It never gets better or goes away!

Leslie, I hear you! The approach of summer has me growling too, and I've been slogging about in the LE world for several years. What I'm doing about it at the moment is enjoying this transitional time before it get roasting hot. Mornings and evening are really pleasant right now (I live in the desert), so I'm planning my schedule to allow for plenty of outdoor time (both walks just for fun and outside yard projects). I'm also looking ahead to summer (notice I didn't say looking forward to summer) and organizing some great indoor projects that can keep me happier during the scorching season. Swimming takes the place of hikes and walks, and we use the mall in the early morning before the stores are open.

There are still times when the thought of constant compression reduces me to tears (or crabbiness!) I think that's to be expected. I've stopped beating myself up for having a pity party at those times, and I'm willing to treat myself to something (preferably something chocolate) when that happens. For the hot months we plan overnight get-aways every few weeks too--nothing elaborate, just up to the mountains to cool off.

Clothes are still a problem for me too. I see something I like in the store and then when I picture it with the stupid sleeve/glove sticking out it takes all the fun out of it. So when I shop I always take my daughter along, because she's understanding but unfailingly cheery. When I'm in a good frame of mind I actually find it an interesting challenge to find clothes that look GOOD with my garments. I have the usual beigy ones and black (I don't like to wear the black ones much in summer, though), so that means keeping those tones in mind while I shop, and looking for fabrics and styles that flow nicely over them and look feminine. It HAS gotten a whole lot better over time, as when I'm out in public I rarely think about my garments anymore. And people almost never ask about them anymore either, as they did when I felt so self-conscious. I think a lot of what people notice is what we ourselves project.

Unlike Kicks, I've had to give up things I love. Crochet comes to mind. No matter what I do it makes my hands swell. And working hard outside in the summer, reveling in the heat. And really hot, soaky baths. And, mostly, the freedom not to ever think about my lymph system. There's grieving involved, and good grieving takes time. It's hard work, but worth making room for it in your life. It does get better over time--honest!

Sorry I can't give you an instant lift for the feelings you're dealing with, but please know you're not alone. We'll all be looking forward to the ideas YOU come up with for coping in this chronic situation, too!

Meanwhile, gentle hugs, and a pan of double-chocolate brownies,
Binney

Hwally, I can help with the bread kneading problem.  I bake lots and lots of bread, and I love hand kneading, and I want to use really wet doughs that put lots of holes and air in the finished product.

My garment solution is to wear a cotton glove (pure cotton, like what you use with overnight lotion) over my gauntlet, and a cut-off thick cotton sock over the top of the gauntlet and up toward the elbow. Flour the heck out of the cotton glove and the lower few inches of the sock.  In my experience, the flour does not work through to the compresion garments, and absolutely nothing sticks to my hand, re-flouring as needed (or kneaded...)  My hand does not get at all sweaty like what happens when I wear rubber or latex gloves over the gauntlet.

I recently went to a 4-day artisan bread school, and the method worked all day, every day. In fact, it works so well, that with some products that were really wet, I had better success with my LE hand than the other naked hand, and several of the instructors tried my cobbled-together-garment protection and were amazed at how it helps.  Kinda like putting a stockinette on a rolling pin.  I have a big bag of cotton gloves and cut-off socks--use and wash, easy peasy.

Carol

Carol -

Very interesting! I will have to try to hunt some down. The other problem being that I have two cats and if I'm not careful their hair  particularly loves to stick to my glove and sleeve. I think the cotton glove solution sounds great.

I've got to work on my lymph creativity

I too had been able to go through a day or days without thinking of cancer and then LE kicked me in the butt.  Unlike some, almost everything I do physically makes me think, "oh, my arm".  And then I make allowances.  I have to.  A lot of us have to.  A lot of us don't have the luxury of being able to get over it.