I know I should...

NancyD

be wearing my sleeve, but when I do, it makes my hand swell more, even when I wear the gauntlet. The back of my hand gets tight and my fingers swell. I'm more comfortable wearing a glove and massaging the hand and arm. Comments on potential problems from this?

thePuppetLady

maybe your gauntlet needs to be resized?  My prob is in my hand and fingers, too.  I slip in a little foam piece inside my glove for extra compression.  My gauntlet feels a bit loose on the hand so i try to slip some foam up in there but it's tough to do.

 As long as you're doing the MLD regularly to keep the fluid out of your arm, I'd think you'd be alright moving the excees from your hand/fingers up.  Just try to keep that plumbing open all the way up your arm

Binney4

Nancy, forgive me, but I forget if you have a good therapist or not? If you have swelling in your fingers you should not be using a gauntlet at all, as it will trap the fluid in your fingers where it is hard to get out.

Do you have a well-fitting compression glove? If so, what happens when you wear the sleeve with that? Basically it sounds like you have an overall garment fitting issue that needs to be looked at by your therapist and a really good fitter. Don't give up!

Keep us posted! Gentle hugs,
Binney

Binney4

Puppet lady, have you see the Solaris Swell Spot called a Palmer Spot? It fits into the palm and is easier to hold in place as you put your glove on. I have one that's lasted for several years already, so they're certainly cost effective!

Be well,
Binney

cookiegal

Gauntlets just don't work that well on me. I will occasionally wear one for a short time, but they just seem to push everything in the wrong direction.

I have a ton of them too. 

NancyD

Binney, I haven't been fitted in a few years. I guess I should go and get it done again given I have new, different symptoms. When I was fitted before, it was for subclinical symptoms to prevent swelling in my arm. Now I have obvious swelling (mostly on the back of my hand).



I stopped using the gauntlet when I saw what it was doing to my hand. Actually, one of my Isotoner gloves (the regular fashion kind) gave me more comfort than anything else, but I realize it's not a real therapuetic solution.



Argh! Time to bite the bullet and get to the therapist. I will call her tomorrow. Thank- you both.

NancyD

Binney, I haven't seen a therapist in about three years...since right after I finished radiation and went for PT for some stiffness. I went to the Rusk Insititute in NYC because it was close to work and they did some lymphedema work on me then, taught me how to do my self MLD massage, but now, all that has changed.I'm only in the city once a week, and that day is too crammed to fit in a medical appointment.



So this week when I saw my onc, I asked for a referral for someone local. (I'm a good 30+miles outside the city.) I just hope I can afford her and that she can fit me in. My onc said he has heard very good word of mouth about her from his patients.

thePuppetLady

just to respond to Binney

My swelling is on the back of the hand, so I need to put the extra compression foam so it rides in the back of the glove/gauntlet.  It's easy enough to do with the glove but it's a struggle to get it into the gauntlet and onto my hand.

I will check out these swell spots and see if they have one for the back of the hand, thanks!

(sorry for the hijack and I hope you find a good LE therapist, Nancy--it makes all the difference)

 

Binney4

PL, you can use the Palmer Spot for the back of your hand as well. Also, KT Medical makes a simple "pocket glove" and a buckwheat-hull insert that some women have found really helpful for that area.

You are SO right that a good therapist makes all the difference. The good ones are priceless!
Binney

cookiegal

In a pinch I do the isotoner plus the wavy foam in sort of a hand shape. I was doing this more when I was waiting for my glove.

BTW....I personally love the fit of Barton-Carey gloves. I don't have a lot of swelling in my hand, so I can't really speak to how effective they are, but they are so much more comfortable and breathable.