Tag: Lymphatic system

Tips

Throw Cold Water on Your Lymphedema

Britta

Cold Water Tip Showerhead

If you are living with lymphedema (LE), you know that heat is our kryptonite. It expands our blood vessels which increases the amount of fluid pushed into our tissues, straining our impaired lymphatic system and causing swelling. If we don’t manage this swelling our lymphedema progresses, causing more pain and creating more vulnerability to infection.

In my case, LE has affected my lower limbs. Since my first lymphedema symptom when I was 13 and my left foot began to swell, I adopted a strategy. This strategy has helped to reverse the impact of heat on my body and to slow the progression of the disease. My secret: I end all my showers with cold water on my LE-affected areas.

Continue reading “Throw Cold Water on Your Lymphedema” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips, Videos

VIDEO: Battle Your Lymphedema with Toe Caps

Britta

Battling lymphedema is all about arming yourself with the right weapons to fight the disease.

Watch this video to find out how many butterflies toe caps earn on Lymphedema Diary’s five-butterfly rating system (The butterfly is the international symbol of lymphedema).

Continue reading “VIDEO: Battle Your Lymphedema with Toe Caps” →

Tips, Videos

VIDEO: To Dry Brush, or Not to Dry Brush? That is the Question.

Britta

Dry brushing is a detox method touted in many health and beauty publications for its ability to encourage weight loss, reduce cellulite and stimulate lymphatic flow.  But is dry brushing a good idea for lymphies?

Watch this video to find out how many butterflies dry brushing earns on Lymphedema Diary’s five-butterfly rating system. (The butterfly is the international symbol of lymphedema)

Continue reading “VIDEO: To Dry Brush, or Not to Dry Brush? That is the Question.” →

Motivational, Videos

VIDEO: A New Year’s Resolution for My Lymphedema

Britta

As the clock strikes midnight this New Year’s Eve, it will mark the beginning of my 20th year of living, coping and, yes, thriving with lymphedema!  In this video, I share the resolution that will help me not just to survive, but to THRIVE, with lymphedema.

Happy New Year to all my fellow lymphies!

Happy New Year!

 

 

Motivational, Tips

Summer and Lymphedema: Relax and discover

Britta
20160529_140119
The departure board at Dulles airport, waiting for my flight to Paris.

Memorial Day in America is a solemn occasion, but it marks the unofficial start to summer in the United States. As most Americans shed heavy clothes and head for the beach with their family and friends, those of us with lymphedema brace ourselves…and feel isolated.

Our enemy – heat – has arrived.  We scour the stores (unsuccessfully) for summer pants that aren’t cropped or in some other way designed to reveal our compression stockings and swollen legs.  We seek shelter in air-conditioned rooms.  We hope and pray that our “summer swelling” will go back down when the cooler temps return in the fall.

Lymphedema can make us feel like a prisoner in our own bodies.  Especially in the warmer temps.  This summer – try not to let it.

It’s hard to believe that growing up (pre-lymphedema), summer was my favorite season.  But I didn’t love summer because of the heat.  I loved it because summer was freedom.  I could do what I wanted with my time.  Be with my friends.  Practice with my synchronized swimming team.  Go out on dates. Go to the movies.

Continue reading “Summer and Lymphedema: Relax and discover” →

Tips

A Snow Day….for Your Legs!

Britta
Freedom
Little me enjoying the white stuff after the Blizzard of ’79. Now THAT was a snow day.

Thanks to Winter Storm Jonas and the nearly 30” of snow he left in his wake, I and millions of others along the east coast have been holed up in our homes for 36 hours and counting.  

With nowhere to go and a new book awaiting me on my Kindle, I decided to give my legs a snow day too.  No compression stockings.  Bare legged.  A break from the normal 16 hours a day spent cooped up in tight, thick nylon-spandex, from toes to tummy.

What a glorious day!  Toes wiggling.  Thighs rubbing against cozy Cuddl Duds softness.  No pinching, pulling, or squeezing. Freedom!

Don’t wait for a “Snowmaggedon” to give your legs a day off.  If you are able, try letting  them “air out” for a day, a day of freedom, while still maintaining lymphatic flow.

Some suggestions:

  • Take a load off.  Limit the time you spend standing.  Keep your legs elevated above your heart as much as possible.  The natural effect of gravity will facilitate lymphatic flow.  When cooking and preparing meals, try sitting on a stool or chair.  Logically, spending significant time on your feet without compression is not recommended.

  • College Living Essentials Zero Gravity Perfect ChairKick your feet up.  Literally.  Find a chair that lifts your legs up while taking pressure off of your back.  Watch a movie or read a book while compression-stocking-free.

  • Hydrate your legs.   Pampering your skin is a luxury you don’t have while confined to compression stockings; so take advantage of this time.  Every few hours, apply lotion to your legs, working it in with upward strokes to encourage lymphatic flow.  And don’t forget your feet!  I recommend Eucerin Smoothing Repair for Dry Skin or Medi Night Creme.

  • sock2Wear cozy socks.  Let your feet experience what normal feet do – the luxury of soft fabric directly against the skin.  Choose a style of sock that does not bind at the top, cutting off lymphatic flow.  Diabetic socks are made with this in mind.  Non-binding socks made by Sockwell (pictured right), Soft Fit and Softop are available through Footsmart.com or Amazon.

Continue reading “A Snow Day….for Your Legs!” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips

Compression Stocking Tip #6: For Women Only — Lymphedema and Yeast Infections

Britta

Although June 21st is the calendar start of summer, Memorial Day (in America) marks the unofficial start. For the average person, the season means fun, sun and sandals.  For those of us with lymphedema, it can mean swelling, sweat, and praying for September to come early.

When you are a lymphie, heat is a four letter word.

Putting on and then wearing thick, tight compression stockings all day, every day is challenging enough.  Add eighty-plus-degree-heat and a bucket of humidity, and we are ready to volunteer for the crew of ‘Ultimate Survival Alaska.’

For women (like me) who must wear full-pantyhose compression stockings, the most unpleasant hazard of the summer heat can be yeast infections.

Yeast infections are not listed as a side-effect on stocking product materials.  Neither is your regular doctor likely to warn you about them, because (GROAN) the medical profession lacks focus and funding on our field of study.

Yet I assure you, yeast infections and pantyhose compression stockings go hand-in-hand.  Yeast thrives in warm, moist places, causing a fungal infection resulting in itching, redness, swelling, burning and a discharge that looks like cottage cheese.  Summer fun, it is not.

So what can you do to avoid developing this uncomfortable medical condition on top of an already uncomfortable medical condition?

  • Go crotchless.  
    Juzo Soft with Open Crotch
    Juzo’s Soft open crotch compression stockings (no, this is not a picture of me!)

    Victoria isn’t the only one who knows this secret. Some manufacturers, for an extra fee, can remove the crotch from stockings.  Juzo offers this as a regular option in their Soft product line.  Unless Dr. Ruth is on the board of Juzo, one would surmise there was a medical function to this design.

An open crotch promotes a cool, dry and airy — how shall we say….”environment.”  Don’t negate these positive effects by wearing tight pants or synthetic panties.  In hot and humid weather, skirts and cotton panties (or none!) are the way to go.  In addition, be sure to change out of wet swimsuits and gym clothes immediately after a workout.

Continue reading “Compression Stocking Tip #6: For Women Only — Lymphedema and Yeast Infections” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips

Compression Stocking Tip #5: How Many Should You Purchase?

Britta

If you have been following my recent tips, then you know where to buy compression stockings, what to look for in a stocking dealer and which kind of stockings are right for you.  Once you are ready to make the purchase, it is time to decide how many stockings to buy.

If you are like me and come from the shopping school of “When you find something that works, buy it in every color,” you may have to adjust your purchasing habits.  Compression stockings are expensive and they do not last forever.

Stockings are meant to be worn, washed and worn again.  If they linger too long in your dirty clothes basket, the fibers begin to deteriorate.  But a life of coming home from work and doing laundry every day is pretty depressing – and not always possible.

So the number of stockings you purchase depends on your budget limitations as well as your lifestyle preferences.

Here are five stocking lifestyle profiles.  See which one fits your budget and lifestyle the best.

One pair of stockings can get awfully lonely.
One pair of stockings can get awfully lonely.

#1 The Optimist
If you have the time (and inclination) to wash stockings every night, then potentially you could buy just one pair.  But I wouldn’t recommend it.  Having only one pair of stockings leaves little drying time after washing – and zero room for error should your stockings get damaged.

ObsessiveCompulsive
Here are a few pairs of my stockings at rest on my drying rack. If you own only a few stockings, be prepared to stick to a regular washing schedule.

#2 The Obsessive Compulsive
The minimum number of stockings I recommend is three.  Two of the three pairs are for regular wear (interchangeably every other day).  The third is to be kept as a spare and worn only in case of emergency.  An emergency is when one of the first two have been damaged and are no longer wearable.  An emergency is not when you are too tired to launder the other two pairs.  Beware that having only two pairs of stockings in the rotation means you have to stick to a daily or every-other-day washing routine.

This is me a couple of years ago, after running a 5k. It sure was nice (for me and everyone else) to have a clean pair of stockings to change into.
This is me a couple of years ago, after running a 5k. It sure was nice (for me and everyone else around me) to have a clean pair of stockings to change into.

#3 The Athlete
If you are very physically active, consider buying four pairs.  Two for regular wear, one for exercising and one for emergency use only.  With the exception of swimming, all exercise should be performed while wearing compression stockings.  If you can afford the expense, then you will enjoy the convenience of having a fresh pair of stockings to change into after going for a run or taking in a yoga class.

Fashionista
Once, I branched out from beige/black and tried a “platinum” colored stocking (pictured). I felt like an extra in the movie Avatar. Don’t let that deter you. Pursue your inner Stocking Fashionista.

#4 The Fashionista
Beige can get old real fast.  Luckily, stocking vendors have caught on and now offer garments in a variety of shades.  If you want to add color to your legs, then factor that into your budget.  I get a lot of use out of black stockings during the winter, in addition to beige-colored stockings.  That means I order about twice as many stockings in the cold months as I do in the warmer weather.

The Hoarder
While this overflowing drawer of stockings may look like compression stocking heaven, resist temptation. Don’t hoard.

#5 The Hoarder:  Ordering in Bulk
I’ve had a recurring nightmare about my favorite compression stockings being discontinued.  I wake up in a cold sweat, refreshing Juzo’s product website until I fall back asleep.  If you win the lottery, you might be tempted to stock up on your stockings.  Resist.  For two reasons.

One, stocking return policies usually extend only 30-to-90 days from the date of purchase.  If you crack open a pair that you have been hoarding for six months and discover an issue with the fit or have some other issue, you may have difficulty securing a replacement or refund.

Two, compression stocking technology is constantly improving.  The style you are in love with now might be even better in a year’s time.  The stockings I first donned in 1998 feel like sandpaper compared to the updated version I wear today.  Over time, improvements are made to just about every aspect of the garment.

Earlier this year, Juzo made a change to the waistband of the Soft garment I wear.  No more bulky elastic to thread through the waistband.  Now it’s smooth and fitting.  More comfortable and less conspicuous under clothing.  If I loaded up on Softs, I’d be kicking myself for not being able to enjoy the new model.

 For those of us with lymphedema, compression shopping lacks the fun and spontaneity of regular shopping. Our choices involve more than color and style; our choices directly affect our comfort and health. Making informed purchases of compression stockings should help to eliminate financial or emotional “buyer’s remorse.”

Continue reading “Compression Stocking Tip #5: How Many Should You Purchase?” →

Motivational, Tips, Videos

VIDEO: The Perfect Wintertime Lymphedema Activity

Britta
Compression stockings alone do not move lymph fluid.  They help prevent more fluid from collecting.  Only exercise (combined with compression stockings), massage and therapeutic devices can propel lymph fluid through uncooperative lymph vessels back toward the heart, where it belongs.
I do my best to exercise regularly, because exercise stimulates lymphatic flow. In the wintertime, however, it is more difficult for me to get motivated to exercise.Here in New York state, we have had a great deal of the fluffy white stuff this winter. If you live in a similar area, you might want to try an exercise that’s fun, great for lymphedema and sure to keep you moving during these cold months. It’s called snowshoeing.

(Click below to watch the video for a demonstration – or read the transcript that follows – to see how snowshoeing is a perfect lymph fluid-moving wintertime activity.)

Special thanks go to my mother and brother, who gave me the snowshoes and poles as a Christmas present this year.  My family has always encouraged me to try new things as I cope with lymphedema.  You never know what new activity, product or routine could make an impact in the successful management of this condition. I am very lucky to have cheerleaders to keep pushing me past my comfort zone, and to make sure I never lose hope that we all can find a better way to live with lymphedema.

Please share, comment and sign up for email alerts, so you don’t miss any future posts.  Thanks for reading.

Tips

Mani/Pedi-mania: lymphedema nail care

Britta
Manicure
My manicurist, Ligia, painting within the lines much better than I could ever do. Yes, I took this photo with one hand.

Every Sunday afternoon I treat myself to a manicure. Sure, it helps keep me from snagging my compression stockings by maintaining well-groomed nails. But I’m also more Jackson Pollock than DaVinci with polish, so it’s best left to the professionals. Besides, the hot towel and hand massage are the real joy anyway.

As for my pedicure needs, however, I’m on my own. Aside from my innate aversion to showing my feet in public (that pre-dates lymphedema) and my highly ticklish nature, getting a pedi is something to be highly cautious about for those of us with leg lymphedema.

Here’s why a pedicure isn’t worth it for me: Continue reading “Mani/Pedi-mania: lymphedema nail care” →