New type of LE Garment

Estel

I ordered the bi-lateral sleeve today.  So excited!  Especially encouraged by the news that they are 'cool.'  That would be a real blessing because this will be the first summer I've had to wear a sleeve and it is stifling hot and humid where I live.  Can't wait to get it! 

KS1

I ordered a bilateral sleeve today from LymphedemaSleeveco.com. I asked about the unilateral ArmCare 1 (15/21 compression), but Sue Callison said they don't carry it yet because "The dorsal support band that connects the two sleeves has not been updated to the most current design and I have found the older version causes too much material to bunch in the armpit area. This has been resolved with the newer design but at the present, it is only available in the Arm Care CCL2 (23/32 mmHg sleeve) and some sizes and colors in the Silver Wave bilateral sleeve." 

I noticed that this past week when I wore a glove but not a sleeve (had a minor arm infection), my hand looked better. My hand has always been a challenge because of multiple issues (neuropathy, vascular & LE), and I'm thinking that maybe lighter compression in the arm might make my hand easier to control. - KS1

hymil

Just wondering if the folks who make these lovely sleeves realise why their sales suddenly shot up - this thread must be the purchasing equivalent of using facebook to organise a flash-mob!   I have decided when i get to payday i'm going to get myself a second one as they do take a bit longer to dry.

Journey

I should ask for a special discount, right? Okay, I have the armcare and the silverwave and have worn both a few times.  For a sleeve I LOVE the armcare.  I am one of those folks who hates tight clothing (making a bee line to my closet when I get home to get in my comfy house clothes!), so wearing sleeves has been very hard for me.  That said, the armcare version has been much easier to tolerate than my regular sleeve.  No longer am I pulling and tugging on the arm band to pull it up all day.  I plan on saving up and buying another one soon.  Now, the silverwave I'm still on the fence on.  I don't know but it just seems hot and I don't really care for the thickness around the wrists.  Just me!  I'll keep wearing as it does make me feel better but I just don't see myself wearing into the warmer months.  Maybe I'll change my mind later.

Hope the armcare will come out in more colors!

LindaLou53

Well I decided I needed to check this product out for myself so just ordered the ArmCare CCL2 sleeve.  I first had a very nice and informative discussion with Sue the founder of LymphedemaSleeveCo.  I am always concerned about wearing any non-custom garments because of the length of my arms.  She assured me that the 30 day return policy was no questions asked but so far the only length issues they have had is one client being too short to effectively wear the sleeve.  This product is designed to fit both men and women. So I am looking forward to trying it out!

I will still continue to wear my full fingered Mediven 550 glove with padding no matter what sleeve I wear but if the sleeve is lighter, more comfortable and provides effective compression for my arm then that is an improvement.

OOh...and breaking news straight from Sue.  They will have a CCL3 option available in their garments coming soon....hopefully this Spring around Easter time! 

Sher

I'm wondering about the Arm Care............is the anchor short sleeve the same material with the same compression?  No nodes were removed from my right prophy mast side, but I still do protect that arm as well as my left LE side.  If the material is the same with the same compression, could that be an issue with restricting flow on that arm?

kira66715

Sher, from my emails with Sue, the short sleeve arm has no compression. But others here know more.

You can call her--she's very responsive.

Kira

SleeveNinja

same material - no compression

Binney4

Journey, how about a group discount?

Ordering the bilateral today -- less compression is more for me, so I'm hoping this will live up to its reputation.
Binney

SleeveNinja

Binney - the Armcare does come in CCL1.  I think you will like (dare I say love!) the Wave and never look back.  I hope so.   BTW - I find the Wave gets a little bit lighter after a few wearings/washings.  (I wish it didn't for me, but that might be even better for you.)  Can't wait to hear what you think. 

I'm flying tomorrow - I want to wear my Wave but I think I will go with Armcare.  Armcare and goofy Solaris vest worked last time . . . Wave and Tribute will be in my carry-on.  A nervous ninja . . .

DiamondGirl

Good morning ladies, so glad to find this thread. I'm 75 days out of rads and am just now healing. Had LE evaluation, and one treatment so far. My entire left arm may feel like the blood is not circulating properly and hence a bit numb in that sense.

In your experience, does the compression sleeve alleviate that sensation?

My armpit is slightly swollen, tender to the touch, breast is still tender, I had partial mast due to 3 more tumors detected right before surgery.

My mom is ill and I need to fly to visit her, not sure if I should wait to get a sleeve. I'm petite and they might have to special order.

Thanks in advance.

SleeveNinja

Hi Diamondgirl - welcome!  Hard to describe the feeling.  For me, my arm feels better -supported- w bandages or other compression on.  Ask your LE therapist what she/he recommends about getting a sleeve.  You are better off with no sleeve than with one that doesn't fit properly.  That's a quick answer -- I'm sure better ones will follow. 

inspiewriter

This sounds interesting!

LindaLou53

Wow that was fast!  Placed my order this morning for the ArmCare sleeve and just now got the UPS confirmation email with delivery scheduled for this Friday! Can't wait to try it out!

KS1

I just got my bilateral sleeve (< 2 days after placing order).  I am obviously clothing impaired, but when I put the bilateral sleeve on, it doesn't look sit the way it does in the pictures on the packaging.  Instead of the band going across the shoulder blades, it rides up over my shoulder blades.  The cuff portion of the sleeve seems very long.  Is it supposed to go beyond the wrist or be folded over?   KS1

SleeveNinja

KS1 - put the shoulder/dorsal band wherever it feels comfortable.  I find I ususally wear it way lower than in the pictures (a bit off my shoulders).  Someties you have to "twist" the arms a little so they "line up" the way you like (sort of the the way you'd line up pantyhose lehgs to get the crotch centered. ) The cuff is long but it ends at the wrist just like a regular sleeve; it  doesn't fold over.  I have wondered if that might be an issue for people with wrist or lower arm swelling???  If the back wants to go way up above your shoulders (up your neck?) and the cuff goes below your wrist - you proably have a sleeve that's too big for you.  ??? 

PS - I hope I'm not talking too much here - I do feel pretty expert when it comes to these sleeves.  There's hardly a nuance I haven't considered

Binney4

KS, DON'T fold the cuff! That would alter the compression and could be damaging for your hands.

Ninja, do keep talking! Learning from one another's experiences sure cuts the time it takes to get a handle on this stupid LE. We need each other!
Binney

KS1

SleeveNinja --  You are probably right and it is too large, as  the back band ends up around the back of my neck, and when the material is smoothed out, the sleeves are too long.  I'm disappointed, as I have the smallest size.  Is the unilateral sleeve any smaller than the bilateral sleeve?  KS1

hymil

Somebody earlier up the  thread suggested taking a seam down the centre back if you are petite, which doesn't sound too hard, to make the arms nearer together, if the width and compression in the arms feels right.

SleeveNinja

Yes - the single arm sleeve does run smaller.  (I wear medium in the single arm and small or medium in bilateral.) 

Estel

I received my bi-lateral sleeve today.

 Question:  Above (or below depending on how you look it) the cuffs on the forearm, it bags there ...it's big.  It's OK from the elbow up, but the forearm area is gappy.  I love how my shoulders feel.  Am I asking for trouble if I keep it and wear it and it's too big in the forearm area?  My problem area is my fingers and hands.  What do you all think? 

hymil

I don't know what size you went for DawneHope, If it's not the smallest, then would going down to a smaller size make it be too small around the upper arms? I think im right in saying that wouldn't be good. I went for medium, mosly to get extra length in the arms, that leaves me much more comfortable and i'm thinking I could proably wear it as a night garment if needed as well. I did find a bit of a bulge immediatley next to the cuff but a bit of smoothing sorts that out for me.

Estel

hymil - Sadly, it's a small.  Too bad they don't have an extra small.  I need every ounce of length, though.  Don't need a petite, just an extra-small. 

SleeveNinja

Dawne -  hmmm, if the fabric is really loose, if it really bags - for example, if  you can pinch it between your fingers without stretching it -- that sounds like the sleeve is too big and probably won't be effective. 

My wrists and forearms are particularly thin. I find there is a little "gappiness" just where the wave fabric tapers in to meet the cuff - but nowhere else. It's very slight: I see it, I don't feel it.  I just tried the pinch test and I can just about pinch a teeny bit of fabric exactly where the wave meets the cuff - that's the only place I can pinch anything.

I have not had any problems.   But - all of my swelling is from the elbow up.  That's why I wondered of the cuff might be problematic for people with forearm, wrist, or hand issues. 

I prefer small because the fit is a little more snug overall, I prefer medium for the length. I can wear either.  In the Armcare I can only wear medium - small is way too small.

Hope this helps . . ?

Estel

SleeveNinja - I can pinch it, especially around the cuff without stretching it.  I can't do that anywhere else on the sleeve.  It's disappointing. I really like how it feels across my shoulders.  I'm going to wear it for a few more hours tonight and see if I can see the wave identations on my forearms when I take it off.  If not, I will probably return it.

Thank you for your response.  If I can figure out how to post a picture on here, I'll post it so you can see.

Estel

I don't know how to post a pic.  I've uploaded a couple of pics to photobucket but it wants to post a link to my album and it has my name on it.  Why can't I just a post a picture? 

Anyway ... I can't figure it out.  It's no big deal.  I just wanted you to see what I see and let me know what you think.

Estel

Estel

SleeveNinja

Waaay too big!   Are you sure that's a small?  Are you very petite? 

Estel

SleeveNinja - I double-checked, yes, it is a small.  I'm thin, my arms are the skinniest part of my body.  That's one reason why no one believed me when I said my fingers were swollen.  They're really skinny to begin with.  I'm not petite because I'm very long armed, long fingers (kinda of like a gorilla!  )  But I am pretty skinny.  I'll return it.