Getting rid of my pre LE clothes

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited April 2015 in Lymphedema

Sigh. The summer before I got cancer I got married. I was thinner than I had been in a long time and I bought a lot of clothes. Many of them with short sleeves.

I personally can not stand the look of a sleeve with short sleeves. I usually wear something sleeveless and a looooooong sleeve coverup.

I live in NYC so space is at a premium. I realize I have been holding on to clothes I never wear, hoping someday somehow my le would go away.

But here I am unpacking all of these things I really won't wear as long as I have a sleeve.

I still have a hard time dealing with the sleeve. Yet my pre sleeve summer wardrobe is aging and taking up precious space.

Can anyone relate

Comments

  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited April 2015

    I can't wear a lot of my pre-LE long sleeves, and I have to be very careful buying new ones. They are too tight over the arm and sleeve. It just sucks,doesnt it

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 3,567
    edited April 2015

    It is depressing, cookie. I think you have lots of company in this.

  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited April 2015

    Aw, Cookie, what a bummer! But you've inspired me--I still have a couple of nightgowns I loved but can't wear with my stupid night garments. Bottom of my drawer, just waiting until I…what? Don't have to wear garments anymore? Huh?! So off they go, in honor of Cookie's very sensible post.

    What on earth have I been thinking?!!!!
    Hugs,
    Binney

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited April 2015

    I totally get this thread. I need to donate any bathing suits that are tight around the truncal armpit. Just can't see myself letting go yet. I guess it's because some of them are practicaly brand new

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited April 2015


    it is depressing to have these outfits that we can no longer wear due to the need to wear compression.

    Boooooooo on LE.

  • SusanSnowFlake
    SusanSnowFlake Member Posts: 165
    edited April 2015

    I've put my beautiful clothes in plastic boxes under my bed, waiting for what? I have no idea. I'm not going to be able to wear them again. I still have underwire bras in my drawer. I totally get this thread too. Not ready to let go yet, but it's time.

  • kareenie
    kareenie Member Posts: 339
    edited April 2015

    Here is another idea.  I had a couple of really cute Chico's jackets that were styled like a jean jacket but bright colored prints. The sleeves were tight so I took them to my seamstress friend and she took off the sleeves and finished (topstitched) the armholes and now I have cute vests.

  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2015

    since most of mine can be worn with a sleeve but look odd...I guess I can wear them for around the house. But I don't need a whole wardrobe of lying around the house stuff. Thanks for all the replies. I donated some newer stuff and tossed the raggedy.

  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited April 2015

    I haven't changed the 'style' of clothes from before LE. It's been a bit over 5 yrs and I don't think I still have clothes from that time - they just wore out. During winter/cold weather, my 'uniform' is a turtleneck under a sweatshirt or flannel. Summer/warm weather, it's a ss t-shirt or tank top. I could not care less what any pebble might try to think - I am me and I go with what is comfortable for me, how I LIVE and what is best or me. Others ignorant thoughts/ideas have no credibility to me. Yes I do wear my sleeves/gloves every day/all day.

    SusanSnowFlake - I still have UW bras in my drawer - I have some new ones I got within the last month. I always wore UW before, and I still feel most comfortable in them. I did try some of the 'ole Granny' non UW right after UMX - I HATED them. What works for one does NOT work for all!

  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2015

    so when I was on vacation I bought a pair of chiffon scarf/capes. They need a strap to be added on the sleeve side, but they do give me a dressier option for covering the sleeve. They have a lot of color and print and volume so they really need to go with a very plain column dress. Some day I will remember how to post photos

  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2015

    I'm a wardrobe absolute disaster so I surely relate. I put on weight from having to have surgery after surgery after surgery and not getting back to exercise and then something else would happen. Cancer and LE have ruined my looks completely. My hair still looks like crap too. I look at pictures of myself before and I'm so traumatized I don't feel like I know who that person was or can even relate to the ease and happiness and fun of her life. I do believe it would be really good for me to do a serious wardrobe project where I decide if I can ever wear stuff again and be real. That doesn't mean I want or intend to let myself go. I have some absolutely lovely clothing I simply can't wear with a swollen arm. I recently had VLNT surgery and even with that, some of my pre-cancer clothes seem totally out of reach. I keep trying to find that line between accepting and not giving in and making excuses to go downhill. I'm now the owner of big ponchos...not something I really ever wanted in my wardrobe.

  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited April 2015

    yes I can absolutely relate. Le and trying to find clothes that fit / don't look ridiculous sucks. For example, I have this cute sleeveless summer top from anthropologie, which I love, but will now no longer be wearing as when I just tried it on for the first time this summer I realized that the asymmetric ruffle highlights my right shoulder. As in, "hey if you didn't notice yet I'm wearing a sleeve, yeah, right here, people!!!"


    For now I'm focusing on shoes :)!

  • SusanSnowFlake
    SusanSnowFlake Member Posts: 165
    edited April 2015

    @Mariasnow I empathize. I've gained almost 40 pounds since I heard the word cancer, and it's been a little over a year. I used to hike I just sat down. About the time I was starting to get up I heard the word Lymphedema and sat down again. Not easy, it just isn't. It sucks!

    I'm giving up on my clothes but not me. My dresses, blouses and pencil skirts are going to Dress for Success (the dry cleaning bill is going to be a killer) . The rest is going to a woman's shelter, all of it, everything and I get feel good about it win/win. Maybe it will help me stand up again.

    @cookie I'm really glad you started this thread. Since I read it I've gone through everything and realized it's time for some changes, not just clothing.

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