Has anybody tried the wrapping method to help with lymphoedema?

[Rebec]

My lymphoedema nurse at the hospital didn't seem to know anything about wrapping, but I just received from a relative in the States a whole box with all the kit necessary to wrap my arm. Has anybody tried this system before? I am waiting for the temperatures to drop a bit before I start trying to wrap my whole arm, including the whole hand too, as it looks quite a complicated procedure.

[Lynora]

Hi Rebec - can you tell us what your product is called?

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

Sorry for not replying earlier but only got the third response to my question today. The product that I was sent from the States is called Transelast.

[Lynora in reply to Rebec]

Transelast is the generic name for a number of things - is the wrap called Juxta Lite or Juxta Fix?

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

From the form I have, the names mentioned are Cellona Synthetic Padding or Rosidal Soft.

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

From the form I have, the names mentioned are Cellona Synthetic Padding or Rosidal Soft.

[Ginsing]

Morning Is it a Farrow wrap? xgins

[brzlw2]

Hi yes, I have a farrow wrap which I use on my leg. I wear compression as much as possible but sometimes in these temperatures, I just can't cope with it. especially when on holiday. I use the farrow wrap at night instead and have found it really useful - it is basically a Velcro wrap in three pieces that has been made to measure for my leg - It's not practical to move around lots in it and quite bulky - but absolutely great in the evenings when resting. Let me know if you have any specific questions

[Lynora]

Hi Rebec - Farrow Wrap is available in the UK on prescription.

I'm a bit perplexed that your lymphoedema nurse doesn't know anything about it. She could contact Haddenham Healthcare and one of the reps would be able to give her details.

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

The lymphoedema nurse is the one affiliated to the Breast Unit. They don't do any massage and only recently, I was told they can offer sleeves, but I haven't yet offered any. Maybe they wait until the lymphatic fluid 'goes overboard'. But because I have developed lymphoedema in the breast as well, the nurse has shown me how to use the Kinezio Tape.

[beadnellann in reply to Rebec]

Hi rebec. After 3mth of complaining about my breast after WLE&SNB and Radiotherapy I was told I had Eodema of the breast and was sent to see the only nurse in the district who does the massage . She spent only 5mins showing me how to massage myself and said she would see me in January and maybe would do Kinesio Taping then. Seeing as you have gone through it can you tell me if its easy to do or not and is it doing you any good. I am really worried as my breast is in an awful mess all swollen, orange peel like skin, rock hard and very very red and hot. The oncologist and the nurse didn't seem very bothered about it and gave me no information. x Ann

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

Hi Ann,

I don't quite understand your oncologist and nurse who don't think you might have cellulitis. When my breast was reddish and relatively warm, I was given a strong dose of antibiotics. The nurse wanted me to continue after I took it, I think, for two weeks, but I decided against it as the breast seemed to look like it looked before I had the radiotherapy, and my decision was the right one as slowly the breast went back to normal. But, at the same time, I still think that I did the right thing in taking the antibiotics for as long as I did.

Now about dealing with the swollen breast: I was given once some kind of massage, but for the last few months, I 'bandage' (you have to be shown how by a nurse) my breast with Kinesio Tex Gold which is a kind of relatively sticky tape. I keep it for three days, and for two days afterwards, I cover my breast with a kind of wavy foam. And then I start from the beginning. All this helped in reducing the swollen breast and also in rending it much softer.

Hope you can get help soon. Do you live, by any chance, in East Anglia?

(Maybe you can see a private practitioner who can help you in the meantime as I wouldn't want you to stay like this over the holidays.)

Vicky

[beadnellann in reply to Rebec]

Hi Rebec I live in a little village called Beadnell on the North East Coast. The nearest trained therapist is 100mile away

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

I am glad you did take antibiotics. You need to be shown how to wrap the tape around your swollen breast. Maybe a nurse in a hospital, if there is onenearer to you could be of help. Hopefully, there is a lady who lives not far from you who could come and show you what to do. I wonder if there is anything on the web. Try to see if anyone is showing what to do.

Hope you can sort it out soon.

All the best

Have you thought of going swimming? It saved me many times.

[beadnellann in reply to Rebec]

thanks for your reply Rebec I cant swim .I am 69 yrs old and have had many lessons in the past but all to no avail. My husband goes swimming every morning and all I can do is watch while walking up and down in the water which gives me some exercise at least

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

I have justv come back from a lymphoedema nurse and I mentioned your case. She said that in view of the redness of the breaat and its being hot, she suggests a visit to your GP as you might need to take more antibiotics. Let me know what is happening.

Vicky

[beadnellann in reply to Rebec]

hi rebec I've just comeback from GP and he has given me more antibiotics. 500g penicillin VK and 500g Flucloxacillin 4times per day. To be hoped this second course will help things calm down a bit. x Ann

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

Unfortunately, that's what you have to do, to take more antibiotics. I'm glad the GP has been of help. Don't forget to have yoghurt during the time you are taking antibiotics. Sorry if I sound like a teacher, but I used to be one and wouldn't want you to have stomach problems because of the medicine.

I'm sure you'll soon see an improvement.

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

P.S. The tape I use is 7.5cm X 5cm. You might be given only 5cm X 5cm, but this can be successfully used as well. I think that it might depend on the size of the breast too.

[Rebec in reply to beadnellann]

P.S.S. Just remembered something which is helping me and it's swimming. If you can, go swimming and it might help diminish the size of the breast as well as reduce, maybe, the redness although it would be a good idea to ask your oncologist if he doesn't think it's cellulitis. Just to be sure.

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

I looked Farrow Wrap up and it is completely different from the bandages I have which are made of gauze, padding bandages and short stretch bandages, and take a long time to apply. I wouldn't think that this can be applied only for the night. From what I understood, they are meant to be used for a few days in a row, washed and reused.

[Ginsing in reply to Rebec]

I wear Farrows every day they are easy to apply once you get used to them and tey do make a significant difference.

[Rebec]

The DVD that I bought shows only how to care of the lymphoedema in the arm while wearing a sleeve. I am lucky to have received, again from the States, another DVD which shows in great detail how to do MLD without wearing any sleeve. It has also a presentation on self-bandaging. I wonder if the Farrow Wrap is easier to apply than the type if bandages I have.

[Ginsing]

Hi Rebec,

Before you use farrow wraps you need to have triple bandaging on your legs to bring down the swelling - I had this for 5 months constantly they were changed every severn days. Now my legs are down I have progressed to the farrow wraps and you wear them every day taking them off at night to bath/ shower and cream your legs. I didnot wear the ankle part yesterday and in that one day my ankle and top of foot grew back enormously. So I have had my farrow on over night to bring them back in line. It did show me how much pain is alleviated by wearing them Hope this helps

[Rebec in reply to Ginsing]

Hi Gins,

Thanks for the details given. I have been finally referred to a special clinic who hopefully will show me how to put the light wrappings I have and also give me the long awaited MLD which I only had about three times as I had to pay for it at £80 a session!

You mention triple bandaging. What is it exactly?

[Lynora in reply to Rebec]

Triple bandaging might also be known as multi-layer bandaging. Short stretch bandages applied over a foam or 'fluffy' padding layer.

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

Thanks Lynora for explaining to me. How many types of bandaging are there? Is bandaging better than the sleeve? And how does MLD compare with the pressure treatments? Sorry for asking so many questions.

[Rebec in reply to Lynora]

Thanks Lynora for explaining to me. How many types of bandaging are there? Is bandaging better than the sleeve? And how does MLD compare with the pressure treatments? Sorry for asking so many questions.

[galtyboi]

Hi ,I am using ''Farrow Wraps'' for my swollen legs and feet .These have been given to me by the hospital i am attending and i find them very effective in keeping the swelling down .I was measured for them at the hospital and within a week they were delivered to my home .There are lots of you tube videos on how to wrap your limbs with ''Farrow Wraps''.They are easier than bandaging .

[Rebec in reply to galtyboi]

I am only seeing a proper lymphoedema nurse on 12th September and hopefully then I'll be shown different ways in dealing with the problem. Thank you for sharing your experience. I have received bandages so I feel I'll have to try them first although I have no idea if they are intended to be washed or thrown away when dirty.

[whisker5 in reply to Rebec]

Hiya Rebec -guess that you have probably got the 3 layer bandaging/wrapping system sorted by now but if not: stepup-speakout.org/wrappin... or

click bsnmedical.co.uk/fileadmin/... on this page:

bsnmedical.co.uk/products/a...

[Rebec in reply to whisker5]

Hi. Thanks for trying to help. I haven't yet used them as I didn't want to use the time the nurses spent with me on MLD so I tried to open the pages but I encountered some difficulties. I'll try again later in the day. Thanks again.

[62carolo]

I use juxtafit wrap rather than a sleeve and I have found it very good at maintaining shape although it can be difficult to maintain even pressure

[whisker5]

Also could try: lnni.org/files/Self%20Banda...

[Rebec]

Thank you very much. It's very informative. I'm trying to decide when to use all those bandages sent by a lovely lady from the States. I'm worried that I'll start bandaging my hand and I'll soon stop doing it because I might do it with too much tension. Never seen being done as I think that at least in the UK, people use the elasticated sleeves instead if these bandages.

[Rebec]

Thank you very much. It's very informative. I'm trying to decide when to use all those bandages sent by a lovely lady from the States. I'm worried that I'll start bandaging my hand and I'll soon stop doing it because I might do it with too much tension. Never seen being done as I think that at least in the UK, people use the elasticated sleeves instead if these bandages.

[fletzie]

I am in the United States and have lower leg lymphedema in both legs. Wraps have been a means to getting the swelling down enough to use ReadyWraps which are velcro shut wraps I put on and off myself. I find the wrapping either way to be pain relieving and comforting. Wrapping at a clinic enable the removal of 30 lbs of fluid from my legs and restored my ability to walk better.

[Rebec in reply to fletzie]

Happy to hear it's been of great help. I'm using elasticated sleeves which I am meant to put on first thing in the morning. I also got, but don't use it as often as I should, a machine which massages the affected limbs. It's not a cheap machine to buy but it comes at the end to be less expensive than paying for MLD.