After months of trying to use a sports bra with a lymph flow pressure pad my lymphoedema physio has just recommended I move to proper lymphoedema compression bras and am gobsmacked at the cost. I rang the State Wide Equipment Program who fund lymphoedema compression garments in Victoria who advise bras are not covered under this program.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for how to get these at a subsidised cost? I don’t have $700 laying around to get 2 bras and a night time compression band.
Thanks for the quick replyKristen. much appreciated! I hadn’t heard of the Anita Lympho fit (not what my physio recommended) but I can see why it’s popular - much more like an actual bra. The one I am supposed to get looks like a life jacket with a zip front 😩 (Just fabulous - more reasons to believe people who’ve had breast cancer are never allowed to feel sexy again.)
What’s a “hand held vibration tool”? Will have to Google (although concerned about what might come up 😂🫣).
No point chasing the Victorian Scheme further, they just absolutely don’t cover bras, hence the look for alternatives.
Thanks for the heads up on the Facebook group. I’ll go there.
Zip front is sporty,but yep no nice 'lift and separate '.I don't have chest swelling ,but after seeing all the podcasts eg from @prairiewear on insta and raves, i got a pink Vida hugger just to try, it's good in many ways apart from the uniboob between one real and one prosthesis. Fabric is amazing. I might try one of the others in the range, the Luma that are meant to be more supportive .The Prima one is their highest coverage i see recommended for post surgery and chest lymphodema .At least they have some colours in some of the bras.
One of the ladies whit chest oedema tried on the Amoena Lymph flow and is eager to get one of those. She has a couple of the Anita, but looking for higher coverage to help a bit more. It has an internal squiggle . Anita has kinda dots.
America is happy they just got the mobiderm bra we have had for a while, foam dots are great . I am sure you have tried some mobiderm pieces in your bra, or lymph pad foam from medi or Jobst i think have them too ,or the clear amoena silicone lymph pad.
Re vibrate, yes intimate ones are great on mastectomy scars once they have healed. Rechargable small rollers, back massagers. $10 one from Shaver Shop, $9 hook one from Kmart, massage gun turned on it side so not hitting skin just the vibration of the chamber, rechargable peanut roller from shaver shop, massage ball not at Kmart any more,but rechargeable vibrating versions around in sporty shops, my very old white one is the best as it has a wide flat head so most skin contact, but not sold anymore.
I have done posts on my pages Lymphoedema Lymphatics Stuff about vibration n stuff.Might come up if use the search tool.
Here's an image of just some of my lymphoedema mangaement toolbox.
Sorry I don't know the Victorian scheme. The NSW Enable scheme does for some bras, in some situations. They are horribly expensive. I do know the Anita Lympho fit is well over $200 now a days. That is the most common structured supportive bra. Some of the Amoena ones are a little cheaper, as is the Haddenham Prairie wear Hugger range https://lymphshop.com.au/compression-garments/ The Belisse and Modiderm ones are more chunky ,but good for at home. I am sure many people can't afford mutiple bras and a comfiwave breast band so have to rely on the old ways .It is a mental battle to be consistant. Keep up the daily self massage as much as possible, that is free, but does take time. Do try a hand held vibration tool as well to thin the lymph fluid and help increase effecincy of your chest massage. Getting an ICG in melbourne is super expensive as well, but you can research any published pathways and various videos and try to refine your technique and potential improving effecincies. Not everyone drains the same way.
Another idea would be contact your biggest bra/prostheis fitter in Melbourne. Ask if they have helped any lymphoedema therapists do any claims for chest compression through the victorian compression subsidy scheme.
Ask a victorian lymphoedema support group incase they have any chest lymphoedema ladies ,there is an LAA one in warnabool & contact details on their website. I know we have one lovely informed victorian lady who been battling the vic services for last few year s to try and find answers to manage her swelling who is in our LAA zoom support group who may be able to answer the question if you want to join the zoom support group next month. (Pool a few times a week gives her most relief) Or ask in the facebook group Living with lymphoedema australia & New Zealand.
