Sleeve or no sleeve?

Options
Kayleigh3483
Kayleigh3483 Member Posts: 131
edited August 2016 in Lymphedema

I had a unilateral pedicle TRAM in 2009, 2 nodes removed, did chemo and then Arimidex for a few years.I started feeling various sensations in my affected arm a few months after surgery-- burning and slight achy feeling.Then I noticed what could be a small area of swelling on my forearm – but it could also have been an anatomical difference I never noticed before, that's how slight it was/is. (and there's never been any pitting)

I sought help from qualified therapist at cancer ctr and saw a doc that specialized in lymphedema.No one could say for sure if that's what I had...but all suggested I act upon it as if it was (consider myself stage 0).So, went to therapy, did my mld and got a custom sleeve.

After almost a year there was no change either way.The slight swelling (if that's what it was) stayed exactly the same and my occasional burning/achiness didn't worsen or lessen.Over time I stopped mld and wearing the sleeve.I stayed cautious with that arm and never do anything risky.I tell new medical people that I have mild lymphedema just to be safe. For all these years the arm has remained the same.

But after cancer treatment my general health suffered...gained weight, stopped exercising, etc. Now I'm trying to regain my health. I changed my diet and found a certified personal trainer that specializes in plus size women and is very gentle/conscientious.She is insisting that I get a sleeve to work out, even tho at this point I'm not even using any weights, just going thru the motions and taking it VERY slow.

I'm nervous about wearing a sleeve.A doctor I saw years ago suggested as long as my symptoms remained stable I not wear one what with my lymphedema being questionable (or at least VERY mild) -- a sleeve could do more harm than good -- like if I don't actually have lymphedema wearing a sleeve could cause trouble.Of course I should always be vigilant and careful, which I am.

I was hoping to get feedback from those on this board.Way back when this first started I got a lot of good suggestions and info here.

Any experiences or thoughts?

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • macb04
    macb04 Member Posts: 1,433
    edited August 2016

    I am in a similar conundrum. I had what seems like very minor swelling of my arm. It seemed to pop up after starting a Rowing Class about 8 weeks after I had my final reconstruction surgery this March. In retrospect I went into that class too soon after the surgery. But I was too impatient to wait to start living anymore. So then I got a sleeve.I wear it go work out in the gym, and to bed at night, most nights. I probably don't actually need it at night, but my fears my arm would swell while I was sleeping were freaking me out. I don't think it is harming my arm, wearing it at night, and the jury is out whether working out in the gym with the sleeve is a problem. It seems to be unchanging. I work out with the sleeve on usually and then I go swimming. I can tell if I have a little bit of swelling because my arm starts to ache. I measure my wrist area with my thumb and second finger. I now know exactly what the size is by that, sort of a built in measuring tape.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited August 2016

    Macb, you should not wear a daytime sleeve when you are sleeping, they are not meant for that, but there are special night sleeves, so if that what you are using, then disregard...

    Kayleigh, I have never heard any suggestion that wearing a sleeve when you don't need it could cause any harm, as long as it fits properly. That is important. A poorly-fitting sleeve can cause problems. You also should wear a glove/gauntlet with the sleeve, you didn't mention that, but chances are great that if your LE person is going to order you a sleeve, she would order the hand part too, but best to make sure.



    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited August 2016

    I have Stage 0 LE. I have sleeve & gauntlet sets, but I wear them only when at risk for a flare: flights of 2+ hours, sudden ascents to high altitude (like an express elevator to the top of a skyscraper), long sessions of playing guitar, being in the mountains, repetitive exercise & tasks (lots of cheese-grating, scrubbing, hard-ice-cream-scooping, chopping, raking), being out in very hot weather, berry picking (darn thorns), etc. But I don't wear compression as a matter of course--just for stuff, as my therapist said, that increases the circulation of blood or lymph to the affected arm. No harm in wearing compression when I don't need it, but why go through the inconvenience (and run the risk of getting a snag or the sleeve wearing out)?

    Oh, and I take off my Medic-Alert Pandora-style bracelet when I’m typing, because the charms do leave marks--even if I’m not otherwise pitting.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories