Forum Discussion
Lymphedema garments in the heat grrrr
Spent a good 10 mins in the Cairns heat putting my garment on today, only to realise at the last minute that it was inside out grrr
It is a soft seamless one so didn't realise until the very end that the silicon grips at the top was on the outside..
Paula :)
It is a soft seamless one so didn't realise until the very end that the silicon grips at the top was on the outside..
Paula :)
33 Replies
- OK I just read post from where I had put the LINK today.... you can claim the garments through various government departments depending on state.
NSW is ENABLE I will find the links and get it up here ....http://www.lymphoedema.org.au/about-lymphoedema/compression-garment-schemes/Compression Garment Schemes
State
Garment Subsidy
Eligibility
Subsidy
Limit
Prescriber Guidelines
ACT ACTES (ACT Equipment Scheme) 1) Lymphoedema diagnosis
2) Means test - Commonwealth pension and/or health care card holder100% Two sets of Compression garments every six months Public or private lymphoedema trained health professional NSW EnableNSW 1) Lymphoedema diagnosis
2) Centrelink, or full pension holders eligible
3) Means tested for those in receipt of an income with some co-contribution for those on a low income100%
$100 Co-payment required annuallyTwo sets of compression garments every six months. Lymphoedema therapist registered with the Australasian Lymphology Association - National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register – Level 1 (or eligible for registration) VIC Lymphoedema compression garment program (LCGP) 1) Lymphoedema diagnosis
2) Centrelink, Pension or healthcare card holders eligible40-60% of cost of garment
Limit of 6 garments per year Lymphoedema therapist registered with the Australasian Lymphology Association – National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register – level 1 (or eligible for registration) QLD Compression garments for adults with malignancy related lymphoedema 1) Scheme available for those with cancer-related lymphoedema
2) Aged over 16 years
3) Pension or healthcare card holders eligible100% Provision based on clinical need as determined by treating therapist Lymphoedema therapist registered with the Australasian Lymphology Association – National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register – level 1 (or eligible for registration) TAS CES (Community Equipment Scheme) 1) Lymphoedema diagnosis
2) Centrelink, Pension or healthcare card holders eligible100%
$50 co-payment required annuallyLimit of 2 sets of garments per 6 month period Public or private lymphoedema trained health professional WA CAEP (Community Aids and Equipment Programme) Centrelink, Pension, healthcare card, or Commonwealth seniors healthcare card holders eligible Contact the WA Disability Services Commission for this information Limit of 2 sets of garments annually Public lymphoedema trained health professional NT Lymphoedema Compression Garment Subsidy (accessed through the Occupational Therapy Department, Royal Darwin Hospital)
(08) 8922 8888Lymphoedema diagnosis
100% Limit of 2 sets of garments per 6 month period Public or private lymphoedema trained health professional SA None National DVA (Department of Veterans Affairs) 1) DVA gold card holder
2) Lymphoedema diagnosis
3) GP referral to lymphoedema trained health professional100% Provision based on clinical need as determined by treating therapist Lymphoedema therapist registered with the Australasian Lymphology Association – National Lymphoedema Practitioners Register – level 1 (or eligible for registration) Information provided in this table has been simplified, please refer to the relevant websites for full details and eligibility requirements.
P.S. - Oh and @soldier_crab - you are not going to believe this but the lovely lady featured in the Lifehouse link, Jessica, was my initial lymphedema therapist who recommended me to another physio as when the cording developed she said I may benefit from laser treatment and she does not perform this !
What a small world !!! xx
Great, thanks for the updates and info ladies - forum always a font of knowledge and support. Thanks @soldier_Crab for the facebook link and @mum2jj for the info.
Yes, my lymphedema therapist has shown me several exercises to be performed 3 x times a day (bit difficult to try and find a quiet spot @ work to do for 10 minutes - sometimes I lock myself in the toilet !) along with self-massage once daily for 10-15 minutes.
My physio has also recommended a night garment now (will speak about that at my appointment next week). More additional costs - grrrr.
Up until a few weeks ago, there was some reduction in the swelling overnight (I always keep it elevated) but that is no longer the case.
Just cannot believe the huge change in such a short period of time.
My physio said it could have been something as simple as a mozzie bite, small scratch etc even though I am vigilant with my hand sanitizer !
Enjoy the w/e ladies.
- @socoda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- @"Soldier Crab" thanks for sharing, what an amazing place that lifehouse must be. A great legacy to Dr Chris O'Brien RIP.
She is so right in that lymphedema is only just being realised and treated in the way it should and people are still often getting referred too late.
Paula xx - @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 - Hi Ladies this was on my facebook this morning thought I would share it ....
http://www.mylifehouse.org.au/teach-patients-self-manage-lymphoedema/ - Sheryl
What a bummer! People always think I am weird when I say I'd rather have got lymphoedema soon after surgery (as I did) rather than years later, but I still think I was better prepared for impacts and outcomes than I might have been when I reasonably could expect it was all in the past.
Best of luck with your new garment. The all in one is supposed to give best results although I had a bad experience (partly through a local supplier who couldn't fit properly) so my excellent therapist has settled for an arm and glove that keeps us both happy. I wear them daily (occasionally skip but only if it's cool) and also keep up daily exercises. My swelling is much less though and I manage well with monthly massage (self massage and elevation when I remember). I hope you get some improvement very soon. Hi Paula,
Great results for you - well done !
Oh, the heat and humidity can be a real bummer. Apart from the fact that when you are finally able to get it on successfully, you feel like you are walking through an open fire sometimes !
I sometimes find that I wait a good 10-15 mins after having a shower (or switch to tepid water right at the end to help cool my body temp) as the garment seems a bit more problematic if put on straight away.
Would love to hear some of your "successful" stories about massage and how it has helped.
Although I had partial removal of lymph nodes in 2003, I developed lymphedema in December 2016 (never a problem in 13 years - aaaahhhhh).
So, this is all very new to me. In less than 3 months I have gone from a temporary stretchy garment to weekly lymphodema massage & measured up for full fitting garment including hand. There is now a 50cm difference between my left and right arm.
I do self-massage once a day and exercises 3 times a day and deep breathing when I think of it and rolling of shoulders etc to try and stimulate the other lymph nodes to become more active !
Have now had 2 x sessions of laser treatment as I have developed cording.
Thanks for sharing your successes :)
Best wishes, Sheryl
Paula, that is excellent!! Xx
