Lymphedema and the heat

Cowgirl, hello. It's hot here too. In fact it'll be 112 this weekend when our kids who live in Alaska will be visiting--they are going to MELT!

If you live someplace dry you might want to use a spray bottle to wet your sleeve down occasionally (allow it to dry in between wettings). If it's humid and the garment takes longer than 15-20 minutes to dry that's not such a good idea, as lingering dampness can create a fungal infection risk. Still, if it's hot/dry enough, the water feels really good. Short of a spray bottle, I've been known to wet my arm down in a drinking fountain. We also use the spray bottle to keep our necks wet, and if it's not enough, even our shirts and shorts. Extreme weather calls for desperate measures!

Taking my sleeve off when it's that hot, as attractive as that sounds, really isn't workable for me. Heat causes increased swelling, so my garments are more important than ever in the heat. But other cooling methods are available. Cooling vests like construction workers wear can really help, as they keep the core temperature down. Other cooling items keep head or neck cool, and there are even cooling packs to stuff in your bra. These are NOT ice packs, just cool packs--extreme cold is no better for LE than extreme heat is.

Ya' gotta stay hydrated, and that can be hard to remember to do. There are all kinds of tote-along water containers, some with straws. Whatever works.

Of course stay in the shade as much as possible, and early morning hours are best to be outdoors. For us that means getting up early -- our current rise-and-shine time is 5:00. Where we live many stores accomodate the temperatures by opening much earlier this time of year. Even our zoo opens around 6:00 in the summer.

This stuff sure isn't easy!
Stay cool!
Binney

Nitocris--Are you talking celsius degrees or farenheit?  If farenheit do you have snow?  I would take those temps right now in celsius!

Funny that someone in a cold clime is telling us how to stay cool with LE in summer.  Anyway THANKS so much for the tips.  Our next LE support meeting on the 10th is about reducing risks of flares in summer.  The LE therapists are going to present but we are to bring any helpful  hints we have.  Your sites will give me more info to take.

cowgirl and Binney--Yuck to your temps.  Stay cool and be careful.

Becky, the swimming section on StepUp-SpeakOut might be interesting too:
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_with_Lymphedema.htm#Swimming_and_lymphedema

Nitocris, people who are not used to heat really are at special risk when vacationing in warmer climes. Great idea to educate about that topic!

Hugs,
Binney

Momine, the lotion has to do with keeping your skin healthy and moist. Lots of things dry it out (for instance, in the summer it'd be sun, wind, swimming--in winter it's cold and the general dryness of the air). The reason that's especially important for us is because of our infection risk. Even micro-cracks in dry skin can allow bacteria to enter and create havoc. Lotion also keeps cuticles from drying out (so they don't cause cracks and pulls) and helps avoid chapping of knuckles and elbows. 

Some lotions are greasier and grosser than others, but all of them are supposed to be absorbed by the skin (some quicker, some slower). So waiting a few minutes after applying lotion makes it easier to put the garments on over the lotion.

I use Vani-Cream lite from Walgreens, which goes on without that greasy feel and absorbs quickly. But there are lots of choices. Before LE I never used lotion at all. Now it's a couple-times-a-day routine. Can't say I like having to use it, but it saves a lot of potential grief.

Lymphedema--BAH!
Binney