Best Sports Bra/Truncal Lymphedema

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knittingPT
knittingPT Member Posts: 156
edited November 2015 in Lymphedema

Hello all. I am trying to get back into exercising post-cancer treatment. I have mild truncal edema. It "gathers" mostly in the area under my left armpit. I am curious if anyone has found a SPORTS bra with wide straps that covers that area. I am fairly small. I want to get back into running. I have been doing yoga/low impact activities and those seem to help with the swelling. I am open to any suggestions for care/treatment. Currently I do some kinesiotaping for the swelling occasionally and use a pad in my bra for extra compression when not exercising.

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  • paintThesky
    paintThesky Member Posts: 56
    edited October 2015

    I don't know if this helps or not. I wear a compression cami over my bra. It compresses well. I really need a compression tee because of swelling under the arm, but have not found one that fits very well. I have looked for a nice sports bra, but have not found one yet. So if anyone out there has found one they like, I'd like to know what brand too! :)

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited October 2015

    I'm actually experimenting with the opposite, a compression tee first, then the sports bra. It's cold now, so I can wear something else over both. I may go with a Yummie bra instead of the sports bra since it may be causing LE flare in my arm pit. Not sure what is going on. I'm small and mainly need support to my still tender radiated breast.

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

    knitting, gotravelwear.com developed us a lovely compression tee for a very fair price of 25 dollars. You can view it at the bottom of the web page. A lot of us girls wear this and I have mine on now just puttering around the house for truncal.

    Sounds like you are doing everything right, just watch that you don't do sitting dog poses or push up type yoga moves until you are really strong. For instance I just began a couple weeks ago a strength program and use one pound weights and will gradually increase by a pound once I get use to it. I don't want to sent fulid to the area by overworking my arms and one pound won't do that.

    There was a study called PAL and this is what they recommended to do. Hopefully CAROL will post her exercise guide line sheets that she made for LE people and professionalsl who are starting out exercise. Have fun with your new program. It's a great feeling to be stronger than yesterday.

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  • BC2015
    BC2015 Member Posts: 86
    edited October 2015

    hugz4u - are the compression t's tight thru the stomach or just on top

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  • aunt_paula
    aunt_paula Member Posts: 271
    edited October 2015

    I'm sure there are nicer sports bras, but the ones that feel best for me are some I got at Walmart. I just make sure to run them through the dryer to keep them "compressive" enough.

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

    BC2015 they are tight whole way down.

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2015

    I didn't think about a compression shirt. Do you wear a sports bra under it? Or just a regular bra? I have been doing all the push up poses, etc in yoga without any increase in the swelling. I actually think the swelling goes down afterwards. I am keeping a close eye on it to make sure I'm not making it worse. Thankfully, I don't get any swelling in the arm or hand. So, Yay for that!

    Doxie, what is a yummie? I've never heard of that before.

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  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 1,455
    edited October 2015

    It's a clothing company that sells mostly undergarments. I bought several bras at Nordstroms. You can get them from the company online or other stores.

    I have this one http://www.yummielife.com/mallory-racer-back-bra and this one http://www.yummielife.com/tanya-scoop-neck

    There is a new one that combines the first with a scoop back like the 2nd. These are very comfortable, but not terribly supportive. Not an issue with me as I'm small. On the first bras, I did have to stitch together the front where it crossed or my breast would fall out. A very minor adjustment.

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

    From stepup-speakout.org....

    See and download our Essential Knowledge for fitness trainers, Yoga teachers, and Pilates teachers regarding breast cancer related lymphedema

    See and download our HandoutWhat-you-should-know-about-lymphedema-and-exercise as a breast cancer survivor

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

    I would suggest EAB Medical and look for their compression bra,, that might suit your needs.

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2015

    Thank you!!


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  • BookLady1
    BookLady1 Member Posts: 253
    edited October 2015

    KnittingPT and others - thanks for the great advice. KPT looks like we share the same lymphodema. I'm relatively new to this - about a month. I found compression camis and tanks at Target, brand name Assets, made by Spanx but cheaper. ($25ish) my PT says they are great for me as they come up high enough under the armpit. Again, thank you all for these options I have really felt lost. Peaceful night to all, Linda

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited October 2015

    Hi Everyone! I just got one of these

    http://www.amazon.com/Compression-Racerback-Runnin...=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1446312003&sr=1-1&keywords=compressionz+tank+top

    and I love it! It has nice compression and comes up close under the armpit. I ordered one to figure out the size (I'm 5'6" and 145 lbs and medium was great). I will order some more soon. They also have the t-shirts. I'm going to try to tank for awhile and if it is isn't enough I'll get one with short sleeves.

    Thank you for all of the suggestions!

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited November 2015

    I refuse to let Finland's scarcity if LE help and products be a cause of continued suffering.

    The Lymed compression bra/vest ordered by the hospital PT is at least one size too small, maybe two. The one local shop will only sell compression goods after their own people measure you --- and first free appointment is in 3 weeks, after next chemo. Ordering from the US would cost a fortune with customs, and returning poorly fitting goods even more. Don't trust the hospital PT's measurements, nothing she has gotten me fits. Because of distance and current infection risk, I cannot get to the one store in the capital city until mid-to late- January. I am sick of having narcotics level chest LE pain in my scar area.

    So --- after reading tons of product descriptions, I just cut up the Tram compression belt from immediate post-op and made SOMETHING. As it closes with velcro, it is very adjustable. The lining shell is leftover polyester stretch batting from making kids' clothes, needs tweaking. The straps attached with velcro in the front and will need finishing!, after I make sure of placement and length by wearing for awhile. Might have to scoop the armpit area more. And although I'm B cup and was told post-op that squashing the remaining breast is not harmful, I will probably try to cut a hole and attach an old bra cup (too tired now). It's not "pretty" but if it decreases the pain and doesn't worsen my arm/hand/finger LE, I don't care.

    Laughter is allowed . ;)

    image

    image

    image


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  • floaton
    floaton Member Posts: 181
    edited November 2015

    Tessu, no laughing here, just applause :), for using your creativity and what you have! (This coming from someone who was using a "night sleeve" made from $10 egg crate mattress padding for months due to not being able to use anything officially sanctioned without getting worse!). So bravo, and good luck with your upcoming modifications :)

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

    tessu, I agree with floaton, this is a remarkable show of ingenuity. Don't they say that necessity is the mother of invention? I think you should pat yourself on the back for taking matters so adroitly in your own hands. Brava!
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  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 6,398
    edited November 2015

    Way to go Tessu!! Excellent job with creativity!! I wear an EAB breast binder and my remaining breast has been getting squashed for 18 months or so now,,,, no harm done as far as I know!

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited November 2015

    Love your crafty invention! Way to take things into your own hands and make it work!

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited November 2015

    I just want to thank everybody for so much positive feedback. I was half fearing "oh no that's dangerous" because the products available on the net sound so technical. Well, the LE in my chest wall scar area was significantly less at bedtime, and the pain was so much less than usual, that I was able to skip pain meds and still sleep. Although my Tram belt thingy is not perfect, and I need to be very careful not to close the it too tightly, it is a definite step forward. I wish I had the skills to sew muself a decent glove

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

    tessu: I sent you a private message.

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  • Rockym
    Rockym Member Posts: 1,261
    edited November 2015

    tessu, I must have gone through 10 bras before finally finding something that would work. The whole process is a pain in the ass and once cancer treatment is over, some of us are left hanging with the side effects of treatment. I can't tell you how many docs just kinda dismissed my truncal lymphedema and just said it would get better. Okay, well maybe it would, but at that time I needed help. Good for you for taking things into your own hands. I used tape that I had learned about on the internet and that made things feel better. I also found a bra that worked for me until I did get the lymphedema under control. It does get better.

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  • paintThesky
    paintThesky Member Posts: 56
    edited November 2015

    Awesome job Tessu. You are so creative!

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  • BookLady1
    BookLady1 Member Posts: 253
    edited November 2015

    Tessa I'm so impressed and proud of you and glad you have relief. This is a bitch! Lind

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  • tessu
    tessu Member Posts: 1,564
    edited November 2015

    Thanks everybody :) I have of course begun the long process of getting the way-too-tight bra/vest from the hospital exchanged for a larger size (FT: But it SHOULDN'T be tto small, I measured you!).

    I went to a private LE FT yesterday. When she measured my arm and fingers (I am trying to get a suitable glove) she just lay the tape on the skin vs, the hospital LE FT pulling the tape quite snug --- hmmm maybe that's why everything she gave me is too tight?

    Meanwhile I need to sew a second liner for my "invention" so I can wash the sweat out of the first one. Luckily I live in a four season/cooler now area; I'd melt with this in the desert or in Florida! My thingy doesn't completely solve the chest wall pain problem, still hurt around bedtime some --- but so much less!

    Thanks again everybody for all your encouragement!

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