Compression garments for swelling of side & arm pit?

KS1, if the swelling at the axilla and side is mild and transient, I think you should give some consideration to Kinesio Tape (KT).  If you have never taped before, find a therapist who is experienced in applying it and who will test a small area of your skin first to be sure you have no adverse response to the tape. 

Early on in my LE treatments my therapist discovered KT and started using it on me.  In addition to my left hand and arm swelling I also had the marshmallow "puff" at the top of my left side just under the axilla area plus additional swelling down my side.  I began wearing KT that went from my fingertips to my wrist, my wrist to my antecubital (inner elbow), my elbow up to my shoulder, my shoulderblade down my side to my groin. I wore the KT underneath my daytime compression glove and sleeve, and also under my regular clothing on my side.  Being a bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction I chose not to wear any bras or prosthesis, but wore instead the slightly compressive Barely There camisole tops.

I found the KT tape to be immensely helpful for the soft, puffy swelling below my axilla and down my side. It is important that the KT be professionally and correctly applied.  Using anchor points and proper placement of the cut strips is critical.  Also, the tender axilla area must be avoided and never taped, but KT can be applied in a method to avoid that area and still address the puffiness just below the axilla while gently rerouting the LE fluid into proper channels for drainage into the groin area.  After using KT consistently for about 6 months I no longer have issues with the marshmallow puff at the axilla and feel my camisole tops are adequate for mild compression in my truncal area.

LindaLou, good thought! I wish I could use it, but I'm adhesive sensitive and it sorta dissolves the top layer of my skin--not real helpful! I'm jealous of all you women who can use it. 

KS, those sleeves would make me nervous too. If you get one, run it by your therapist to be sure the compression isn't too much in your upper arm.

I have one of those Jovi vests, though since I'm bilateral it's full coverage. It works very well for reducing the swelling on side and axilla, and since that relieves the discomfort (or outright pain), it's comfortable. That said, I absolutely hate the wide Velcro down the front. It's so stiff it makes me feel like I'm trussed up in one of those old corsets. Maybe have them put a zipper in instead. Or make it a pullover (Solaris made me a couple of pull-over vests several years ago, and they're not as hard to put on as I thought they'd be.) For me, the Velcro is the deal-breaker, but JMHO. 

Truncal LE does not have a lot of comfortable compression solutions.

Let us know what you discover! Hugs,
Binney

KS, I have snaps on my sleeve tops that attach to the vest. Jovi and Tribute don't even use the same kind of snaps, much less place them in the same way. My Jovi vests have no padding on the shoulders, and the shoulders are narrower than the Tribute, so the Tribute is far and away a better product for me. I don't recall the names of the fabrics. I tried the Jovi silky fabric for one vest (it has a zipper) and it runs badly. None of them are cool because they're stuffed with foam chips. But putting them into the refrigerator during the day does make donning them on a hot evening easier, and the foam holds the cool for a few hours.

I like the zippers much better, and they seem to last well despite the strain on them from the stretch and the constant use.

I also have a Jovi post-mastectomy pad that I wear sometimes with a cami. It's here:
http://www.jovipak.com/breast.html
It feels great and works well for the swelling, EXCEPT that it doesn't stay in place, which, since it's under compression, is a major problem. I have to unbutton my shirt every half hour or so and readjust it. I did add a shoulder strap to it, and that helps (I asked if they could do that--two very short straight seams and a couple of inches of fabric--and they said it'd cost me $60. So I cut a wide, adjustable strap from an old bra and did it myself. You can buy a lot of chocolate for $60!) That addition helps, but it's still a battle keeping it in place. They had no suggestions for helping with that, so I assume they've never given it a test run themselves or they'd see how impossible it is.

I wish I could be more help on this, but my solutions to these problems are piecemeal. I wear a WearEase cami and stuff a Solaris Kimbe Spot in the axilla when it's acting up. It's comfy and it stays in place well, but...I still really HATE this truncal stuff!!

Anxious to hear what you might discover!
Binney

I have a drawer full of compression garments - bras, sleeves , gauntlets and a man's compression tee that I wear on airplanes. The best thing I found about a year ago at Target for the trunk and under the arm during the day, is a body-shaper. It's made by Maidenform-it's called Control it. It's worn over a bra- the from is cut out. It provides medium compression and fits snuggly under the arm. I bought it a size small rethan my clothes size.



It wasn't expensive, so it may be worth a try. Holds in my tummy as well!



Good luck!

I second the no bra. The band under chest stops the fluid from moving down torso and I swell terribly.




I used the Maidenform Control It tank in regular compression and inserted round Jovipaks on the side of chest below arm pit. I left a tiny portion of the insert resting just above the underarm band of tank - this stopped the band from cutting in on my bad area. At first I used a single Jovipak on my bad side, but I later got another one to put on good side because uniform pressure felt better. (which is why the Solaris night vest feels so good, uniform pressure everywhere).




This specific tank recommendation may be worthless, because I believe they now only make the Control It tank in firm control, which is too much compression for me. I have searched everywhere for my old favorite tank - regular stores and internet - and I cannot find. Looks like Maidenform replaced it with a plain new tank with a scoop neck and really nice shape to it. Love the way it looks, but the fit is slightly off enough that I would be flaring after wearing a few hours. If you happen to be a fan of the original firm compression Control It tank, they have changed the fabric to something more shiny. Don't know if this effects the fit or not.




FYI, I have been doing a lot of research on compression tanks and tees and hope to soon share. For the life of me, I cannot understand who in the heck fits in these shapewear garments! I am small and thin, and sometimes I have a medium or large top on that feels too tight. I know I have a "swimmer's back" and broader shoulders, which made bathing suits and workout tops a difficult fit even before my BC. But I am not freakishly broad for my size, and without breasts or implants you would think it would be a lot easier, but it is not. The truncal LE makes anything that sits on the wrong area make me want to jump out of my skin!! I am away but should return to find a package with a new tank I am trying, and I will let you know how that works out.

3C, it does come in a style over the breasts:
http://www.maidenform.com/shapewear/styles/camisoles--tops/control-it-firm-control-tailored-tank-12462

But it doesn't have prosthesis pockets. If your insurance helps with either compression garments or mastectomy bras, the WearEase is a possibility for compression, and it has pockets too:
http://www.wearease.com/wear-ease-products/compression/slimmer

Happy hunting!
Binney

Hugz, since you know how to bring any flare back into control, why don't you carefully try it and see what happens? We're all different, so what works for one won't necessarily work for another, which is why there are no hard-and-fast rules. Once we have everything under control we can carefully experiment with options like you're suggesting. Just be sure you're keeping everything else the same--don't add some new activity, a dinner of salty pizza and potato chips, or an afternoon hike in 90 degree heat at the same time. Try it for a few hours or half a day at first, and gradually increase the time if everything's still in control.

Compression garments like our daytime sleeves and camis don't technically move fluid, just contain it. But sometimes for me they DO reduce swelling. I suspect that's because, as long as I'm moving my muscles, the compression makes the pumping action against the lymph vessels more effective.

Complicated, isn't it?! Nothing's simple about LE!

Hugz back at ya'!
Binney

I don't have these particular issues (so far!), but this is such stunningly helpful information--all of these posts--that I just have to comment about what a supportive group this forum brings to us. Hugs and back pats all around! The detail here is amazing.