GRRRRRRRRR I HATE LE..........

Don't swell!!! 

I hope the second half goes better.

i bet they are nice and cool now.

Dunesleeper, thinking of you. 

Since this is the grrrr...thread, can I say I am tired of all the prolonged stares and comments I get on my sleeves.

On the bright side, I saw my plastic surgeon today and he looked at a lump that just appeared on my chest over the weekend. He is sure it is just fat necrosis (tissue from my reconstruction that died). I did ask him to biopsy it to be sure. Life is a roller-coaster for so many.

LMAO Glennie!!!

Well, so far I have not felt self-conscious about the wrap. Of course, people are thinking I injured myself; so, I think that is a different circumstance.. Then I get to tell them about the cancer coming back and boy are they sorry they asked. Well, I should not be that way. It is not that they are sorry they asked. It is that they are sorry for me that the dang C came back.

I can't wait to get my sleeve and gauntlet. I went ahead and ordered them. All my measurements fit in the medium range, so I went for it. This way I'll have them to wear to the concert I'm going to later this month. I'll order others with a prescription whenever she gets around to writing it. Meanwhile, I'll be sporting the lace-looking lymphadivas!

I have bilateral LE. I have many Lymphediva sleeves in various patterns, some fierce, some sweet. I understand they look like tattoos, but I get tired of hearing it from every Tom, Dick and Harry, as if I've never heard it before. I bought the patterns to make ME happy. Once I walked into a shop and the shopkeeper said, "What happened to YOU?" I said, "Breast Cancer!" Couldn't help myself. Long sleeve season is approaching which is mostly good, just sometimes uncomfortable. I'm really not a crabby person. Just need to vent here periodically!

Vent away, Jeannie,, we understand!

Oh, hugz. That is some deeeeep thinking there!

Wow, Aunt Paula,, you really got a newbie.   Bummer.

I admit I was laughing pretty hard after I left--might as well, right?! 

She was very kind and clearly really wanted to be helpful, but you're exactly right--I am ready to find someone who says "Have a seat--I know JUST what you need!"

My first fitting 2 weeks ago didn't go that bad. I kinda shook my head at a few things a put him straight.   I got the custom sleeve today. Forgot that I should wash it first and broke out in a rash trying to wear it. LOL. When will I learn. 

Hitting the hay with my bio care night sleeve. Just feeling a bit tight in fingers because I went out tonight and had tons of salty food. I just could not bare all the attention the sleeve would bring and ditched it with the dreaded glove. Probably should have not. Sometimes you want to enjoy a evening with out LE stealing all the attention. Bet you all agree!

Here is something not to grrr about:

See thread I bumped up on donating  used LE stuff to a third world country, Haiti.  A type of LE is rampant there due to a certain mosquito bite and they can't afford garments, wraps etc.

Hi -I have been reading a lot of posts, so I am hoping I am in right area.  I am 3 years post surg -had 26 nodes removed and got LE right after radiation (spring 2012) --its not terrible, but noticeable (2 cm difference from other arm).  Quite honestly I hate it.  I have young kids to look after and a house to clean.  I work full time.  The most I can do for my LE is wear the space suit at night (the flexitouch), wrap and wear garments during the day.  I thought I was on a roll, but as it only got hot and humid the last 2 weeks of summer, I started to swell again. The MLD usually works, and sometimes I see my wrist go down almost immediately.  I have been stung by a bee and bit by my rabbit on my affected arm.  My therapist thinks that's a good sign I didn't get an infection.  However, Any sort of housework I do, and any hot weather seems to bring it on.  I really had enough of the emotional roller coaster during bc treatment, I am so not in the mood for this.  I see a lot of you exercise and although its not an excuse, I have no time to myself.  I have no support with my kids, home, job.  My arm is probably at a stage 2, so i know its irreversible.  I dread getting fibrotic.  I am dabbling in some alternative options such as essential oils and laser.  My hospital is offering a clinical trial to treat LE w/acupuncture.  What do you all think?  What has worked best for all of you?  I have many years ahead of me (my mouth to God's ears), and I just hate the thought of this getting progressively worse TIA!

You might want to start a new thread and ask about the acupuncture.  I could have swore I read someone on here who has done it,, but I don't remember who or what thread. Maybe try a search for it too.

No infection after getting stung and bitten,, is really great!!  Rabbits have sharp teeth!

I think I just found the right thread. I'm 3 years out of surgery and developed LE shortly after radiation. I was misdiagnosed for almost a year with tennis elbow-golfers elbow and carpel tunnel as there was very little swelling (but a lot of pain) After my second mastectomy my thumb in the original treated side doubled in size and I knew for sure this was LE. My GP, surgeon and Onc seem to be very uninformed and think because it's barely noticeable it's no problem. I can't get any of them to refer my to a therapist. With the help of the internet and youtube videos I have been able to get all the swelling and pain down, I fitted myself for my own sleeve and glove and now I know the early signs and keep it in check myself. Fast forward to recently. 10 weeks ago I started having pain in my chest in a specific spot. 4 weeks ago I noticed a lump in the very same spot and was immediately seen for an ultrasound and mammogram the same day. Nothing showed up (whew!!) since then the entire breast area has felt "full" and sore. Because I've been so panicked about the lump being cancer I've been massaging and rubbing the area a lot. Today there is some sudden relief in the whole area, all the pain is gone, the lump I had noticed has almost completely disappeared. Does anybody here think that this sounds like it was LE also? I'm thinking I may have accidently helped myself by continually rubbing my lump. Could the fluid have collected and caused the lumpiness and full feeling in my breast?