LYMPHEDEMA WRAP

RE
RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
Went to see a specialist today because my arm swelling has been increasing. I have had PT for lymphedema before but this is the first time they have wrapped it, it will remain wrapped for a week then we will see if the swelling has reduced. She is also giving me several exercises to do. I'll let you know how it goes. I posted a picture of my wrapped arm on the expressions page.

Comments

  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    It's a Wrap!
    Hope all works out well for you. I remember the "wrap" days........ arm felt like a wood log :-) But, it always reduced the fluid and size of the arm. I have not been 'wrapped' since December but I have the materials just in case. They re-wrapped me every day......... I have been told to expect more swelling in the hot months......... Again, hoping you get back on track with this! Lots of positive thoughts and wishes sent your way... Hugs too...........
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    cavediver said:

    It's a Wrap!
    Hope all works out well for you. I remember the "wrap" days........ arm felt like a wood log :-) But, it always reduced the fluid and size of the arm. I have not been 'wrapped' since December but I have the materials just in case. They re-wrapped me every day......... I have been told to expect more swelling in the hot months......... Again, hoping you get back on track with this! Lots of positive thoughts and wishes sent your way... Hugs too...........

    Hi RE,
    I also hope it works


    Hi RE,
    I also hope it works for you. Great picture!
    HUGS,
    Wanda
  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    cavediver said:

    It's a Wrap!
    Hope all works out well for you. I remember the "wrap" days........ arm felt like a wood log :-) But, it always reduced the fluid and size of the arm. I have not been 'wrapped' since December but I have the materials just in case. They re-wrapped me every day......... I have been told to expect more swelling in the hot months......... Again, hoping you get back on track with this! Lots of positive thoughts and wishes sent your way... Hugs too...........

    I'm not wanting to hear that
    It swells in the hot months so far so good i measure my arm often I had mine wrapped once i didn't like the feeling i was learning how to wrap with a lymphedema specialist and i have a compression sleeve and so far haven't had to wear it, i do my exercises a lot because my neck hurts when i don't get that fluid moving. Good luck MOLLYZ
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    mollyz said:

    I'm not wanting to hear that
    It swells in the hot months so far so good i measure my arm often I had mine wrapped once i didn't like the feeling i was learning how to wrap with a lymphedema specialist and i have a compression sleeve and so far haven't had to wear it, i do my exercises a lot because my neck hurts when i don't get that fluid moving. Good luck MOLLYZ

    Hope that eases your discomfort, RE
    My lymphedema specialists also use that method for some patients. Not for me though--most of my swelling is in my breast and trunk so I use the Flexi-Touch machine, Kinesio tape and use a sleeve and glove for flying as a preventative measure.

    Good luck with that--let us know how it works out.

    Hugs, Renee
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    missrenee said:

    Hope that eases your discomfort, RE
    My lymphedema specialists also use that method for some patients. Not for me though--most of my swelling is in my breast and trunk so I use the Flexi-Touch machine, Kinesio tape and use a sleeve and glove for flying as a preventative measure.

    Good luck with that--let us know how it works out.

    Hugs, Renee

    Hi Rena
    I was wrap on Thursday. I usually have my fingers wrap as well. See if you you can keep it for one week, I usually keep it for 48 hours only. Then massage and drainage and then wrap again. Are you taking any new medications?
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613

    Hi Rena
    I was wrap on Thursday. I usually have my fingers wrap as well. See if you you can keep it for one week, I usually keep it for 48 hours only. Then massage and drainage and then wrap again. Are you taking any new medications?

    I hope that relieves the swelling. Do the Summer months with the heat affect the swelling?

    Praying you get relief,

    Sylvia
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    questions
    Okay i have only had this on for less than a day and it is driving me NUTS! To those of you who had worn a wrap any tips on how to tolerate this thing, I know I should not complain as it is not cancer and it is supposed to help me I just need to tolerate it for a week.....tips anyone.

    RE
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    RE said:

    questions
    Okay i have only had this on for less than a day and it is driving me NUTS! To those of you who had worn a wrap any tips on how to tolerate this thing, I know I should not complain as it is not cancer and it is supposed to help me I just need to tolerate it for a week.....tips anyone.

    RE

    Please Still massage and drainage
    My therapist suggested see her every day or any other day. Usually I take them off after 48 hours, or 1 hour prior my appointment. It usually much easier after first 18 hours. Try to move your arm as much as possible and do self massage for armpit, neck and trunk.
    Hugs
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    RE said:

    questions
    Okay i have only had this on for less than a day and it is driving me NUTS! To those of you who had worn a wrap any tips on how to tolerate this thing, I know I should not complain as it is not cancer and it is supposed to help me I just need to tolerate it for a week.....tips anyone.

    RE

    week long wrap....wow
    They removed mine every day and washed & massaged arm, and then a new wrap. It felt great to get it off...cant imagine leaving it on for a week! BUT, if that is what you need to do.... you can do it. I know it sucks.... my arm was itching and it was hot and bulky etc. At night I didn't know what to do with it.... just felt like a firelog. But the wrapping WORKS and you will be amazed at how it can reduce the fluid in the arm. Hang in there....this too shall pass. If it is totally unbearable, ask them if they can remove it and re-wrap it. Just getting to wash the arm and massage is great. If it itches, they may allow you to put anit-itch cream on before the new wrap...that is what they did for me each time. Now, I can manage with the Kinesio Tape and compression garments and of course pumping 2x a day. Good luck and keep us posted!
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    Darn, RE. It looks like you
    Darn, RE. It looks like you have a cast on your arm! I'm so sorry for your discomfort. It WILL get better soon and you're one day through it. xoxoxox Lynn
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    Based on my TX, I'm very
    Based on my TX, I'm very surprised at your schedule.

    The first 5 days of wraps I went daily to see Kyle and he did MLD massages and rewrapped. 4th time there I was taught how to wrap so that over the weekend I could take off the wrap and do the massges myself. The next week I went every other day to see him and on that Friday he took measurements to order my garments to be made - both day and night garments. I'm a bit strange so stock sizes done fit me right - especially gloves as I have a bit of webbing so 'standard' cuts in and really hurts but finally, after almost 1 1/2 year, my newest one is almost 'there'.

    Another reason (at least as I 'see it') going a week without re-wrapping is a rather long time is because within that time the wrap will loose and compression lost as it was wrapped for the swelling size but as the swelling lessens, the wrap will get loose.

    My wraps were more covering - the wrap also covered finers/thumb from near the nail all the way up.

    IF needed there are also MLD machines but certainly not all need them to control their lymphedema.

    Good Luck

    Susan
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    lynn1950 said:

    Darn, RE. It looks like you
    Darn, RE. It looks like you have a cast on your arm! I'm so sorry for your discomfort. It WILL get better soon and you're one day through it. xoxoxox Lynn

    She will be through the
    She will be through the wraps before long - but never the lynphedema. Once you have 'it' you always have it - you just do what/all you can to manage it.

    Susan
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    :-)
    Thank you all for your encouraging words as they certainly do help! I guess I did not explain well so let me correct myself. I will be rebandaged every other day, so Wednesday and Friday with it all coming off on Monday. I do believe she will massage it, put more lotion on it then rewrap. I am hopeful it will ease some of the build up of fluid. Again thank you all for your tips and support, I'll let you all know how it goes.

    —-♥♥-♥♥—-
    —♥♥—♥♥—
    —♥♥—♥♥—
    —♥♥—♥♥—
    —-♥♥-♥♥—-
    —–♥♥♥—–
    —-♥♥-♥♥—-
    —♥♥—♥♥—RE
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member

    Hi RE,
    I also hope it works


    Hi RE,
    I also hope it works for you. Great picture!
    HUGS,
    Wanda

    Hoping this works for you
    Hoping this works for you too Re.


    Hugs, Debby
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    Thank you for the update.
    Thank you for the update. I've been thinking about you and the specialist...glad to hear there's a plan in place. And from our lymphedema experts here, it sounds like it's a good one. And yep, that wrap looks very uncomfortable...I hope it brings you some relief.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    P.S. I love the heart/ribbon graphic!
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    lynn1950 said:

    Darn, RE. It looks like you
    Darn, RE. It looks like you have a cast on your arm! I'm so sorry for your discomfort. It WILL get better soon and you're one day through it. xoxoxox Lynn

    I am hoping that it helps
    I am hoping that it helps you RE with your lymphedema.


    Hugs, Angie