You know you have lymphedema when....

stronglady · May 2007

I had two experiences today that made me think, somewhat laughingly, that I am now a 'true' LE patient.

You know you're an LE patient when:

1. You get all excited when a new box of finger bandages comes in the mail from lymphedemaproducts.com
2. You do your lymphedema exercises after all your other exercises at the gym and wonder why people are looking at you funny.

Anyone else have anything to add? (just 'cuz we're swollen, doesn't mean we can't laugh!)

Binney4 · May 2007

Oh, good, Stronglady. Can I play too?

3.You wear oven mitts while slicing tomatoes to avoid nicking a finger.

4.You consider an ant bite a major medical emergency.

5. All your interior door knobs have rubberbands or co-ban wrapped around them so they won't slip in a gloved hand.

6.You fondly remember those girlhood days when you actually looked forward to getting brand new white gloves to go with your Easter outfit -- and could take them off the minute you got home from church!

inspiewriter · May 2007

You are happy when your biggest ring fits your LE hand--when that would have depressed you in the past.

NPat · May 2007

I love this.. uh...

-When you are asked by the grocery checker where she can get those gloves for her carpal tunnel.
-When your coworkers just grab your bottle of water and open it before you ask them.
-When you go into a tizzy because you took off your glove in a restaurant while eating and lost it under the table.
When you get a new glove caught in the velcro of the car sunscreen and cry because you had the darn thing 30 minutes and have already snagged it...
-When you use the garments as an object lesson for patients to explain how lymphedema is treated... this goes for the port also...
pat

Binney4 · May 2007

You know you have truncal LE when a single bra costs more than any dress you've ever bought, with the possible exception of your wedding gown.

sccruiser · May 2007

-you proudly display the pictures of your Jovi garments, compression pump, and the accompanying jacket w/all the hoses to your pain management doc & family.
-you meet someone who actually knows what LE is, and they aren't a hospital worker or medical professional.
-when you really feel fat and ugly that day, and a coworker tells you how fantastic you look--because you've been in the pool for 5x/wk for the past 18 months (it's the tan).
-when you buy some shorts and they fit perfectly, but the next day you put them on, and they are either too big or too small in the waist (belly swelling LE)

Well, Binney, I had to laugh at yours because in my case it probably would never be true. I was working at Macys and bought my wedding dress (all lace lined, long sleeves) and with the alterations cost me 50 bucks! Those were the days, my friend. I don't think I'll tell what year!

jinky · May 2007

You know you have lymphedema when you think you are losing your mind.!!!!!!!!!!! lol le hugs jinky

NancyM · May 2007

A stranger comes up to you and says "We're sleeve sisters!" and proudly holds up her arm. You look at her and smile because you feel as if you already know her.

sccruiser · May 2007

...when you put on your jovis before boarding the plane and look like your are going on to defuse a bomb.

...when you put on your lymphapress plus compression jacket (w/24 hoses attached to the pump) and feel like you could board the next shuttle flight into space.

grace

sushanna1 · July 2007

Bumping this up.
Sue

sushanna1 · July 2007

You have perfected a variation of the "Queen's wave" called the "lymphedema wave." (A semi-circular wave of your hand with your arm extended upward. Unfortunately it also resembles the motion used when riding a mechanical bull.)

inspiewriter · July 2007

When men come up to you and ask how you burned your arm, because they did the same thing and wore a sleeve years ago.

rrs · July 2007

When you get excited by spotting a person wearing a compression sleeve/gauntlet and want to give her/him a LE salute.

I've only seen one other person wearing a sleeve and gauntlet in the two years I've had LE. I was at the airport - didn't say anything to her but next time I will.

lori1964 · July 2007

You guys just made my day. I don't have to wear a sleeve but it's the back of my mind all the time. I have just a slight case in my lower arm. I know a sleeve day may come for me some day. And if it does I will think of this thread...lol

Binney4 · July 2007

Somebody's recent post reminded me of this:

You know you have LE when you're sporting either a fat lip or a black-and-blue jaw from whopping yourself in the face while tugging on your garments.

(sigh!) Binney

rrs · July 2007

I've hit myself in the nose and mouth so many times. I used to get irritated about it but now it is just funny.

jinky · August 2007

we are getting a new Lawton's home health and i no longer have to travel or order and pay shipping charges for the basic le wraps......yeah!!!!le hugs Carol

inspiewriter · August 2007

. . . have also whacked myself in the face!

. . . have also snagged a new glove, arrghh!, on the velcro on my dh's weight belt!

ckslow4 · February 2009

...have to wake up your husband to help you pee at night because both arms are in Jovi-pak sleeves and your elbows do not bend...to wipe? or drip dry? and what about those panties?Thank you for the laughs!!!

Marple · February 2009

I never saw this before. Thankyou for bumping it up. Easier to bear when one isn't alone. I've not hit myself.........YET!

lionessdoe · February 2009

I've knocked myself in the jaw a few times too!

How about when you wrap your arm across a stack off four pillows in bed at night instead of your spouse?

Or when a co worker calls you "Disapearing Doe" because your compression garments are so snug you look like you lost 5 pounds over night!

Or when you wear gardening gloves to iron!

Or when you wash your hands so much at work, people start suspecting you have OCD!

otter · February 2009

Oh, man, where has this thread been??? You know you have lymphedema when:

...you can't go anywhere without your "arm pillow," and you reach a near-panic state when you can't find it.

...your dh suggests that you cut up and/or bring in some more firewood ["Put another log on the fire..."], but you remind him that you can't -- and he doesn't fuss about it.

... you thank heaven that the wasp stung you on the other arm.

(I'm sure I'll think of more.)

otter

CherylG711 · February 2009

This is a great thread!

You know you have lymphedema when:

You break your wrist on your non-LE side and you are happy about it!

Your husband wants to go to a spa for a massage and hot tub to celebrate your one year cancerversiary but you can't do it because aof LE.

inspiewriter · February 2009

And when you fall down the basement steps and are in so much pain, but can only think how thankful you are you didn't land on your LE arm.

True story. Cool

Binney4 · February 2009

Absolutely! And when you go to critical care with a broken leg, you're crying because when you fell you skinned your LE hand as well and they aren't paying any attention to it. (Also a true story - sigh! They never did get it and acted like I was a complete nut case. Embarassed )

vegas · February 2009

You totally freak out when they try to take your blood pressure on your LE arm and practically shove the poor nurse into the next century trying to get away from her.

ckslow4 · May 2009

When your patients notice whether your sleeves/gauntlets match your outfit. ( I work as a full time physician assistant) and then they ask where they can get some. Ugh!!! Wink

Member_of_the_Club · May 2009

When you feel like Peter Boyle in Dr. Strangelove.

When you look at the Lymphadivas website with longing because they don't make the funky sleeves in your compression level, checking back periodically to see if maybe just the leopard skin sleeves or even the purple ones are available in your size. (This is me, stuck with flesh colored).

Anonymous · May 2009

MOTC - when your LE is managed - there are several other companies that make colored sleeves - I hate those flesh colored ones... mine were jovi and they snagged like crazy - plus they were hot! The flesh colored sleeves/gloves stand out no matter what you do ... so I figure I might as well wear colored sleeves/gloves and have a bit of fun with them (if there is such a thing).

Doreen

tnmtnmomma · May 2009

I NEVER would have gotten a tatoo but I'm now thinking about having my sleeves air brused Cool

amygil81 · May 2009

When you learn how to change a tampon one-handed so you don't have to take off your glove

You know you have lymphedema when....

Comments

Categories