​No lymphedema, so why compression sleeve for air travel?

Wearing a sleeve wrong (not having the correct size, not wearing a gauntlet with it, not putting it on long enough before you fly, or taking it off too soon when you land) can all lead to swelling. Of course, if you do have LE, it is worth the hassle. But if you don't, it's a matter of personal preference as to what you should do. Shortly after finishing treatment, I went through all the hoops the first time I flew. It was so annoying that I decided I'd just take normal precautions (which I've listed above) and deal with LE if it ever showed up. I fly quite frequently; and so far, so good. (Signing off to knock on wood!)

Yes, I always get window seat now for just that reason. Plus, since I am so well hydrated, I don't have to climb over my seatmates when I have to go to the bathroom!

Here is an old post of mine, with some of my thoughts & tips on the topic. I put it together for an exercise thread, hence the emphasis on that; but you might find it helpful:

I had 11 lymph nodes removed (12 years ago), so lymphedema has always been an area of real concern and mindfulness for me. When I had my surgery, there was no one around here to go to for advice, so I did a lot of studying on my own. Here are some thoughts & tips I came up with.

First, I think that whether or not you are prone to LE has mostly to do with how your lymph system handles trauma. I would say most cases (unless you are in a horrible accident or are doing really extreme activities) are neither through any virtue or fault of your own; just a matter of good or bad 'luck'.

That being said, there are many 'little' things that we can do that may reduce the risk of developing LE or minimize flares (these are for people with SNB too):

• No BP, IVs, needles, shots etc. in that arm....consider getting a medical ID bracelet (to wear when traveling anyway). There are some really pretty ones out there that look like jewelry
• Wear gloves when doing yard work, gardening etc.
• Wear sunscreen when out in the sun, bug spray when out with the bugs
• If you get a cut, scrap, bite...wash it with soap/water and slap on a bandage. If you see any sign of infection, get to the Dr. & on antibiotics ASAP
• Be sure to switch arms when carrying your purse, hauling around anything heavy, dragging luggage etc.
• Be careful about saunas, I avoid them, and also manicures and massages (on that quadrant of my body anyway).....not everyone does this, but that's just me
• Keep a healthy weight
• Keep hydrated, limit alcohol
• Don't wear tight rings, watches, bracelets on that arm (when flying, I put my rings on my other hand & leave them on that side fro a couple hours after I land)
• Also, be sure to keep well hydrated when flying, move your arm around a lot, make fists etc. get up & walk around the cabin (which won't be a problem if you are well-hydrated because you will have to go to the bathroom!), if someone wants to help you hoist your carry on & off the overhead, let them.....maybe think of checking a heavy bag (that's what I do)
• When exercising that arm; start very slowly, take your time...build up weights very slowly...don't skip levels...don't do too many reps in one session. Mix up your exercises, don't work the same muscle groups every day. You may want to work with an experienced trainer (or PT) to help you construct a balanced program.
• One thing I do want to add; after my surgery I was scared to start doing upper body. Neither my surgeon nor my oncologist could give me any good solid advice, so I talked to my GP. What he said was that I DID want to exercise my upper body, that it was important to do so as it would actually build up the lymph system, and although, of course, I should be careful and notice if my arm felt heavy/swollen etc. that I shouldn't be afraid to have it feel a little 'normal' soreness...because anytime you exercise a part of your body that you haven't been using for awhile, of course, it will feel sore. That made sense to me, and gave me 'permission' to get moving.

I have been told by both my breast surgeon and my PS that if I don’t have lymphedema there is no need to wear a sleeve when I fly and I never have. No problems so far and I had 13 nodes removed.

I am a registered occupational therapist and I do not recommend wearing a lymphedema sleeve unless you have signs / symptoms of lymphedema. I, personally, had a double mastectomy and 18 lymph nodes removed with one positive. I do not have any signs of Lymphedema. I fly frequently and many of my flights are long flights. If you notice increased swelling, increased pain or tightness then you could wear a sleeve as a preventive measure. If you have other medical issues which leaves you at increase risk for Lymphedema discuss it with your doctor or therapist. Also therapist have differing opinions, as well as doctors, on whether or not to wear a sleeve if you do not have lymphedema. Also, if it makes you feel better wear it. It isn't going to hurt you.

viewfinder- I'm confused. If you haven't experienced lymphedema issues before with flying why are you concerned now? I still believe if you have no symptoms of lymphedema don't invest in a sleeve unless you're in a high-risk category.

Lezza and Viewfinder, there is no compelling evidence on this subject either way, so it's your call. Hopefully you already have a well-qualified lymphedema therapist who has done baseline arm measurements for future reference and helped with making sure any compression garments you use are an excellent fit (because if they're not, they can actually cause problems). Ruthbru outlined some strategies above you can use whenever you fly. Be especially careful when you're packing as well, since you'll be hefting heavy cases around then too.

If you have no signs of lymphedema and choose not to wear a garment for your longer trips, Lezza, do pack them along in your carry-on anyway so you can be proactive about any problems that may develop. But if you have had any symptoms, including even slight swelling or feelings of tightness, it's time to see your lymphedema therapist and begin active treatment, because getting on top of it early is the best way to assure it will be easy to control and manage on-going.

Happy travels!

Gentle hugs,
Binney

To the original poster: who advised you to wear a compression sleeve when flying, and based on what evidence?

I am at high risk for lymphedema, and both my MO and the lymphedema therapist I consulted advised against using any compression garments when flying. They said there is no evidence that it will help, and there is evidence that it can harm. But I didn't review the evidence myself.

Can someone point to some paper, or some research results related to this?

Thanks,

LaughingGull