Lymphedema and gardening and sleeves for warm weather

jbrad19

Hi -

I unfortunately developed cording and lymphedema during my second bout with breast cancer. Bummer! I wear my sleeve daily and was getting great PT until Covid came around. Finally going back next week. My question is are any of you gardeners? How long can you work in the garden with out feeling like you over did it? My PT said an hour but they are conservative about most things. However i am sore today - pretty sure i was weeding a little too aggressively yesterday.

Also any advice on sleeves for warm weather? My arm gets so hot! I have mild LE but pretty good cording

Thanks!

HersheyKiss

Hi there, jbrad. I garden and do yardwork, sometimes for 2+ hours at a time. I've not experienced any issues with my lymphedema after working outside (raking, hoeing, pulling weeds, and pruning). My summertime sleeves are from Lymphedivas. They are not uncomfortable like my Juzo sleeves, which feel like hot bandages to me. I only wear Juzo during the colder months.

Darlene63

I just had my lumpectomy 2/28/2020 and just finished 20 radiation treatments on 5/22/2020 and the lymphedema started right after surgery but no one told me what it was so I finally just went to the lymphedema clinic last week and I am doing the massage therapy and got the compression machine on Thursday. I have heard and read so many different things about the complications of lymphedema. Does it every go away; do I have to worry about infections overt working my arm, can I every weed eat again. Oh I forgot to mention my radiation oncologist basically laughed at me when I told him I have lymphedema; he said no one gets it any more. I am really stressed out because I feel like I did not get the care I should have received. But if I had waited than the COVID would have interfered with any treatment. Do you have any advice? Most of the stuff I read on the internet is 10-15 years old; no one seems to think this is a problem but I am worried about my future.

flashlight

Darlene63, I'm a year out and was just seen by my new MO. My breast was swollen and I had shoulder and neck pain. She said I had lymphedema. I called the clinic to set up an appointment and they are not back 100% yet in Delaware. I'm hoping to get in soon to find out more information. I read online to get treatment as soon as possible for better results. With Covid-19 that isn't possible.

MinusTwo

I garden a lot and strenuously. My LE is mostly breast & truncal and I do wear a compression bra 24/7. I know I should be wearing sleeves, but I don't, and so far I have been lucky and have no progression to my arms. It's already over 95 degrees here and I'm always wringing wet. I can't imagine adding sleeves.

Darlene: There are a number of good LE threads on BCO and many are quite active. Most docs get about 15 minutes of training in their 8-12 years of medical school - so no they really don't have a clue. Yes, you are at risk forever. Yes, you can get cellulitis. Yes there are times you should be wearing sleeves & gauntlets. Glad you're seeing a trained, certified LEPT. Below is a link to a great site that may provide the answers you're looking for.

https://www.stepup-speakout.org/

MinusTwo

LE in the summer - Great article from CURE reprinted courtesy of WearEase

https://www.curetoday.com/community/bonnie-annis/2...