Lymphedema garments in the heat grrrr

@Share My lymphedema therapist told me that you can develop it at anytime after treatment, but I guess by 13 years you would have thought you were not going to, so I feel your pain.  I had initial diagnosis 2009 and had 7 nodes removed and went on to have lumpectomy, chemo and rads.  No lymphedema and thought I was sweet.  I had developed a pesky infection around my fingernail and never once thought of lymphedema.  I unfortunately at around the same time (18mths after all treatment finished) had a recurrence.  This time I had a mastectomy and another 6 nodes removed and more chemo.  I had to fly every 3 weeks for chemo and that probably didn't help.  It was about half way through that treatment that I developed my lymphedema.  My problem area was my hand.  I initially saw a private therapist and because at the initial stages my problem area was my wrist and I balked at a glove she only put me in a sleeve.  Of course the fluid was pushed straight into my hand!!! So I then managed to get into the public system and had an amazing therapist who told me to grow up and I needed a full sleeve.  I hated it and it caused all sorts of problems at work as I am a nurse.  I managed to find a good two piece for at work that I could slip the hand on and off quickly.  I persevered with the long garments for a couple of years but as my problem was mainly my hand I was able to swap between a long and a short (only to my elbow) garment.  I would self massage in a very particular way as shown by my therapist for a good 20 mins each night.  Eventually I was able to go glove free at work and only wear a short glove the rest of the time.  This was great for about three years and then wammo I had a bit of a blow out just below my elbow last year.  So was back into garments at work, and the long garment.  I have no idea what caused it to flare up again .  I am now self massaging daily for longer (had probably dropped down to 5 mins before flare up).  The hard work is paying off.  I feel for you with a 50cm difference.  Keep up the daily massage, has someone shown you the correct way to do it?  Let me know if you want a description.  Sending you a huge hug.
Paula xxxx