Lymphedema and hot tubs

rwiley4529

Here's my situation. Left arm and hand lymphedema. It's "managed" pretty well with a sleeve and glove.

I've heard conflicting information about hot tubs and lymphedema. Some say never get in a hot tub, some say it's okay if I keep my arm out of the water.

Now I'm asking the experts--what say you? :-)

I don't have regular access to a hot tub, this would only be on vacation, perhaps a few times a year.

Thanks!

Anonymous

I was told it's not recommended. Also you might like to consider that it may not be enough to just keep your arm out of water as it might just encourage truncal LE. I suppose it would depend on how long you stayed in and the temperature. In any case, I have my own tub and it sits there unused. :-( Ever since BC, I've never used it. A hot soak on a miserable mid winter night was hard to beat as was a soak after some hard work where you had tired sore muscles.

AmyQ

I use my hot tub every morning to sooth my aching bones and hip. I lowered the temperature from 104 to 102 as recommended by LE therapist. I also have truncal LE and it doesn't seem to be bothered by the hot tub.

If you are only using on vacation I would think you would be fine. I couldn't live without mine and as Musical said, a hot soak on a miserable winter night IS hard to beat, especially with tired sore muscles. Everyone is different, I know but for me, I can't live without my hot tub.

Amy

AKJ

I also have a hot tub that's going unused. I've gotten it it only once since BC because I'm afraid it'll make my lymphedema worse.

slv58

Like AmyQ, I was told a lower temp of 102 was recommended. I have been left with terrible joint/muscle pain from chemo and I find great relief from hot tub.

glennie19

I haven't been in a hot tub since my LE started,,, but I miss one. My muscle aches feel better just in a hot shower,, so I know the hot tub would feel good. Let me ask my LE therapist today,,,, I have an appt shortly.

carol57

I tried a hot tub just last week while vacationing. My LE arm swelled noticeably but not hugely, and my other arm, which is swelling after shoulder surgery two months ago, ballooned. I was enjoying doing my therapy exercises in the warmth and probably overdid it. My CLT is on the fence post on whether I am developing LE in that arm, possible as I had bmx. My thought on hot tubs now is to try it at a reduced temp if you can control that, and certainly start with just a few minutes to see what happens, and then add time gradually, monitoring as you go.

rwiley4529

Thanks for all your input!

DH and I are going away this weekend for our anniversary, there's a hot tub at the resort. I'm thinking I may just go ahead and get in, but keep my arm out, and don't stay in very long. I'll hang out *by* the hot tub as long as dh wants to stay in. :-)

Ramona

hugz4u

A while ago I told my LE therapy girl that I had enrolled in a 98 degree pool arthritis program but because we were exercising I got much warmer. She advised against it. So I didn't enroll again.
That said, I feel really ripped off that I cant spend long periods in hot water or my infared sauna. A true pleasure in life.
So I compromise by staying out of the sauna and when hot tubbing I sit on edge first with just legs in, then when I get cold I dip totally in a few times to warm up and sit my bum on the step with upper body out. Then I spend maybe a minute submerged in water with arm out. I rotate all of this with a total of fifteen minutes in the tub. So far so good. I would do anything to be able to sit submerged for even five minutes but I know that I am playing with fire and just have to be satisfied with enjoying the hot tub a bit.

When I hot bath I don't make it overly hot and rest my arm on the ledge. Or I lay on my side that is non LE. I have to be careful because my truncal LE bothers me more than my arm LE

Anonymous

Not sure if tub and bath are the same thing, but if not, then I meant we have a bath. I SURE DO miss it. Of course everyone chooses how much they want to play with fire, but I prefer to be preventative on this. LE is bothersome enough in any event without adding to the pile of what we have to deal with already.

Hugz I've thought of that. (lying on he side) I've come to the conclusion if I can't do it properly, I'd be too tempted to do it anyway. :-)

glennie19

My LE therapist says the official word is NO hot tubs. That said, not everything will bother everyone, and you have to see what works for you. Maybe a lower temp,,, maybe only staying in for 5 mins instead of 15 and be sure to do MLD afterwards. She says if your skin get red and blotchy, you were in too long. Also,,, since lower half of the body is a different quadrant, it may be possible to submerge from waist down,, and keep upper body and arms out. It really is an individual thing.

Binney4

Ramona, the issue really isn't just the arm--it's your body's core temperature that can affect new swelling. Maybe for this anniversary weekend hanging out "by" the hot tub is a better bet than venturing into hot water and chancing swelling that could wreck the calm and romance of the weekend. There's gotta be other attractions at the resort that you can both enjoy besides the hot tub, no? As someone whose LE first reared its ugly head on a vacation, I can tell you for sure these things are better experimented with at home, where a quick call to an LE therapist can help relieve any issues.

LE rots! Have a glorious weekend anyway!
Binney

Kicks

What I worry about more is the potential for all sorts of infections from public hot tubs. Especially the ones that the chlorine level burns you eyes when walking in to the area. This goes back to long before LE. I have been in several private ones with not effect on my LE - but we are each different.

AmyQ

Kicks brings up a good point, I stay out of public hot tubs and use only my own.

Amy

Outfield

My long-ago health-inspector boyfriend called hot tubs "diaper soup." At higher temperatures, chlorine isn't as effective so it's a lot easier for there to be significant amounts of bacteria in hot tubs than in regular swimming pools. There's even a bacterial skin infection called "hot tub folliculitis." So even if you don't swell from the heat, you are at higher risk for coming in contact with something nasty than in a regular pool.

Knowing all this, I nevertheless got into a hot tub at our health club because I was cold after being in the pool. I got seriously sick: not just a cellulitis in my arm but also bacteria in my blood, high fever, lots of IV antibiotics. The bacteria was one that normally tends to stay in the GI tract and crotch.

I will never dunk my arm in a public hot tub again. Probably I'm not going to put it in a private one either, but I'd feel better if I knew for sure everyone's hygiene that used the tub and how conscientiously it was maintained.