Hallelujah!!!

Tishfin

All I can say is...Hallelujah!! I have two bits of news. I have been wearing my new sleeve from Solidea for 3 days...and I love it! I have been in a god awful sleeve for 6 weeks ( it seemed like forever! ) It was irritating the heck out of my under arm and after the embarrassing time the thing rolled down my arm while I was out with my kids I was all done! While I know I will have to wear this new sleeve most likely forever, at least it's comfortable. I am wearing the unilateral sleeve that comes across the back and has the short sleeve on the other side. Yes, it does what it says, it holds the sleeve in place and for me there is no more redness or burning like the other one. It is definitely softer feeling and looks better ( I got the black one) I saw my therapist today and she wants me to get the massaging one they offer to wear while I exercise. I don't know if my insurance will cover this as it is a lower compression so I will wait to order it. I got mine on Bandages Plus, they wear very helpful, I called them directly.

The second bit of good news. I started doing self massage with the dry brush ( there are lots of youtube videos on it). First, It feels really good! Second, I decided to try the technique on my whole body and about an hour later I felt some tenderness in the nodes in my groin (I don't have lymphedema there) and in my sides (trunk) which leads me to believe it moved lots of fluid that was just collecting. This has left me feeling very hopeful, that I'm not so helpless, that I can take some control of this whole thing...

The next step is diet...I'll keep you all post

bhd1

dry brush? Where do u get it?

Tishfin

I hope I am posting this right. Here is a link to a youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=panD5S72Tb0 . If you can't see it just google "dry brushing for lymphedema" there is lots of info on it. I just bough a natural bristle bath brush from CVS but you can go to Wholefoods too. It feels really good. I found drinking lot of water after helps too

Tishfin

I just ordered my "micro massage" sleeve today! Someone sent me an email sale for 15% off on the www.LSCDistribution.com site the code is OCT31...I hope it's ok to share that??? I'm really excited to try it. I really like the "unilateral" one I have been wearing.

corky60

Tishfin, I am so glad that I read this. I've had only one node removed and my drs tell me that it's very unlikely that I'd get lymphedema. But here I am six months past surgery and three months past rads and my breast and underarm suddenly were swollen, noticeably to me, with a heavy feeling halfway down my arm. And the worst is that it hurt! So I watched the video and tried it. Within fifteen minutes there was relief. I kept my appointment with my MO's PA anyway. He measured both my arms in two places and there was no difference. He tried to reassure me that all is fine but of course I'll keep my eye on it.

Tishfin

Corky60- I'm so glad my post was helpful! I am just trying to get a handle on this whole thing like so many of us. I went out and bought a shoe shine brush...the bristles are way softer than a bath brush and I found that after I did the self message with it I had more relief. I just ordered a mini trampoline too! (it was like $45 online...not bad) The jumping is supposed to act like a pump and move the fluid as well. I also got a messaging sleeve to were while I exercise. It is supposed to help move the fluid out of my arm as well. It's kind of weird doing all this...I guess it's my new normal.

carol57

tishfin, can you tell us about the massaging sleeve? I've not heard of that and would like to see what it is.

KittyDog

I was told never to do LE on the whole body at one time. I have it in both legs, right side and right arm. I have to alternate legs every night and do the arm. She said you could overdo the system which could in the long run over do your heart. Be careful if you do it again.

coraleliz

The last LE therapist I saw mentioned brushing but my surgeon sent me there to learn Taping with KT tape. The tape caused a rash on my skin.

I watched the above mentioned video. What confuses me is crossing the midline of the body. I've had nodes removed from both sides & have truncal edema only on the left. By crossing the midline of the body, could I cause problems on the other side.

hugz4u

The Ktape can cause tape burn if you pull it off. I tried everything, oil, warm bath and couldn't get it off because my girl used adhesive spray first. I was left with a big welt the shape of my Ktape. Be careful and let the tape drop off naturally. I did bounce out of it, thank goodness

Saw the brushing you tube. Looks like it may work. My concern is if the brush would put micro tears in my skin because it is so thin and dry, It might be best to experiment on a non LE limb first if you don't have tough skin. I really enjoyed the video and may try it down the road. I suppose I could get a softer brush, I have the same one as the girl demo and is is a bit rough for me.

corky60

Tishfin--A shoeshine brush, what a wonderful idea! I know that the dry skin brush is rougher in order to remove dead skin cells but that's really not our objective. Thanks for these posts!

Tishfin

Carol57- the "massaging sleeve" I mention is from solidea. It's really neat! My therapist wanted me to try it. It's a light compression and has ridges on the inside. I have been wearing it in the mornings when I go for a walk. It is supposed to be more effective when you are active. My new morning routine has been taking a walk with the massaging sleeve then before I take a shower and get ready for work I do a quick dry brush on both my arms. I wear my other sleeve for the rest of the day. I do notice that I have to pee really bad by the time I get to work. So I think this routine is working for me.

corky60- the shoe shine brush is nice and soft and I have to say I think it works better than the bath brush (less sratchy too!)

carol57

Thank you, tishfin. I assume it's also providing gradient compression, but I'll look at the solidea site to find out.

Denise-G

I never did skin brushing, but I just went and bought a very soft brush with stick at Rite Aid for

around $6.00. The movements are EXACTLY like the ones my Lymphedema Specialist

taught me - only I now use my hand. It seems the brush would work better because of the

lighter strokes. I seem to manually do it too hard. I'll ask my LE Specialist and report back

next week.

Tishfin

I'm trying to figure out my diet...trying desperately to stick to low salt but, every time I go out to eat it definitely effects my arm...UGH! How are you all dealing with food and LE? I need another Hallelujah! moment