Surviving the bandaging phase

bgirl

So I have recently been diagnosed with LE - 3 1/2 years from original diagnosis, yep making my day. In the 24hr bandaging phase, Any suggestions on how to keep fingers clean? Waiting to be fitted for gauntlet/sleeve. Tried rubber glove, but hand is too big to go in it.

Binney4

Aw, Jane, I'm so sorry you've had to join our "swell" group. :-( But welcome anyway!

Be sure you learn to do the wrapping yourself--it's a useful tool for dealing with the occasional flare, so it pays to be able to manage it alone.

The treatment phase is for sure a "make-my-day" experience, but we're here to cheer you on. It really DOES get better, honest!

On the "How You Can Cope" page at StepUp-SpeakOut there's a section of suggestions for coping with a wrapped arm, all from women who've been there. Hopefully it'll give you some workable ideas. It's here:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_wi...

Beyond that, I use a vegetable brush with a longish handle to wash dishes and keep my hand out of the water--I like the ones at IKEA, but of course you can find them anywhere. My LE is bilateral, so on those (fortunately rare) occasions when both arms are wrapped I have the perfect excuse to let somebody else to the messy work.

Hang in there! I always think chocolate helps a lot with a new LE diagnosis. ;-)
Gentle hugs,
Binney

crystalphm

Jane, I am sorry. It is a rough time and I am a bit germaphobic which made it even harder. I did wear rubber gloves, they make the ones hairdressers use to apply dye and they are fairly large. A freeform thing.

Not exactly waterproof but it does the job.

It is not easy to keep it all clean...or even cook for that matter.

Kicks

The Cosmetologist (aka hair dressers) gloves are available (and have been for at least 50+ yrs) in different sizes - small to very large in boxes of 100. They do fit snug if you buy the right size (when I had my Salon I always kept plenty of Sm and Med. ) If gloves do not fit snug then color can get where it shouldn't . If you do not have any Beauty Supply Companies that sell some things to the general public (Sally's sells gloves) then try a feed store/ranch store. They should have boxes of gloves in different sizes too - even shoulder length as cheap or cheaper than hair supply places. Disposible gloves can also be gotten at Pet stores. PetCo PetSmart, etc.

Just thought of another place where I have gotten size related disposeae gloves - wood working stores.