Survived Vacation!!

[GabbiD]

I just want to thank everyone for the advice they gave me prior to vacation. Lucky for me I was visiting the Pacific Northwest of the United States. While it was 100 degrees at home in Iowa, the temps ranged between 55-75 where we were. I wore my socks most days. Definitely on our drivong and flying days. There was one hot day I wore shorts and didnt wear them, and one day I wore sandals. It was so chilly I only walked barefoot on the beach one time. We walked 15k steps per day so that helped. I wrapped my legs most nights to keep swelling in check. I will wrap at night for the next week too to get back down to my usual size. I know I should have been more compliant but I did my best.

One observation going through airport security. Both times I got patted down on my affected leg. I found that really interesting.

I am very thankful for the encouragement of this group! Here is a pic of my family. I was so glad I didn't pass on this trip to visit my brother!

[Lynora]

What a fabulous picture! So glad you had a good time - despite the lymphoedema!

(We went to Oregon & Washington (state) in 1992 - stayed in beachside house - lay in bed at night listening to the whales singing!)

[GabbiD in reply to Lynora]

Yes! We saw more whales than we ever had, but all the mountain peaks were hiding in the clouds.

[GabbiD in reply to Lynora]

One thing I noticed is a giant bruise on my affected leg. I banged it on a bed corner early in the week. And it is spreading through my leg. Should I be concerned? I have never done anything to my affected leg since being diagnosed.

[Lynora in reply to GabbiD]

I would get it checked out - just in case!

[Kallenubble]

So glad you had a great trip to the Northwest! This looks like the Oregon Caost to me - beautiful!! I’m glad you enjoyed the temperatures too. I live in Maine and the summers don’t get bad, but it’s so much harder to deal with a muggy 80something degrees with stockings than in shorts! I’m wearing longer dresses now, which feels much more bearable than light pants, and sometimes I put my stockings on cold and damp, which helps ( hope that doesn’t ruin their compression power?). Did you feel any difference going into the Pacific? When my swelling was just in the ankle and calf, swimming or even just wading in colder salt water really helped me. Will see if it works on the full leg too - it’s finally bearable enough to swim here. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

[GabbiD in reply to Kallenubble]

No. I didnt really notice any difference. The one day I went a full day without socks you could tell my leg had swelled, so I think I would have lymph edema no matter where I live. We did walk 5-7 miles each day. I think that helped.

Now I am back in Iowa. The humidity is a killer. My socks are so hot, and it is so jot outside. It really limits what I want to do.

[Lynora in reply to GabbiD]

Store your garments in the freezer for a couple of hours (or overnight in the fridge) before donning!

[Bev-1966 in reply to Kallenubble]

I keep a squirty bottle of water in fridge and spray legs when I get too hot, I have bilateral full leg lymphoedema.

[GabbiD in reply to Bev-1966]

Do you wear pants all summer? I just couldn't today. It was so hot. Even in the AC. I will wrap my legs tonight but I just couldnt bear my socks all day.

[Bev-1966 in reply to GabbiD]

I wear them from about 8am till about 7pm I sit under parasol and just spray legs with cold water spray when it gets to much.