HELP! No sleeves small enough.

catmom888 - Have you ever tried a Solidea Arm Care Sleeve? Solidea is known for the wave sleeve which is light compression but they also make a more normal sleeve in 2 compression levels. Unlike most sleeves it has a band that goes across your back and to your unaffected arm. I often find this sleeve more comfortable then my custom sleeves. The Small fits wrist size 13 cm -16 cm which is 5.1 - 6.3 inches. Here is a link to their website:

http://www.solideamedical.com/index.php/shop-2/best-sellers/upper-body/solidea-arm-care-sleeve.html

I had a custom sleeve made once and it was terribly uncomfortable - way too tight.

I have to have custom, very long arms and tiny wrist. I only needed the sleeve, and it was no where near 800.00.  Mine is a Juzo costing 190.00. I like it, it doesn't have a seem and the fabric isn't as rigid as the normal customs.

Any luck with this?

Micmel - I've had my FlexiTouch for 6 yrs and it is fantastic. A major part of my daily LE management. I was the first one that my LET guy ordered one for. Right now I'm waiting for new garments for it as the old ones have had 'blow-outs' between the chambers. Will be glad when the new ones get here.

Amapola - when you say you get "extra compression from the custom fit glove" are you saying that it is a higher level compression or that it has the pocket on the back that can be used with 'swell spot pads' to increase compression when needed?

As I have said many times, I have to have custom garments as they do not make any sleeves in the compression level that I have to have that come close to fitting me. Because of having syndactyl (webbed fingers), it takes very careful measurements to get gloves that do not cut very painful sores between my fingers. Thankfully, I have a fantastic LET Guy who is the one responsible for ordering my garments and my care. It was a bit of a 'struggle' early on til got it 'figured out'.

My custom gloves have the pockets on them as I like the feel of them with the pocket much more than without it.To me, it just feels more 'stable' and comfortable. I never use the pocket for the pads they always send but give them back to my LET guy to use for those who need extra.

Micmel and Amapola - do either of you use a night garment? They are another part of managing LE. They work differently than day garments. Night garments are designed to work passively (while you don't move/ sleep) as opposed to day garments (sleeves and gloves) which work actively while you are being active ('up' moving around).

You can find the Tribute (which I have) at www.solarismed.com/products . There are other manufacturers of similar night garments. They are referred,to here often as 'oven mitts' as they are rather bulky/'clumsy'. But do work while sleeping/still.

I had been using my day garments, night garment and doing daIly MLD long before my LET Guy decided to order my FlexiTouch.

Which MLD machine did you get? Different ones are somewbat different. My FlexiTouch is 6 yrs old. It takes an hour for it to run the entire cycle. They have a newer version of it now but my machine is still working good - just issues with my garment parts so will be getting new ones for my unit instead of for the new version and it be reprogramed. At least that's how I understand it.

Micmel - if I understand correctly what you wrote (and what I looked up at CircuFlow), there is only an arm sleeve with it. Different than FlexiTouch which does complete MLD area as opposed to just arm.

FlexiTouch has 3 garment sections - upper leg, upper body/chest and arm that all work together for a complete MLD experience. (They also have garments for those who need leg MLD.)

There are many 'chambers' in each section. The entire cycle is 1 hr (at least for me). The first 1/2 hr works individually startin in leg area and moses on to 6 different areas up, over and down (5 min approx for each section). The last 1/2 hr reverses and doesn't 'concentrate on the areas individually but continually moves from hand/fingers onto arm and up to shoulder, chest, abdomin, upper leg over and over. So it first drains node areas that are not effected by the LE so they are ready to accept the drainage from the compromised area/areas when it gets 'there'. If that doesn't make sense to you, I'll try to explain 'better'.

There are dfferences in the different MLD machines,/manufacturers, especially when it comes to price.

I have always been told to NOT wear day garments at night. The principles that day garments are designed for is 'moving'/being active which one isn't while sleeping overnight. Night garments are designed to work while 'passive' - little to no movement.

Amapola -

Micmel gave the phone number for Connie Cares. You can also find info at www.conniecares.org . I'm an Army Vet and get my care through VA so they handle getting what I need.

My custom day garments are Juzo Expert Cotton (18-21) and my night garment is a custom Solaris Tribute. I get 2 new sets of day garments every 6 months and my first night garment lasted over 5 yrs.

I have to have low level compresssion (18 - 21) as higner level makes my LE quickly worse (within 1/2 an hour). I'm not a 'large' person - 5'6", 125 lbs but they do not make any low level garments that would fit my arm in the compression level I have to have. For some, it takes high level to control. But, that's not true for all of us - high can make worse just as low can make some worse.

For my hand - besides the compression level I have to have, I also deal with syndactyly which is not quite as 'simple' as getting the correct compression level (though it be a problem). Syndactyly is webbing of fingers and/or toes (think frog or duck feet). For most, it is very minor and will never be noticed throughout life - BUT for some of us - it is obvious - for some not so obvious until something like needing gloves when LE presents. For me, I always knew I had ''frog feet' (webbed toes 1/2 way) and it was just laughed about. When I had to start with gloves for LE, it became very obvious immediately that my hands also are syndactyly but not as extreme as toes. 'Standard' gloves literally CUT the skin between my fingers making very painful open sores.

I am so fortunate to have had my LET Guy - yes it was a challenge but he perservered.

Syndactyly is considered,to be a 'birth defect' and effects to varying degree about 1 in every 3,000 births.