lymphamatic pump for my arm after breast cancer and lymphadema

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marydenzilcookie
marydenzilcookie Member Posts: 2
edited July 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
I had breast cancer in 1980. I had a radical mastectomy and wear a compression sleeve. I now have a lymphamatic pump for my arm. I have had lymphadema about 5-6 times during the last 20 years. My question is, if I pump my arm every day do I need to wear my compression sleeve? I am wondering if it stays under control and I check my arm for swelling, would I need to keep wearing the sleeve if I am pumping my arm every day?
thanks for your imput.

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  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member
    #2
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    Hi there
    I have lymphedema and use the Flexi-Touch pump as well. I have my swelling mostly in the breast/trunk areas. The only times I've really used my glove and sleeve are when I fly. I think every case is very different. I use the machine on especially "bad" days when the swelling seems more pronounced and is really bothering me. I have found trial and error to be the best guide. Whatever works for you--experiment. I also use Kinesio taping which tends to help me more than anything.

    Good luck with your treatment.

    Hugs, Renee
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
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    We're all different!
    I have a Flexi-Touch MLD machine that I use daily. It takes an hour for it to run it's cycle. It definately helps but I still have to wear day sleeves and gloves all the time and use a night sleeve at night. For me, fingers are not an issue but hand, arm, under arm, across chest and partially around to the back definately are.

    We are each so unique, there is no way to know what you'll need to do.

    Good luck with your machine!

    Susan
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #4
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    good luck
    good luck with your new pump. I think you will be happy with it and it helps. I use the pump plus I wear the compression sleeve and glove each day and use the Kinesio tape maybe once a week or so now in the hot summer months which works best for me as well. But, we really are all different....and I was told in the beginning I would see how my body reacted and how to manage this. Some of us must use a class II sleeve...I started with one, but then I was changed to a class II whch works fine for me. So, take one step at a time....but the pumps are such a wonderful way to get the massage and fluids flowing in correct direction. Give it a chance and confer with your lynphedema specialist.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #5
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    missrenee said:

    Hi there
    I have lymphedema and use the Flexi-Touch pump as well. I have my swelling mostly in the breast/trunk areas. The only times I've really used my glove and sleeve are when I fly. I think every case is very different. I use the machine on especially "bad" days when the swelling seems more pronounced and is really bothering me. I have found trial and error to be the best guide. Whatever works for you--experiment. I also use Kinesio taping which tends to help me more than anything.

    Good luck with your treatment.

    Hugs, Renee

    I don't have lymphedema,
    I don't have lymphedema, but, wanted to wish you good luck!

    Lex
  • Excited_about_life
    Excited_about_life Member Posts: 5
    #6
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    cavediver said:

    good luck
    good luck with your new pump. I think you will be happy with it and it helps. I use the pump plus I wear the compression sleeve and glove each day and use the Kinesio tape maybe once a week or so now in the hot summer months which works best for me as well. But, we really are all different....and I was told in the beginning I would see how my body reacted and how to manage this. Some of us must use a class II sleeve...I started with one, but then I was changed to a class II whch works fine for me. So, take one step at a time....but the pumps are such a wonderful way to get the massage and fluids flowing in correct direction. Give it a chance and confer with your lynphedema specialist.

    I Need some Omph
    I got lymphadema because I gave a nurse the wrong arm for the BP. Bummer, Huh? Well now my fingers, hands, and arm are all puffed up and I just can't seem to get used to it! It really bothers me more than having a bald head and no boobs. Is there any hope of it going away? My hair is coming back and I have new boobs, but what about this lymphadema puffy hand thing? I have the sleeve, the glove, the ace bandage wrap, been to 3 weeks of manual lymph massage class, and still - no change to it's getting worse! I've found a hospital a little further away that has a lymphadema specialist like the one I've been seeing - would you suggest going to them to see if there's anything else I can be doing? I am a single mom and my kids aren't that great at moving the fluid across my back, so I feel a bit handicapped giving myself the massage. I would love to get one of these pumps you all have talked about, but how?? Do I just order one? Which one is the best one for fingers, hand and arm? The physical therapists aren't doctors and so can not even write out a perscription (as I found out with the glove & sleeve). Do I just have my onc. write a RX for the one I tell him I want and just order it from there myself? I'd love some guidance on this if you have any suggestions or info. Thank you!
  • cavediver
    cavediver Member Posts: 607
    #7
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    Excited_about_life said:

    I Need some Omph
    I got lymphadema because I gave a nurse the wrong arm for the BP. Bummer, Huh? Well now my fingers, hands, and arm are all puffed up and I just can't seem to get used to it! It really bothers me more than having a bald head and no boobs. Is there any hope of it going away? My hair is coming back and I have new boobs, but what about this lymphadema puffy hand thing? I have the sleeve, the glove, the ace bandage wrap, been to 3 weeks of manual lymph massage class, and still - no change to it's getting worse! I've found a hospital a little further away that has a lymphadema specialist like the one I've been seeing - would you suggest going to them to see if there's anything else I can be doing? I am a single mom and my kids aren't that great at moving the fluid across my back, so I feel a bit handicapped giving myself the massage. I would love to get one of these pumps you all have talked about, but how?? Do I just order one? Which one is the best one for fingers, hand and arm? The physical therapists aren't doctors and so can not even write out a perscription (as I found out with the glove & sleeve). Do I just have my onc. write a RX for the one I tell him I want and just order it from there myself? I'd love some guidance on this if you have any suggestions or info. Thank you!

    I did not get help until the
    I did not get help until the 3rd place I sought treatment,....which was at a hospital pt department that had two specialists in lymphedema. I had spent months with the other places w/o success. So....yes please seek help at the hospital with a specialist. This can be managed. My hand was so swollen I could not even hold a pencil,....but within two weeks the size of hand and arm was greatly reduced and continued to improve. The hospital had a pump they used in addition to manual massages and wraps. The hospital lymph.specialist made arrangements with the pump sales rep...who in turn got approval from my insurance company to cover the 'durable medical equipment'.......and my pump was delivered and a nurse arrived at my home to show me how to use it. Bottom line is you need to get to a specialist that knows what they are doing and you will get results! Remember, the pump does not work for everyone...... so it is all different for all of us. Don't give up hope......once you find the right place you will get this managed! Hugs

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