| Hear ye, hear ye, lymphedema people! Good news! | | | | compression using Velcro straps and/or special foam |
| Chronic lymphedema can be controlled. Mine (involving | | | | patterns. I found my Reid sleeve a true godsend, since |
| my left arm) came about as a result of breast cancer | | | | it eliminated the need for wrapping and unwrapping as |
| surgery and radiation in 1996. Today my affected arm | | | | well as rolling bandages every night. |
| is not noticeably larger than the other. | | | | After a year using the Reid sleeve I found I didn't need |
| It's important to find resources on this condition. My | | | | it anymore at night to keep the swelling under control. |
| main source of information is the National | | | | So now I wear only the lymphedema sleeve on my |
| Lymphedema Network (NLN), which provides a wealth | | | | arm daily with no night-time garment. On a plane trip or |
| of facts on its website ( If you notice swelling in a limb | | | | climbing a sizeable mountain, I wear an old |
| or your trunk or breast, go to a knowledgeable | | | | compression sleeve over my current one, for extra |
| physician. I found a breast surgeon who gladly wrote | | | | protection against swelling. Also I don a hand glove if |
| out a prescription for me to see a certified | | | | necessary. |
| lymphedema therapist. The NLN provides information | | | | Swimming is great exercise for arm lymphedema. I |
| about the standards necessary for certification of | | | | joined a club with an indoor pool just to get the |
| professionals in this business. | | | | year-round benefits that such a pool offers. Also, |
| The standard acceptable treatment for chronic | | | | active elongation exercises on a resistance ball help to |
| lymphedema in the United States is complete | | | | stretch scars to increase flow of the lymph fluid to the |
| decongestive therapy (CDT). In the first phase of this | | | | bloodstream. |
| lymphatic therapy the therapist performs a massage | | | | Lymphedema patients who are frequent fliers should |
| technique called manual lymph drainage (MLD), which | | | | be careful that their equipment is not damaged by |
| redirects the lymph fluid through alternative pathways. | | | | overzealous security guards at the airport. Here are |
| Then he or she applies lymphedema bandages, which | | | | my gems of advice, based on personal experience: |
| remain on the arm for 24 hours. Every weekday for | | | | bring a prescription slip describing any special arm |
| six weeks the bandages were removed for massage | | | | garments or pumps being brought aboard the plane |
| and reapplied. | | | | and check as baggage as many lymphedema devices |
| After lymphatic treatment by the therapist, the patient | | | | as possible. |
| transitions to the self-maintenance stage, in which the | | | | Herbal supplements may keep chronic lymphedema |
| lymphedema patient cares for the limb for a lifetime. In | | | | under control, but they are not regulated by the FDA |
| this phase of lymphedema management I wore a | | | | and might interfere with chemo and other drugs. |
| lymphedema compression sleeve to control swelling | | | | Before taking any, the lymphedema patient should |
| during the day and then applied bandages at night. In | | | | check first with his/her oncologist. While benzopyrenes |
| addition, I performed self-massage and gentle | | | | and horse-chestnut are mentioned most commonly as |
| exercises that the therapist taught me. | | | | controlling chronic lymphedema, I find, with my doctor's |
| Alternatives to bandages exist on the market. The | | | | blessing, that Butcher's Broom controls swelling in my |
| lymphedema therapist is a good source to determine | | | | hand. |
| suitable substitutes for a particular patient. Brand | | | | Don't let chronic lymphedema interfere with your daily |
| names include Reid, Circaid, Sigvaris and Jovi. Other | | | | activities. Many lymphedema patients enjoy near |
| lymphedema vendors, at least for sleeves, include | | | | normal lives by practicing moderation and complying |
| Jobst, Juzo, and Medi. After six months of bandaging I | | | | with sage advice to the extent necessary to tamp |
| chose the Reid sleeve with the help of medical | | | | down lymphedema swelling. |
| professionals. This garment and its sisters maintain | | | | |