Going for wrapping in a couple weeks

Annette, it is bulky, so you do have to wear loose clothes. I just flew and was putting on the garment at the airport--similar in size to a wrap, and realized my shirt wasn't going to stretch over it--luckily I had my carry on and ducked into a restroom and put on a tee shirt.

Here's section on coping with a wrapped arm:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_with_Lymphedema.htm#Handling_the_Lymphedema_Diagnosis

Last year, I had a cast on for most of the fall/early winter, and only one coat would work...

Kira 

This is a question I'm interested in too.  I have my first appointment with an LE therapist on Thursday.  Had my first radiation treatment today.  When they did all the set up work, I had no swelling.  Today it was swollen some.  It was throwing the radiation set up off.  It took almost 2 hours to get it done.  I am worn out.  Had both arms up over my head for almost that whole time.  I am assuming I won't be able to wear anything like that while I'm doing the radiation.  Does anyone else have lymphedema while doing rads?

Thanks for bumping.  I had the LE therapist appointment, and they really don't know what to do since I'm going through rads either.  They are going to call my RO and see what he says.  It was the onc that sent me to the therapist.  I guess I should have asked the RO about it instead.  She said compression wouldn't help since I'd have to take it off for radiation.  (I would not be able to fit in the arm space if she wrapped my arm.)  They measured me for a sleeve and glove and are going to call me after they talk to RO.  NOw that I'm thinking about it, I don't want to buy a sleeve and glove now.  My arm is 20% bigger than the good arm.  Therapist said goal would be to keep it there.  By the time I even get it, I'll almost be done rads though.  I'm beginning to think the therapist I went to is an idiot.  I might as well just wait until I'm done rads and then do the wrapping and try to get my arm back to size before getting a sleeve.  I will continue to do my exercises, but if my arm gets bigger (or smaller), the measurements she took today aren't going to be any good any way.  I thought she was going to give me a sleeve today when she was taking all those measurements.  What a waste of time and copay.

Well, hey! That sounds like a plan!

Kay, just a heads up on this: most of us had some, uh, frustrating moments learning to wrap. Something like tears alternating with bandage-flinging. So BE PATIENT with yourself and before you know it you'll be a pro. The thing is, those therapists make it look simple, but keep in mind they've been doing this day in and day out for a very long time, and they're using both hands. You, on the other hand, will be doing it for the very first time, and one-handed. 

A sense of humor helps. Also brownies.

You can do this, and it'll really help with the swelling!
Binney

Wow! What an accomodating team you have! And hurrah for DH as well -- sure helps to have that kind of support.

But I sure wouldn't let the techs rewrap unless they can prove to you they know all about LE. You and your DH will be your own experts in no time!

Hugs,
Binney

Kay, I work in rad onc (although I am NOT a rad onc) and I also developed LE before rads--priimarily in my hand.

In the rad onc practice I work in, they position the patients with both arms over head. Some of the arm can be in the field, depending on patient size. But, for many patients, the arm is not in the field. Let the techs figure it out when they set you up.

What I did was go for MLD treatments, and wore a jovipak to the elbow night garment and a glove during the day. Since my upper arm wasn't involved, it didn't interfere with my rads.

But, I had a huge axillary seroma that wasn't aspirated until months later, and my rad onc assured me that rads never caused LE! Wonder why I no longer follow up with her???

During rads, swelling often becomes worse, because the quadrant gets inflammed. So, don't become alarmed if it seems that you're making little progress. Just holding steady is progress in this situation.

I work with the best and kindest radiation therapists out there, and they would accomodate a patient in any way possible. 

Oh, and now I wrap to the axilla nightly, with my non-dominant hand. It's doable.

Kira