Gauntlet - over or under compression arm sleeve

Over......But listen to your Therapist.......I have always worn mine over......Liz

It's common for a LE patient's hand to swell when wearing a sleeve. My LE PT always says that every patient with a sleeve also needs a gauntlet or glove, for exactly the reason you say. My LE is mostly in the lower arm, wrist, hand and fingers. That's probably because I walk with crutches (disability from teenage). So I've had a glove since my initial LE dx.

LE's a tough thing to have, agerber. I'd say it bothers me more than losing my breast. Best to you,

To me, it is logical to wear/have glove/gauntlet UNDER sleeve. I have discussed this with my LET guy and he agrees with me. When the end of the sleeve is under the glove/gauntlet, it effectively creates a 'dam' (albeit small) obstructing flow. When the glove/gauntlet is under that 'dam' is not there to obstruct flow. For some this may not be an issue but even small increases in pressure are a big issue for some of us who are pressure sensitive. I have to use low level compression as higher causes a lot more LE. That's not true for all though.

As far as having glove/gauntlet under sleeve - not hard to handle at all but does take a second or 2 longer when putting on/ taking glove/gauntlet off for 'what ever reason'. Once sleeve is on, fold the wrist area back over it and put glove/gauntlet on. Fold the sleeve back over the upper part of glove/gauntlet. To take off glove/gauntlet just the reverse - food up, take off, fold back down. Yes, it takes a second or 2 more but guite easy to do.

For some, gauntlet do not work or make things worse. I do not have hand issues with my gloves (once finally got my 'stupid webbed finger issue addressed) but gauntlet is an issue. I do have a gauntlet that I use for a certain 'sport activity' where I need a bit more 'feel' than glove allows but only use it while actively doing it. I only switch to gauntlet shortly before and remove shortly after the activity.

We are each so unique - there is no 'One Size Fits All'. It does take time to learn what 'works' for us and not just follow what some say 'is the way to go' because of individual experiences. Ask everything 'you' have question about for input/info as that is the way to knowledge and learning what is right/works for you. I am one who does not fall into what 'works' for many - but it does for me so I do what does for me.

Bcky, I know what you mean. I wrote in another posting in this forum that, "you know you're an LE patient when you learn how to change a tampon one-handed so you don't have to take off your glove."

When I first started my LE journey, I asked a member of my support group who is an arm amputee how she had learned to live one-handed. She recommended the book "One Handed in a Two-Handed World," by Tommye-Karen Mayer. She also had liked "The One Hander's Book" by Veronica Washam. The first is in print today, and the second available used, from the usual places online. I got some tips from each of them. Hope this helps.

ciaogina, I hear you on the frustration and rage over this. Please don't even think of apologizing for any of it. A couple of thoughts: first, though compression gloves are not wonderfully comfortable, they shouldn't hurt or turn your fingertips strange shades of red, blue or white. And second, you REALLY don't want the swelling to get into your fingers, because it's especially hard to manage.

Juzo and Gottfried both offer a range of colors, some of which should go well with your LympheDivas sleeves (and LympheDivas is rumored to be offering gloves patterned gloves soon, too--nice!)

Kitchen work is difficult with compression gloves, no question about it. But rubber gloves work, or sometimes I take them off entirely for short periods. After a while you'll have some old gloves you can wear when you're working in the kitchen (or the garden!)

More coping hints here:

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/How_You_Can_Cope_wi...

Tell us how we can help!
Binney