blisters from sleeve?

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djls
djls Member Posts: 65
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

This is the second time this has happened with a new, washed sleeve.  After wearing my sleeve all day, I took it off and I had red blisters on the outer side and underside of my arm where the band is.  It has the silicone dots on it and the blisters form under the dots.  The blisters don't form all the way around my arm.  Never had this problem with my older sleeve.  It's a Jobst off the shelf.  Anyone have this kind of thing happen to them?  I'm not putting my sleeve back on until the blisters go away because I don't want to risk opening them.  I washed the sleeve again and will try it again in 2 days or so. 

Comments

  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited June 2012

    Is it a dark shade? Have you been in the sun? Sometimes when I forget and wear a black sleeve in the sun I get a sort of contact sunburn through the sleeve.

  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited June 2012

    Yes: allergic rxn to silicone beading!

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

    I've developed this reaction only recently to the beads on my Juzo sleeves--ouch!Frown I can still wear them inside out, but won't even try them with the beads against my skin anymore. They're not my usual brand, but I have a couple of pair because they have less of a containment factor when I'm flaring. Fortunately my usual sleeves don't have that problem.

    Phooey!Tongue out
    Binney

  • djls
    djls Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2012

    It isn't a dark shade and I haven't been in the sun with my sleeve on long enough to get a burn.  I did go swimming yesterday and got a little bit of a burn on my shoulders, but I wasn't wearing my sleeve.  I thought about an allergy to the silicone, but it only happened in one area, not all the way around.  Maybe this is just the start of an allergy?

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

    dj, do be careful with it. If you try the sleeve again wear it only an hour at most and see what happens, then you can gradually increase the time if you don't develop any more problems. You definitely don't want blisters or open sores on your LE arm, because of the high risk of serious infection. While the blisters heal keep the skin clean and consider a topical antibiotic.

    Bummer!Yell
    Binney

  • moogie
    moogie Member Posts: 499
    edited June 2012

    Mine were pronounced and took a few days to subside. As Binney says, an infection is serious so I would not mess with that sleeve again until it is healed. The inside out approach is a good idea or...using something that forms a physical barrier between your skin and the band. My rxn came when the width of the band was increased to be twice the original width ( too much sompression + allergic rxn )---and if it was not revised I was going to try an old product I think was called " Silicone Glove" on my arm around the band. It forms a barrier on skin and when I worked with chemicals that irritated my skin years ago-it worked wonders to protect the skin. The band was reduced in size and it was fine.

    Is the band too tight up top on yours? Your arm should not look like it is spilling over the top like an angel cake in a too small pan.

  • djls
    djls Member Posts: 65
    edited June 2012

    Great idea about turning it inside out.  I have my old sleeve, which is only 3 months old.  I'll use that in the meantime.  The sleeve fits really well.  It isn't too tight.  I'm seeing my pt on monday and will bring it to her attention.  I really like the silicone dots, but if they are going to cause a reaction, I'll have to give that up. 

    My arm was starting to feel heavy and fatigued, so I turned my sleeve inside out and put it on.  

    I did put some hydrocortisone cream on the blisters and then put some antibiotic ointment on, to be safe. I'll keep putting on the antibiotic ointment until the blisters go away.  If I see any sign of infection, I'll call my onc. right away. I do have antibiotics here on hand just in case.

    Sometimes it seems like whatever can go wrong, does go wrong with le. 

  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited June 2012

    @djls yeah, it really does

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