Question re: lymphedema sleeve fits a bit loosely in the wrist

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ckk
ckk Member Posts: 270
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

Hi all, I recently was fitted for a sleeve and gauntlet to wear on airline trips (I do not have any active LE at present). I have a VERY SMALL wrist. I was fit by an LE specialist who ordered a Jobst sleeve/gauntlet, saying that my wrist size was at the bottom of the cutoff for a small. The wrist  of both fit a bit loosely, but perfectly everywhere else. She recommended that I sew a small dart in the wrist of the sleeve to cinch in the fit, rather than order a custom sleeve (I was willing to go custom).

Any thoughts? Is this ok??

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited May 2012

    There is no way on 'God's Green Earth' that I would put a 'dart' in a sleeve or glove! That would/could cause issues with pressure areas/the lack of continuity of the garment.



    I do not 'fit' into anything that is 'Off the Shelf'.

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2012

    CCK, did she tell you how much of a dart to sew in? It's kind of hard to picture this, since it isn't clear to me how you'd know how much to take it in. Too much would be a bad idea too. Also, we usually wear the hand protection over the sleeve at the wrist, and for me having a hand-sewn seam there would be an issue, adding pressure to one spot, compressing the lymph vessels in that area and possibly irritating the skin.

    It's a helpful suggestion in the sense that she apparently wants to spare you the expense and trouble of fitting a custom garment, but it sure seems risky to me. Maybe ask her for some clarification?Undecided Or check out the sizing charts of other off-the-shelf brands and see if they have a size to accomodate your wrist?

    Interesting! Do let us know what you discover.

    Be well!
    Binney

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited May 2012

    Binney, once again I have learned what I need to know here, which is so valuable and yet a sad commentary on what I am not learning from my LE care resources at home. I have been wearing my gauntlet under the wrist of my sleeve. When my DME provider gave me the set (he measured and ordered), I tried both on and asked which overlapped the other. He said it should not matter. I showed my LE therapist the fit and she too said it should not matter. Are my resources ill informed (which would not stun me), and there is an efficacy reason for putting the sleeve under the gauntlet? Or can the arrangement be switched with no problems? You really are an amazing help, Binney. I am seeing some signs that I may need to change therapists for better expertise, even though it will mean driving a great distance. Is this question another hint that my CLT is not as knowledgeable as she should be?



    Carol

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  • kira66715
    kira66715 Member Posts: 4,681
    edited May 2012

    Carol, I've been told it can be either way: as the sleeve under the glove tends to make an indent at the wrist, and the sleeve over the glove will alleviate that.

    But, Binney is the expert, and I almost never wear both.

    Oh, and I would NEVER sew an ill fitting sleeve. It doesn't fit: period.

    Kira

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited May 2012

    Carol, either is okay. We had a session here on the boards some time ago where we all tried it both ways, and some of the women preferred it with the sleeve over the glove/gauntlet, especially if they were having trouble with the end of the sleeve cutting into their wrist. Somebody even asked their garment manufacturer, who said the gloves were made to go over the sleeves. Anyhow in the end it turned out that glove over sleeve was what most preferred. That's all I was referring to, not anything scientific.Laughing

    On a strictly practical note, it might not matter much for those using gauntlets, but gloves have to be removed for various purposes during the day (washing hands, using the toilet, eating pizza for instance), and getting them on again is simply easier if they're over the sleeve.

    So if you're doing it the other way, no problem. (Though you might want to try it the other way and see if you like it better). But if CCK is making darts in her garments they for sure shouldn't be under her glove.

    Clear as mud, right?!
    Binney

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited May 2012

    ckk-I'm in a similar situation to you. I currently don't have LE(but had nodes removed from both sides). I plan on getting sleeves for air travel. I was wondering how small your wrists are. Mine are right at 5 inches with 5 3/8 being the cutoff I saw for Jobst. I had a LE screening at a regional cancer center with a LE specialist & she told me I would probably need to have custom made sleeves because of my small wrists/arms. I'm not sure where I need to go, who(if anybody) is contracted with my insurance. How unfortunate that a specialist led you a stray. Who knows what I'll be told. I guess I better not wait until the last minute to order sleeves. Hoping you get this situation remedied in time for any travel plans you might have. Best of luck, interested to see how things turn out.

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  • ckk
    ckk Member Posts: 270
    edited May 2012

    coraliez, my wrist is 5 3/8", so I am at the bottom end of the range. The sleeve fits perfectly except at the wrist, where there is some slack. The LE specialist seems to feel that I will be ok taking in a small dart, but I had some reservations when she she said it, and now even have more.

    Thank you all for your input. I'll call her and ask about it again.

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  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited May 2012

    Binney and Kira, thanks for clarifying the under/over question!  I do get an indentation in my wrist after wearing sleeve over gauntlet, so today I tried gauntlet over sleeve, and the indentation was much less pronounced. So voila...once again learn very valuable information here that makes a meaningful difference in my care.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited May 2012

    ckk- thanks. It sounds like "custom" is our only option.I'm trying not to read the posts where those didn't fit...............

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  • BeckySharp
    BeckySharp Member Posts: 935
    edited May 2012

    Wow!  Over or under, boxers or briefs.  I wore my gauntlet under my sleeve for the first time yesterday.  I missed the discussion about it in the past I guess.  I really liked it! 

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  • ckk
    ckk Member Posts: 270
    edited May 2012

    Wanted to update you ladies..I put the gauntlet on over the sleeve, and realized that the gauntlet fit far better than the sleeve in the wrist area. It occured to me that I may have gotten a sleeve that was slightly off in size, so I exchanged it, and it fits beautifully. Lesson learned! I flew a few days ago with no problems.

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  • Nordy
    Nordy Member Posts: 2,106
    edited May 2012
    Just for the record - I sometimes wear the Jobst off the shelf garments - they always start out fine, but then they ALWAYS end up big at my wrist. My wrists are small too and the rest of the sleeve fits well and does not leave creases at the elbow like so many others do. I really do love the Jobst off the shelf - just wish it came in a few more variations of sizes... Undecided
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