    Tribute bu Solaris
    My night sleeve is a 'Tribute' by www.solarismed.com . It is bulky - like a wrap - but slides on just as easy or easier than a day sleeve (expecially if you have added pull tabs). It is thick and puffy and has stitching that encourages the flow of fluid while inactive in sleep. Is it warmer than nothing on - yes - but not as warm or restricting as a wrap. I always use a bit of skin lotion before putting it on and haven't had any or very few 'itchies' But it is real quick/easy to pull off and back on if need be.

    I did not like my first glove either - it's a custom Juzo but my hand is weird - 2 middle fingers as slightly webbed so it cut in and caused calouses (sp?) and PAIN but when K ordered my new ones he changed the measurements a bit and wrote them about the webbing. The last 3 I got recently are great and do compensate for my funny fingers.

    Might need a different compression for glove - just because edema is a lot doesn't mean thta heavier compression is called for. For me, Heavy Compression causes more swelling - a lot more, moderate compression is basically neutal - doesn't drain but doesn't cause any more and light does drain - to some degree but not completely.

    (SCs - do you have the silicon band on the top of your sleeves? I do and love it - doesn't roll or slide down.)

    Susan

    yes
    mine has silicone dots in a band pattern.

    Sometimes I use a bicycle glove. They fit tight, but not too tight, and also do not have fingers. Also cheaper. My glove cost 80 bucks!

    I should get measured for another one, mine is showing a lot of wear.

    I also have a problem with itching and blisters on my palm. I know this is sometimes a side effect of Chemo, although I only got them on my lymphdema hand when I started wearing the glove. My therapist wondered if is a fungus.

    Can't wait for you to use your machine, mine makes such a difference.

    I also have blood pressure and they gave me a diuretic (sp?). My research showed that is not a good idea for lymphdema, but none of my doctors caught that. I need to go in and have it changed, but gee its so much fun going to the doctor.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member

    yes
    mine has silicone dots in a band pattern.

    Sometimes I use a bicycle glove. They fit tight, but not too tight, and also do not have fingers. Also cheaper. My glove cost 80 bucks!

    I should get measured for another one, mine is showing a lot of wear.

    I also have a problem with itching and blisters on my palm. I know this is sometimes a side effect of Chemo, although I only got them on my lymphdema hand when I started wearing the glove. My therapist wondered if is a fungus.

    Can't wait for you to use your machine, mine makes such a difference.

    I also have blood pressure and they gave me a diuretic (sp?). My research showed that is not a good idea for lymphdema, but none of my doctors caught that. I need to go in and have it changed, but gee its so much fun going to the doctor.

    Yeah - silicon dots in the
    Yeah - silicon dots in the sleeve band. I have one sleeve that doesn't have it and it doesn't stay as good - it rolls and slips. Also don't like it as it's synthetic (all my others are cotton) and a 'standard size' - K. ordered it a long time ago when we were trying to figure out the right compression.

    Cheaper light weight compression gloves can be Isotoner gloves. I have several that K gave me - (short to the wrist and others long to the height of a sleeve). The ones I have are made for the purpose as the seams are to the outside and the finger tips are not there also individually packaged. Perhaps your itching/blisters is an allergy to the material?

    Can only say what I've been told - a single set of sleeve and glove should only last 2 - 3 months or you loose the compression. I get 3 at a time and daily alternate them - so have 6 - 8 months between new ones being ordered.

    The only meds I take are Femara all the time. Have atheritis in back so do take OTC tylenol often and occasionaly vicodan if the OCT and my TENS unit don't work, Also take Potassium, vit. D & B complex.

    I will be so happy when I pick up my FlexiTouch and get it home to use!

    Susan
  • Windypoh
    Windypoh Member Posts: 2
    Commpression sleeve
    Does anyone else experience alot of pain from the garment? I just got mine and I hate the pain in my front part of my allow. Is this common and does it get better
  • Windypoh
    Windypoh Member Posts: 2
    Commpression sleeve
    I worn it for the first time today and now my arm still aches
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    thanks for asking
    It helped me remember to put on my glove. I also have a Juzo sleeve. At night I do the wrap. The cat is used to the big arm and thinks nothing of it. It does not seem hot compared to the Juzo sleve. I remember to do the massage at least once daily but often twice a day. The exercises I don;t remember to do often. However some of the actions occur daily in my life so I figure I get some of it anyway. I avoid high sodium foods as this can exacerbate the condition. If I have a pickle, I eat only a spear or part of one and then I can still have a taste of some high sodium foods in moderation. Since I home can much of our food I have more control over sodium than the average person.