Compression garments at 9300 feet?

ksusan

Hello, all. I don't have LE and I do what I can to keep it that way. I always wear sleeves and gauntlets on planes, if I'm doing heavy yard work, or for workouts (usually just one sleeve if it's high-intensity exercise). So far, so good. I'm going to be spending 3 days at an elevation of over 9000 feet. Sleeves? I wear Juzos on the plane, but I'm thinking about Lymphedivas for this elevation. Your thoughts? Thank you.

Denise-G

My thought as someone who suffers from LE is wear the sleeve at higher elevation!

Changes in barometric pressure really make my arm swell...I live at 100 feet elevation!

Hope someone chimes in who has real knowledge about this issue! GOOD LUCK!

SpecialK

ksusan- do you currently have and wear any Lymphadivas garments? I have my standard sleeves and gauntlets - also Juzo - and purchased some Lymphedivas ones because I like the prints and found them tighter and longer than my regular garments. I still wear them but they are a little less comfortable.

Binney4

ksusan, I'll agree with Denise on this, that if you have well-fitting garments they'd be helpful at that altitude. More compression is not necessarily better for reducing your LE risk, so if you've been using the Juzo garments and the fit is good, you might be better off sticking with that than trying something new. Use them for the trip up as well, whether you're flying or driving, because the change of altitude is a challenge to our lymph system. Generally, though, once you're at altitude for several hours you should be fine using them only when exercising, traveling or engaging in any activity you're not used to. Wear them again for the trip back down, as anytime you change altitude you'll want protection.

Happy travels!
Binney

ksusan

Thanks! I do have a set of Lymphediva garments and find them more comfortable than the Juzos (say, on a hot and humid day when I need to shovel bark mulch). I do wear Juzo for flights (20 hours in compression garments is enough to make me scream, but I sit quietly doing my MLD and fist-pumps and enjoying near-continuous hot flashes instead). Excellent advice about wearing them for the altitude transition, and that also answers my question about what to do at night since I don't have night garments.