Lymphedema – Page 2 – Lymphedema Diary

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’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?

March 29, 2015February 3, 2018 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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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

February 7, 2015February 1, 2018 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.

Continue reading “VIDEO: The Perfect Wintertime Lymphedema Activity” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips

Compression Stocking Tip #3: The “Four P’s” of Choosing a Compression Stocking Dealer

February 1, 2015March 22, 2015 Britta

Compression stockings squeeze you enough. Your stocking dealer shouldn’t squeeze you as well. So, how do you choose a business that will provide you with products at a fair price with good service that you can count on?

When choosing a compression stocking dealer, always remember -you are a consumer, not a patient. Stockings are a product – an expensive product – and you are a consumer paying money (usually a lot of money) for goods. You deserve courtesy and satisfaction in your purchasing experience.

I encourage you, as a consumer, to look for the “Four P’s,” when checking out a new compression stocking dealer. Continue reading “Compression Stocking Tip #3: The “Four P’s” of Choosing a Compression Stocking Dealer” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips

Compression Stocking Tip #2: Where to Buy Compression Stockings

January 11, 2015January 12, 2015 Britta

Where do you buy compression stockings? Not at the mall. And not at your local drug store either. Sure, just about every CVS and Rite Aid pharmacy carry compression garments of some kind, but the support hose offered there is the compression equivalent of a gentle breeze caressing your leg. Lymphedema legs require sustained, gale force support.

BONUS TIP: Stocking dealers want your business and may be flexible on price. It doesn’t hurt to ask. I’ve done it successfully. When I found a new dealer I wanted to switch to, but their prices were higher than my old dealer, I told them about the lower price I was getting. They honored the lower price without even asking to see a sales receipt. — BONUS TIP: Stocking dealers want your business and may be flexible on price. It doesn’t hurt to ask. I’ve done it with success. My current dealer honored the lower price of my previous dealer without even asking to see a sales receipt.

Only a handful of companies manufacture stockings globally that support our limbs with enough pressure to be effective. I have tried just about all of the major brands, including Juzo, Jobst, Sigvaris, Solidea, Medi and Therafirm. Allegro and Solaris are the only major brands I have yet to try.

However (as an industry norm), these stockings cannot be purchased directly from these manufacturers – only from authorized dealers.

While the term “dealer” may conjure images of shady characters in dark alleys peddling illicit product in ziploc baggies, compression stocking dealers range from mom-and-pop retail pharmacies to online-only providers.

Continue reading “Compression Stocking Tip #2: Where to Buy Compression Stockings” →

Compression Stocking Tips, Tips, Videos

VIDEO: LD Compression Stocking Tip #1: Use the Floor

January 5, 2015February 1, 2018 Britta

Like many people with lymphedema, when I was first diagnosed, I was told to wear compression stockings every waking hour for the rest of my life. But I wasn’t told anything else about compression stockings. This video kicks off a featured blog series of compression stocking survival tips called, “A Leg Up: Compression Stocking Tips – What the Doctors Don’t Tell You.” Throughout the series, I will share information that I wish I had been told the day I was diagnosed.

Get a leg up on your lymphedema – click below to watch or read the transcript that follows. Please share, comment and sign up for email alerts, so you don’t miss any future tips. My next tip will be on “Where to Buy Compression Stockings.”

Continue reading “VIDEO: LD Compression Stocking Tip #1: Use the Floor” →

Tips

Managing Lymph-tivities

September 3, 2014March 22, 2015 Britta

For most women, getting ready for work is like preparing for opening night on the Broadway stage. All of the makeup, hair and costume acrobatics performed on a daily basis before 7 a.m. would give even Idina Menzel pause.

For women with lymphedema, getting assembled for the day is even more challenging. Our routines include more than the application of foundation, blush, mascara and hairspray.

What are among the most common activities for lymphedema ladies? Remove compression bandages (5 minutes), roll up compression bandages (10 minutes), shower/dry-off/moisturize/elevate legs (30 minutes), conduct manual lymph drainage (20 minutes), don compression garment or garments (15 minutes), choose the least restrictive ensemble for the day – from the feet up (10 minutes). With all of these added lymph-tivities, it is a wonder anyone with this condition ever makes it out the door!

As a working professional who has been living with lymphedema for 16 years, I am continually looking for more efficient ways to manage my health situation. One lymph-tivity that I have eliminated from my morning routine, saving me valuable time: morning shower and post-shower leg elevation. Continue reading “Managing Lymph-tivities” →

Tips

Riding in comfort: Finding the right ‘Lymphedemamobile’

June 11, 2014March 22, 2015 Britta

Getting lymphedema wasn’t my choice. And yet, nearly every choice I have made since getting lymphedema has been made with the condition in mind.

Shoe shopping? Lymphedema is there to guide me to the non-binding, sensible flat. Sadly, no Jimmy Choos for the fat feet.

Groceries? Lymphedema makes the responsible low-sodium, low-fat selections for me (Although I sometimes manage to slip a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips into the cart).

Naturally, when it was time for Luke and me to pick out a new car, my lymphedema was included in the decision-making process.

Car choice is important, especially for people with lymphedema. Americans spend nearly three hours a day in their cars (That’s a lot of time for lymphatic fluid to collect in the feet, ankles and legs.)

Car manufacturers offer loads of amenities designed to keep drivers and passengers comfortable – like heated seats, power adjustable lumbar support and dual zone climate control. While these “add-ons” are attractive luxuries, the only features that lymphedema cares about are seat height and leg room

Let’s take them one at a time. Continue reading “Riding in comfort: Finding the right ‘Lymphedemamobile’” →

News

Happy Lymphedema Awareness Day

March 6, 2014March 22, 2015 Britta

There is nothing joyful about having lymphedema, but today there is reason to be glad. Why? Because today is National Lymphedema Awareness Day.

And now it’s official here in New York thanks to the dedicated team from the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN). LE&RN’s staff traveled to the state legislature in Albany this morning to be on hand as two resolutions were read: one to honor Connor Looby as LE&RN’s Youth Ambassador and another to recognize March 6 as Lymphedema Awareness Day in New York.

Since more people in the U.S. suffer from lymphedema than multiple sclerosis, AIDS, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease combined, it’s about time we got a day. Maybe we should have asked for a month! Continue reading “Happy Lymphedema Awareness Day” →

News

Bringing lymphedema ‘into the light’

February 26, 2014March 22, 2015 Britta

Next Friday night at a fundraising dinner the Lymphatic Education and Research Network (LE&RN) is honoring me for raising awareness of lymphedema.

As LE&RN’s executive director, Bill Repicci, says, “Although an estimated ten million Americans suffer from lymphedema, this disease remains in the shadows. LE&RN honors Britta for her ongoing efforts to bring lymphedema into the light, champion research and give this cause a voice.

*blush blush*

The dinner is on March 7th at 7 p.m. at the Putnam County Golf Course (about an hour and a half north of New York City) and will feature dancing, music and raffle prizes. Tickets are $75 per person (youth tickets $45 -12 and under) and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling (516) 625-9675. All proceeds to benefit LE&RN. Continue reading “Bringing lymphedema ‘into the light’” →