Night sleeves -- do they work like wrapping?

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Binney4
Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I'm just taking a very informal survey here: Jovi-Pac and Solaris don't claim that using their night sleeves will reduce your swelling, and ReidSleeve does. But both Jovi and Solaris do work that way for me, so I wondered what the rest of you have found?

Thanks!
Binney

Comments

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2010
    I will let you know after I get my Solaris Tribute.  It won't be here 'til after Thanksgiving.  Cry
  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    Thank you for asking the question Binney.  I'm very curious what the responses will be as I am looking in to getting a nightsleeve.

  • KittyDog
    KittyDog Member Posts: 1,079
    edited November 2010

    I didn't get to use mine much but I did think it  helped the swelling to go down in my arm.  I have the tribute with a jacket to add the extra compression.

  • KS1
    KS1 Member Posts: 632
    edited November 2010

    I like my Tribute --  that heavy/achy feeling melts away if I put it on for an hour, and my fingers don't turn funky colors when I wear it.  I wear it ever night and, yesterday, I wore it all day at work, and went "naked" all evening without any discomfort or visible swelling.  Now, with respect to swelling, most days, my fingers are definitely smaller and softer after wearing a Tribute overnight, and the skin in my forearm feels looser, though I don't think I measure smaller.  Longer term, I think the Tribute has improved things.  I used to have a somewhat hard patch in my forearm, but it completely resolved a couple of months after I started wearing my Tribute.  I cannot say whether this improvement is due to the Tribute as a slow-to-heal (12+ months!) axillary surgery/radiation-induced wound finally closed up about the same time as I got the Tribute.  I would love to hear people's experience with night garments.  KS1 PS - I wear the tribute with the accompanying nylon sleeve thing over it 

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2010

    My nightsleeve came in today!  Hurrah!!!!

    So I will be reporting tomorrow on whether or not it works as well or better than bandages.

     Yay!!!!

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    Oh Suzy, I'm really happy for you.  Good luck tonight.

  • lmc1970
    lmc1970 Member Posts: 168
    edited November 2010

    I am looking at buying a night sleeve too so knowing which one to buy would really be helpful!

  • revkat
    revkat Member Posts: 763
    edited November 2010

    My Jovi-pak with nylon jacket seems to work like wrapping for me. My arm is smaller after I wear it, whether that is at night, or during the day when my arm is acting up. I remember reading somewhere that it is good to be moving around while wearing it, because then it sort of pumps the fluid out of your arm. But that is only a vague memory, so I could be wrong.

  • SleeveNinja
    SleeveNinja Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2010

    My arm mesurements seem pretty stable and don't measure any difference AM or PM.  So I can't say if my Tribute reduces swelling but it seems to keep it from progressing.  I wore Tribute 24 hrs/ day with bandages over it for 20 months until I found a day sleeve.  Now I wear it only for sleeping. The first 20 minutes or so after I don it are extremely (almost hypnotically) soothing; I believe some kind of pumping, or draining, or some good thing is happening.  I felt the same everytime a new bandage was applied during intensive tx. ??

    I never tried the Reid or any of the sleeves with straps.  I suspect the straps can provide more consistent and perhaps stronger compression - particularly in the upper-upper arm (where I have the most arm swelling and) where the Tribute compression sort of peters out. 

    BTW - Most nights I wake up once or twice to find my hand (inside the mitt) totally numb. (A few finger wiggles and it comes back.)  Also, my hand often feels stiff in the morning.  A first, both these phenom freaked me out -- but I've had no hand swelling.  Just wondering if anyone else has this experience w night garments?
  • SleeveNinja
    SleeveNinja Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2010

    My arm mesurements seem pretty stable and don't measure any difference AM or PM.  So I can't say if my Tribute reduces swelling but it seems to keep it from progressing.  I wore Tribute 24 hrs/ day with bandages over it for 20 months until I found a day sleeve.  Now I wear it only for sleeping. The first 20 minutes or so after I don it are extremely (almost hypnotically) soothing; I believe some kind of pumping, or draining, or some good thing is happening.  I felt the same everytime a new bandage was applied during intensive tx. ??

    I never tried the Reid or any of the sleeves with straps.  I suspect the straps can provide more consistent and perhaps stronger compression - particularly in the upper-upper arm (where I have the most arm swelling and) where the Tribute compression sort of peters out. 

    BTW - Most nights I wake up once or twice to find my hand (inside the mitt) totally numb. (A few finger wiggles and it comes back.)  Also, my hand often feels stiff in the morning.  A first, both these phenom freaked me out -- but I've had no hand swelling.  Just wondering if anyone else has this experience w night garments?
  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    SleeveNinja, I'm confused........you wrap on top of the Tribute?  I thought it came with an oversleeve kind of compression thing.  Am I understanding you correctly?

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2010

    Okay, I will report after one night with the solaris tribute and the oversleeve that it works better than my compression bandaging.  I was very impressed with it!

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    Yay Suzybelle.........great to hear.

  • SleeveNinja
    SleeveNinja Member Posts: 178
    edited November 2010

    Sharon - sorry, duh, I didn't know about the oversleeve at the time.  For a while I wore the Tribute sleeve alone, but I needed more compression for all day long.  The oversleeve is a separate item (though made to match) and an additional charge; it doesn't come with the sleeve.  I recommend starting with a plain sleeve - it might be enough compression for you.  Depends how much you need.

    I tried on a Jovi-pac sleeve last week for the first time.  Just a try on - not my own sleeve.  Very comfy, soothing, protectected feeling. 

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    Thank you SleeveNinja.  It's good to know what to ask for.  I'm slowly learning thanks to all. 

  • Suzybelle
    Suzybelle Member Posts: 920
    edited November 2010

    I got the oversleeve with my night sleeve.  It adds compression, for sure.  I can definitely feel the difference when I don't wear it. 

  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited November 2010

    The fitter who ordered my Solaris didn't "believe" in the over-sleeve--they're only good for 6 months, and she said to put a short stretch over it if needed.

    I also have a jovipak, with the oversleeve--and I found I needed the over-sleeve for enough compression.

    Now, I just have a supremely annoying cast--that needs another revision as it's too tight on my arm...

    The hand surgeon thinks I'm a royal pain in the butt, but it's not his arm.

    Kira

  • annadou
    annadou Member Posts: 221
    edited November 2010

    I got an off the shelf Jovipak and jacket which was a huge risk as I am living in Greece and my nearest fitter was in Norway according to Jovipak. I would say that the fit is good but it would have been good to have an adjustable mechanism as well.

    For me -not being a good bandager as I cannot seem to get even pressure-the result is good and is something that I can do because that bandaging is too much and I was forever ripping it all off.I am due for a two week session soon so the measurements will tell . I will definately try that adjustable one (name?) that is a bit cheaper next time.

    However having said that ,from my short experiance( 12 mths )the wrapping gets a better result when done by my therapist and when the enthusiasm(!) wears off Jovi does a good job as well.

    Health to all

    Anna

  • CherylG711
    CherylG711 Member Posts: 102
    edited November 2010

    I wear a Jovi (aka the Ovenmitt) every night and get good results in the reduction of swelling.  I do wear the power sleeve over the top of the Jovi for added compression.  For me several factors help keep the swelling in my hand down.....water aerobics three days a week, wearing my Jovi at night and staying hydrated (plus I live on the coast).

    SleeveNinja-I do get numb fingers occasionally and my hand is sometimes a bit stiff in the morning.

  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited November 2010

    How much does the Tribute nightsleeve accommodate fluctuations in arm size?

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