Shirt design for Lymphedema

Tamiami

1st choice black

2nd choice white

carol57

Thanks, Tamiami.  For those landing on this page without seeing the earlier pages, please go back to page 6 and read the update on the compression T-shirt project!

Binney4

Black. And beige--then I can wear it under anything.

I'll go post this opportunity elsewhere as well. Thanks,
Binney

Dejaboo

Great to hear Carol!  Black is always my 1st choice, then Beige, then White.

I just took the survey

doxie

I agree with Binney, black then beige.  I signed up to be a shirt tester/sizer.  Haven't found something small enough for exercising.  

carol57

Wow, I just checked and there are already 51 responses to the survey!  In another few days, I'll summarize the results and share what we are learning.  Thanks, everyone, and also to those who PMd me about helping with the size testing.  I'm not sure how many testers we'll need, but definitely in a mix of sizes. I'll be getting back in touch with everyone who volunteered, when I learn that the samples will be ready.  The company needs some time to order fabric and make the shirts, so we'll be waiting a bit.  Is there such a thing as being excitedly patient? Or patiently excited?

doxie

Carol,

Just a thought about the shirt design.  I prefer exercising in a raglan sleeve instead of the regular set in sleeve of most T-shirts and other clothes.  I also think for LE that it is better to not have a tight seam running between the shoulder and upper arm.  Not sure how others feel about this.  

carol57

Doxie, that's a great point, and it was in our wish list of features sent to the company when we started this discussion.  The prototype shirt has exactly that! 

It also has flat seams.  The shirt will probably not meet all of everyone's preferences, but the key features are there:  flat seams, raglan sleeves that don't cut into the axilla, no beacon-like logo, and a neckline that will fall unobtrusively under lots of wardrobe items when not being worn for exercise.  The prototype came to me with a V neck, but they're going to put a scoop neck in the first version to be sized and then marketed.

If there's a big enough market for the shirts, that will help them take the plunge to give us more variations. Keeping it simple at first will help make this work for all.  The prototype shirt I received would work for any woman who uses a compression shirt for exercise, not just those of us with LE. Hopefully that helps make sure there will be a robust demand for the product.

hugz4u

Carol. OH HAPPY DANCE IN ORDER!!!! I will be more than happy to test a shirt and fill the survey. Black and beige for me……and thank you, thank you,thank you and THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Will pm you now.

hugz4u

I did survey and another thing is I would like the option of buying 2 and getting one free. That is a win win situation for the company and us LE folks.  Also I put wrapping as a option on what I wear as there is no choice to check off for that under the Garments Worn area.

Thanks so much Carol. Did we ever hear back from Nancy at Brightlife?

GmaFoley

I did the survey too, just so you know Carol.

carol57

We've had 66 people take the survey so far, which is really great because it will give a good sense of our diverse needs.  I put links to the survey on a few other sites and hopefully Go will be rewarded with lots of business and that will make it worth their while to offer the shirts in a variety of colors, necklines, etc.  I'm going to give it about another week before I summarize the results, and I'll post that information here.

This is the first survey I ever created, and I may have missed some good ideas, but I think it's going to work for the intended purpose.  

Thanks everyone, for participating!

purple32

*NEWS! I need your help!

Hi All,

I may post on a few threads… hope you will indulge me , but will seek replies on the new LE thread “ GARMENT for truncal”

There, I posted about a great top that love for truncal LE made by sassybax.com :

TORSO TRIM TT03: http://www.sassybax.com/search.php?search_query=TT03&x=0&y=0

They also make a bra with BC pts in mind

Celebrate Life bra : http://www.sassybax.com/search.php?search_query=celebrate+life&x=0&y=0

PLEASE go look at that thread when you get a minute.

The owner called me today and she is wonderful! She is very open to the *possibility* of selling these items as garments that we could buy with our health ins. NO PROMISES because she needs to know HOW to do this and what it would take. At this point, she and her husband run the business out of the home and if it requires too much work, they may not be able to take it on, BUT – she would be happy to!

Please post on the “garment thread” and/or PM me and tell me anything at all that you might know about how to accomplish this or who to get in touch with.

Many Thanks!
Laurie

carol57

Wow, time flies when you're hoping for a new shirt design!  I need to catch everyone up on the status of the Go Athletics compression shirt, customized for women with or at risk of LE.  It's been a few months since I saw a prototype, and the company was headed toward 'sizing' the shirts, and I asked for (and received!) volunteers who would stand by to test sizes when the pattern has been graded.  This week, I heard from the very caring woman at Go who is spearheading this project. She sent me two new prototypes to try, explaining that they're having trouble finding good-quality compression fabric without having to purchase it in, well...quantities suited to a big outfit like UnderArmour.  So I tried the shirts on, and the compression is great, and with luck they'll have access to the quantity of fabric needed to move forward.  

So, we're all having a good healthy exercise in patience, and for those of you who volunteered to test sizes, stay tuned.  I have a list of everyone who raised her hand, here and in some other LE forums, and I'll be in touch when I know something specific about the next step.

Carol

hugz4u

Carol:  SAH.......weeeeeT! Thank you for all your efforts in moving GO along. My back of my pit is speaking to me now and is asking for some trunk compression gear. Will go put my UNDERARMOUR on now but I can't wait for the new GO shirt. If it fits me I swear I will be their most loyal customer on the block!!!!  Do they have names for it yet...GO comfy , Go perform, Go live! Go compress,  Or an Oxymoron, Go-swell down! Hee hee, just having fun here.

Tamiami

Thanks for the update Carol!  Hope all is well and you are enjoying this BEAUTIFUL Michigan weather!

Tami

Dejaboo

Wonderful to hear they have found a good fabric!

purple32

GREAT job, Carol!

carol57

Purple, thank you, but I'm just staying in touch with the company, and I'm sincerely gratified that they're taking an interest in our needs. 

glennie19

I've tried some compression shirts too, but either they are too big, so not enough compression, OR they squish my remaining breast so much it hurts.  I'd certainly be interested in hearing more about this one.

cfdr

Wonderful! Big thanks to the folks at Go for persevering in this.

toomuch

So nice to hear that this is still in the works! Thank you, Carol. 

carol57

glennie, it's a tall, tall order to design a compression shirt that works to meet all of our many, many needs! The kind people at Go found our forum a while back, when I posted something about buying one of their compression shirts and finding it to have too little compression. They must have Google alerts on their name on the Web, and one of the principals registered just to say that they would be happy to try to customize a shirt for women with LE.  It's been a discovery process ever since--for them, learning about LE and our frustrations with existing compression shirts that don't fit well and have necklines impossible to wear with or hide under street clothing; the problem of too much short-sleeve compression on top of our  medical sleeve compression, and more.  It's been a discovery process for me, learning about the hoops a clothing maker has to jump through to create a design and secure the right fabric, without committing to purchasing a boatload of fabric before they are sure the design/sizing/compression level works and will sell enough to recover their investment.  The great news is that as a group, we tried to interest the huge UnderArmour company in such a project, and it went absolutely nowhere, even after Binney took the time (at their request) to complete an exhaustive market research survey.  At least Go is taking our need seriously, even though it's fraught with pitfalls.  Can you imagine the variation in our body sizes--being human, as we are? --despite all of us fitting into the garment industry's sizing ranges?  I cannot fathom how Margaret, the wonderful garment designer at Go, is going to produce shirts in sizes that also manage to accommodate our various arm lengths and girths, torso lengths, and 'where' we want the compression!  She's planning to have us test the sizes and offer fit comments, but still..this feels like mission impossible, and yet she and the company are still game.  I have no financial interest in this project but I'm sure going to benefit when I can purchase the shirts when they are ready!  And if they're not perfect, I'll still be mighty grateful to the small company that has been willing to lend us a hand.  

More soon, I hope, but if it's a while before the next (sizing) step materializes, I think we're all experts in being patient.  After all, that's required when you have LE.

OneBadBoob

Thanks Carol for all of your work on this important project.

glennie19

carol, it is definitely a lot of work!  Certainly will be interested to see the next step evolve.  

Thank you for all your hard work with the company.  

Journey

Carol every time I see an update from you it makes me smile!  We are fortunate to have a company still looking into this.  Those of us who can should support this small USA company that is trying to help us.  They make pants, skirts, dresses and simple loose t shirts as well.  Again, thank you Carol!

kcshreve

Until the GO shirts are ready, what brand of compression shirts are you finding to work?  I originally ordered a bunch of UnderArmours, which have been successful for me in a size too small.  With the wicking aspect, I can wear them all year long.  However, they are running out of steam, and UnderArmour no longer carries the models or any similar models. Their styles have gone looser or thicker - not good.  A few years ago, I remember Target had something similar, but I'm not up on it anymore, as I've been away for awhile.  Where should I look now?  I have LE in an arm and a trunk, which has been well supported with the full shirts.

glennie19

I haven't found any that work for me. I have truncal also, and I've been using swell spots, but having trouble getting part of the axilla area covered.  The shirts I've tried are either too big, or if they have enough compression for the LE side,, put too much pressure on my remaining breast.

cfdr

I only have truncal LE. I swear by the WearEase camis...I have three of them. I also have a swell spot that I use if I get a flare-up, or if I'm taking a plane flight.

JAN69

Encouraging news.  In regards to what is available now AND works, for me it is WearEase Compression T.  It is the best thing I've found and is comfortable (after I get it on).  Jan