First day in garments

Hey, hey, Nibbana! Sounds good! Remind me, do you have swelling in your hand/fingers? If not, the gauntlet may be okay. Keep an eye on the uncovered portion and remove it if any swelling starts to happen there. Do run it by your therapist so she can spot any potential problems (some of the gals here take pictures and email them to their therapists, but an in-person visit is better if it's possible).

You DO sound like you're coping well--brava! Better break out the chocolate to celebrate.

The manufacturer should have some mention in the material you got with it about lotion. Some brands aren't a bit fussy, others don't like lanolin, so check with them.

Don't wear them too long at a time the first day. Take 'em off and check out your skin, lotion, give it a rest, then try it again for a bit longer. Elbow crease and web between thumb and pointer can get red and irritated at first. A bit of cornstarch or pure baby powder can help in those areas while the skin gets used to the insult of compression. I put powder in the toe of a clean cotton sock, close the top with a sturdy rubber band, and use that to pat it on just where I need it--saves on the bathroom floor mess.

Keep us posted!
Binney

Okay, so are you talking about a gauntlet (fingerless gizmo that covers the palm and thumb only) or a glove (has all five fingers, but they only go as high as the nailbed)? If you have hand/finger swelling, then the glove is what you need, but I'm guessing that's what you do have, yes?

I find a glove that doesn't quite cover the thumb knuckle to be a major annoyance, but maybe that's just me. You use your thumb all day long, and if the end of the stupid thing is right where my thumb joint bends it drives me crazy. So I always make sure the thumb is long enough so even by the end of the day it hasn't slipped down to that joint. 

77% dark chocolate is a wise and excellent choice--enjoy!
Binney

Nibbana, do you know how to wrap? If not, that's definitely where you need to got next. Garments don't reduce swelling, they only help to keep it from getting worse. The way to reduce it in the first place is through wrapping with layered short-stretch bandages. Usually done initially by your therapist, then by you as needed to control swelling--once the swelling is reduced you use the garments to keep it that way.

Yeah, creative colors aren't a good thing, so it does sound like, for the time being, the fit it okay for containing the swelling that's currently there.

Onward to wrapping!

Hugs, and a whole plateful of brownies,
Binney

Cinnamon, can your therapist demonstrate on a mannequin and you can video it? Or if you're comfortable with it, on you and you can set up a camera or have your SO tape? Even an audio tape might help if she describes what she's doing and adds helpful hints. I've never taped therapy, but I did use an iPad to record my nephew's dr. appt. I took him to for his broken wrist so his parents could hear what the dr. said.

Cinnamon, I'm so happy that your arm is feeling better--that's a real gift! Here's an article (written by a real LE expert/researcher) about when you need hand protection (a gauntlet or glove) with a compression sleeve (of course if you already have swelling in your hand or fingers, a glove is a given):
http://www.lymphedivas.com/comprehensivecompression.asp

Wrapping is an important tool in self-care. For air travel (or even long car trips) and dealing with flares it's really the gold standard. It's a steep learning curve, but so worth the effort, because knowing how to do it gives you so much more control going forward. If your therapist will teach you and your SO will video it, have him stand behind you and shoot over your shoulder, so when you view it it's from your perspective--makes it easier to follow.

Do ask for a refresher course for you and your SO on MLD. Even therapists who do this multiple times every day need refresher courses (Vodder therapists get together every two years for them) in order to keep their skills up-dated. There's lots to it, so it takes plenty of repetition to get the hang of it and feel confidant doing it on your own. Go for it!

Hugs,
Binney