Glove or Gauntlet???

BayouBabe

What is better - a glove or a gauntlet? I am new at this whole LE thing. Some background - I had a BMX and radiation. One node removed. During radiation I was having a touch of swelling. Got measured at a lymphedema clinic (had baseline prior to surgery). It showed 3 % swelling. They taught me MLD. They also measured me for a sleeve and glove. Sleeve fits fine. Glove - had two different ones, neither worked. Got sent for a custom one. Just received my 2nd custom and it is still giving me problems. Thus, 4 gloves, and still not one that fits. Out of frustration I ordered a gauntlet from Lymphadivas - they had a grab bag sale and thought I had nothing to lose. Got the gauntlet today and love it. But now I am wondering if there is a reason I need the glove instead of the gauntlet? Don't want to cause myself more issues. I had asked at my last appointment at LE clinic, why I needed one over the other, and the therapist just looked at me like I sprouted wings. (Not fond of this clinic, but it is all that is accessible to me). Ugh. Is a gauntlet ok?



Also - I do not need it every day - have been fine so far just wearing sleeve/glove when my arm feels full/aches, or when exercising. Please help. LE is starting to cause me to lose my mind!

cookiegal

Some people are fine with gauntlets. They are for sure less obtrusive. I am not a fan, they don's seem to work for me. ( I use Barton Carey gloves, the fit is amazing.) I used to be able to go sleeve only but not anymore.

BayouBabe

How will I know if I am fine with one? What do I watch for? I am so confused with this whole thing. Can you explain what you mean that they don't work for you?

cookiegal

It is just not comfortable, my fingers feel swollen, and my hand does not feel compressed. I have worn them for a short time in some social situations. If you hand feels fine, and your measurements are good, then go ahead with the gauntlet. Comfort is a big part of this.

The Barton Carey gloves are custom, might be worth a try.

BayouBabe

Thank you! Comfort I understand. That is why the custom is not good for me. For one I don't think they have the measurements just right. My fingers hurt in it and ache. It also leaves horrible indents on my hand where the seams are. My fingers should not look like and feel like sausages - at least that's what I keep telling the clinic. So frustrating.

kira66715

Gloves are for people who have finger swelling, and gauntlets are for people who don't have finger swelling.

that said, fitting gloves is very, very tricky.

For off the shelf, I like medi 95, as they have full finger compression and half compression at the wrist, and I found the larger glove--I was kind of between two sizes, more comfortable: http://www.brightlifedirect.com/medi-95-glove-20-30mmhg-wcompressive-fingers.asp

Bad compression traps fluid and makes things worse!

Here's a link to proper fitting of garments:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/proper_fitting_of_lymphedema_garments.htm

My LE therapist has a patient who got fed up and stopped wearing her gloves and pulled her sleeves down to her knuckles, and defied all classical advice, and got better. Possibly fluid was getting trapped at the wrist.

We all find what works for us, but often it's not before we waste a lot of time and money and have a drawer/closet full of expensive things that don't work.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a store to try them all on? It only happens at conferences.....

Wear the compression that feels comfortable, and manages your swelling.

for me, night time wrapping is the key, and then I get away with much less daytime compression. Everyone is different, and it varies over time as well.

Good luck!

BayouBabe

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone! Figuring out LE is mind boggling!