New type of LE Garment

Binney, you are THE expert--but I still don't understand why off the shelf Juzo gloves use the european compression class 18/21 mm and their sleeves use the US 20-30

In my experience, I needed to be in CCL 1 for both the Juzo glove and sleeve--yet they're technically difference mm of mercury of pressure.

I tried to look it up in the International Best Practices guidelines, and they just say that there's no standardization:

To
assist comparison, therefore, garment
packaging and studies involving
compression garments should state the
pressure ranges and the testing method
used to determine the pressures.

Joe Zuther wrote in his blog:

At the current time there is no national standard for compression classes. However, compression is very similar between the different manufacturers

So, frankly I'm confused, I don't think it's as simple as just mm mercury compression, as different fabrics and weaves have more "containment"--so for me to wear CCL 1 in Juzo, my glove is 18/21 mm and my sleeve is 20-30 mm. 

Okay, to confuse myself more: I logged into the medi site, and the medi 95 gloves that I use off the shelf are CCL 1 20-30mm, but if I submitted a custom glove order, it's the European compression classes.

I emailed the medi rep I met at the NLN to try and get an explaination.

Any expert fitters out there to explain this to us?

Help!

Kira

Ninja, they sent me fabric samples, and the fabrics for the single arm is very different from the silver wave fabric for the double arm. It's very interesting fabric--very stretchy and has the "wave" woven into it.

Kira

Kira-  That's right. The wave texture is supposed to have a massage effect. It leaves little zig-zag/ chevron marks in your skin after you take it off.  It's obviously different than the usual compression sleeve fabric.  The single arm fabric may appear less unusal (especially in a small swatch which is what I imagine you have?), but it feels very different from -and a million times better than- other sleeves.  

Kira, the Medi guy is talking about three different variables:
compression class
fabric
method of manufacture

All of them affect the fit and feel of our garments. The StepUp-SpeakOut section on flat-knit and circular-knit explains the difference in the way they're made:

Most off-the-shelf garments are "circular knit," which means they're knitted continuously in a circular pattern that results in a roughly cylindrical shape with no seams. Custom made garments, on the other hand, are most often "flat knit," or cut to the proper size from a flat piece of knitted fabric and seamed into shape. Circular knit garments are generally lighter in weight, and many people prefer the seamless look. Flat knit garments can be cut from a wide range of breathable fabrics and may include such features as zippers or extension panels to ease joint flexibility.

And this about fabrics:

The fabric used in your garment may be soft (like Juzo's "Varian Soft") or sturdy (like Jobst's "Elvarex"), or somewhere in between. It may feel flexible or stiff, smooth or rough. All these factors add to your sense of the fit of your garment, and to its effectiveness for you as well. An experienced fitter takes fabric choice into consideration in order to provide you with the garment best suited to your specific needs. A compression sensitive person may need a softer fabric to prevent her fingertips from turning an unhealthy shade of purple, while a person who tends to develop fibrosis easily may do better with a firm and sturdy fabric –even if they both require the same compression level.

What we feel as "comfortable" has to do with all those factors, and with the way they meet our individual needs, so no one version will do for all of us. That's part of why it's so hard to find just the right garments.

Of course the other reason it's so hard is because we also need a smart and experienced and empathetic fitter to wade through all the possibilities and come up with the right combo.

And, for what it's worth, it's one of the main reasons we started StepUp-SpeakOut -- so we all could do some "comparison shopping" and know what's out there besides whatever the local fitter stocks. There are a WHOLE lot more choices now than there were even six or eight years ago.

Now all we have to do is wade through all this and get what works best for us!

Onward!
Binney

Tina, I checked and the Medi glove style #724 is the medi 550 glove, and I got one by mistake and HATED it--they're bulky, and on purpose they put less compression in the fingers:

http://www.bandagesplus.com/prd/33/849/Mediven-Glove.html

Mediven Glove with Fingers

20-30mmHgCCL1=20-30mmHg #724

CCL2=30-40mmHg #723

Specifically designed to work in conjunction with the Mediven armsleeve, this glove with fingers is made from an air permeable skin-friendly knit. Gradient compression from the fingers (50% compression in fingers) to the wrist ensures physiological lymph flow. Made from 86% Polyamid (nylon) and 14% Elastan (spandex) in Germany.

I like the medi 95 glove, which has full finger compression to the first joint:

Medi 95 Glove 20-30mmHg w/Compressive Fingers

CCL1=20-30mmHg #760

CCL2=30-40mmHg #761

The Medi 95 glove has compression in the fingers to the first joint. Designed to work in conjunction with the Medi 95 armsleeve, the glove is soft and durable.

Just checking on-line, Bandages Plus is so much more expensive than brightlifedirect or nulifemedical....

Tina, I tried on that Medi 550 and shipped it right back.

Oh, and Hymil clarified it: III is the size (also known as 3) and 724 is the style, and CCL1 is the compression class. Try a medi 95 in a III sometime, you might prefer it.

Kira

Thanks for the info ladies, I ordered a bilat sleeve today. I haven't experienced lymphedema as yet, but about to go back to work and travel extensively so thought I should do my best at prevention. The service was wonderful..ordered online and already shipped. Will let everyone know how it works/feels when I receive it.

Lymphedema Sleeve Company has a 30 day return policy. I was told they donate the returned sleeves (if newish) to women that cannot afford the sleeve (but only througha therapist that request a free one)

It's like coming home from a long long hike in hard boots and putting your slippers on.

Can only speak for myself here as obviously everyone's arm is different. I just finished my second day with the bilateral wavy sleeve, light compression. No problems in the other arm, no problems in the hand that I had when they gave me a medi-sleeve without a hand, and all the aching in the upper arm has gone. I did go up to the medium size and I think that helped. I think it's one of those "Less is More" situations, the very gentle approach being best. I did laugh at the little ripple imprints all over my arms!

Hope you find what's best for you.

So we need to work on getting them to make a long-sleeved tee-shirt now, right?

I still haven't gotten my sleeve!!! I called on Thursday and they said it would be here Friday... but we were out of town and it was not here when we got home today!  I hope it comes Monday... They said there have been shipping issues with all the adverse weather on the east coast!

Cookie - I got mine too! I wore it today and wore it to PT to show my therapist - she loved it and called her hubby in to take a look. They will probably contact the company and see if they can get some samples of some of the other garments they have. They were really excited.

SO, here is the verdict. I LOVE wearing this sleeve (I got the bilateral silver wave 15-20 mmhg). It is comfortable, and guess what - my arm was smaller than normal when I took it off tonight. My LE therapist loves it because it has the waves in it and having texture really helps with fibrotic tissue. It fits my unaffected arm fine, but is a little big on that side (obviously). But here is the thing that I think I am really going to like about it (but of course I have to test it biking to see for sure) that is it is actually cool. I don't mean the look of it (although that is fine as well) - I mean the temperature. I wore it under a short sleeved shirt today thinking it would keep me warmer, but it actually had a cooling effect on my arms. Which is GREAT - but I needed to wear a light sweater today for warmth (if I had just dressed for the winter season, like I normally would, it would have been fine). SO, thus far, I give it two thumbs up!

I actually went ahead and ordered two more, a one arm, and a two arm in a smaller size. I start therapy next week, so I want to give them some choices what I should be wearing.

cookie- I take a size medium in the single arm and size small or medium (I have both, both are fine - not all that much difference) in the Wave.

I am soooo excited that people are trying these . .  and liking them. 

I just luv 'em!!!!