Sleeve for Flying

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ReadingMama
ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I'm confused and hope you all can help.  My fingers started swelling overnight, but go down during the day.  I am flying in July, about 3-4 hr flight.  I decided to see a LE therepist and get a sleeve/glove for the flight to be on the safe side.

Saw LE, she says I do not have LE, but agreed wearing sleeve for flight might be good idea and maybe getting a sleeping glove (she recommended KT medical?).

But I feel like she was not that great, I was the one saying shouldn't I get a lower compression garment and shouldn't I also wear a glove if I'm wearing the sleeve, etc. 

She said I should get 15-20mm pressure, does that sound right?  She was also very vague on the size, although the medical supply company I just called said they would measure me. 

Can I wear a sleeping glove with the sleeve on the flight or do I need to buy a gauntlet?  And she didn't mention anything about doing excercises before I put the sleeve on, do I have to do that?  Or no since I don't have LE? 

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  • out03doors
    out03doors Member Posts: 36
    edited June 2011

     I'd go to someone else including your oncologist. because you want a "diagnosis" and explanation for your swelling fingers. There is info online as well.

    I agree with your assessment that she may  not be that well trained.

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited June 2011

    Meegan, unfortunately, many LE therapists just don't get it--if your arm measurements are equal, they blow you off.

    I met a woman from the UK today at my LE therapists: she told me her upper arm was swollen and it took a year to get a diagnosis, and first they sent her to a psychiatrist!

    I have hand/finger swelling. My arms measure equal. I have LE.

    With finger swelling, it's important to wear a glove, not a gauntlet. Not a bad idea to get a lower pressure arm sleeve, so as not to push the fluid into your fingers, but you should get a prescription and get fitted for a glove (they run over $100, even on-line.) 

    The KT gloves are okay, but I don't know how much compression they give

    Here's from KT

    http://www.ktmedical.com/products_compression_g.htm

    And from bandagesplus

    http://www.bandagesplus.com/prd/33/985/KT-Darted-Glove-Regular-Length.html

    Not sure why this woman thinks they're a night glove--usually compression gloves shouldn't be worn during sleep, but maybe because they're mild compression.

    I wear medi=95 gloves, because they compress the fingers well for me:

    http://www.nulifemedical.com/store/pc/Medi-95-Glove-20-30mmHg-527p1700.htm

    But, this is not a do it yourself project--guidance from a good professional is needed. IMO, if your fingers swell, it's probably LE, but likely very localized. 

    Just based on your medical history, you deserve a sleeve and glove for flying--get a script from your MD so insurance covers it--and consider trying the KT glove (you can call BandagesPlus, they're all LE therapists and ask about the product.)

    It shouldn't be this hard.

    Kira

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited June 2011

    Hi Kira, thanks for the info and the links.  Yes, she did measure my arm and then said I didn't have LE.  She also did give me some excercises to do, but its been two weeks and I haven't had a chance to look at them yet.

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited June 2011

    What is the difference between a glove and a guantlet?  I bought my sleeve yesterday at the cancer center, but she only had guanlets, not gloves, so I didn't buy that.  It seemed the guantlet did not have individual fingers, i.e. it was more like a mitten.  Also it didn't seem to go as high onto the fingers as I seem to remember the glove going.

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited June 2011

    Meggan, exactly--a gauntlet covers the hand and the thumb and goes to the knuckles, and is relatively inexpensive--around $20 or so, while a glove includes the fingers, is harder to fit correctly and are more expensive (although Juzo has an inexpensive version they just put out, and the medi 95 is around 119$ on line)--most insurance will cover at least 80% of the cost as durable medical equipment--with a prescription.

    Was the sleeve covered?

    You'll usually have to see a fitter to get measured for a glove, and there are "off the shelf" gloves and custom gloves. Hopefully, and off the shelf will fit you well.

    Did you get the KT glove? 

    Kira 

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  • ReadingMama
    ReadingMama Member Posts: 573
    edited June 2011

    Thanks Kira.  I got a script for the sleeve, but don't know if my insurance will cover it yet or not.  I bought it already at the cancer center and am not sure if they are "in-network".  I did not order the glove yet, will probably do that this weekend.  due to timing, I will also probably have to order it and then try insurance afterwards. 

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