Surviving the bandaging phase

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bgirl
bgirl Member Posts: 538
edited August 2015 in Lymphedema

So I have recently been diagnosed with LE - 3 1/2 years from original diagnosis, yep making my day. In the 24hr bandaging phase, Any suggestions on how to keep fingers clean? Waiting to be fitted for gauntlet/sleeve. Tried rubber glove, but hand is too big to go in it.


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

    Aw, Jane, I'm so sorry you've had to join our "swell" group. :-( But welcome anyway!

    Be sure you learn to do the wrapping yourself--it's a useful tool for dealing with the occasional flare, so it pays to be able to manage it alone.

    The treatment phase is for sure a "make-my-day" experience, but we're here to cheer you on. It really DOES get better, honest!

    On the "How You Can Cope" page at StepUp-SpeakOut there's a section of suggestions for coping with a wrapped arm, all from women who've been there. Hopefully it'll give you some workable ideas. It's here:

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

    Beyond that, I use a vegetable brush with a longish handle to wash dishes and keep my hand out of the water--I like the ones at IKEA, but of course you can find them anywhere. My LE is bilateral, so on those (fortunately rare) occasions when both arms are wrapped I have the perfect excuse to let somebody else to the messy work.

    Hang in there! I always think chocolate helps a lot with a new LE diagnosis. ;-)
    Gentle hugs,
    Binney

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  • crystalphm
    crystalphm Member Posts: 1,138
    edited August 2015

    Jane, I am sorry. It is a rough time and I am a bit germaphobic which made it even harder. I did wear rubber gloves, they make the ones hairdressers use to apply dye and they are fairly large. A freeform thing.

    Not exactly waterproof but it does the job.

    It is not easy to keep it all clean...or even cook for that matter.

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

    The Cosmetologist (aka hair dressers) gloves are available (and have been for at least 50+ yrs) in different sizes - small to very large in boxes of 100. They do fit snug if you buy the right size (when I had my Salon I always kept plenty of Sm and Med. ) If gloves do not fit snug then color can get where it shouldn't . If you do not have any Beauty Supply Companies that sell some things to the general public (Sally's sells gloves) then try a feed store/ranch store. They should have boxes of gloves in different sizes too - even shoulder length as cheap or cheaper than hair supply places. Disposible gloves can also be gotten at Pet stores. PetCo PetSmart, etc.

    Just thought of another place where I have gotten size related disposeae gloves - wood working stores.

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