Hi there. I have got several medi sleeves which work ok for me but they are a bit scratchy and noticeable. I know that some of you have other makes and wondered what they were and how you can order? I’m quite fair skinned and wondered if there were sleeves that are lighter (in colour and weight) to the medi ones? Also, how do you know what size to get? Do they have the same sizes as the medi ones?
Thanks for any advice. Happy Christmas and new year everyone.
I’m using medi at moment and find them the same. I did have a ‘Juzo’ and this was far better, softer and in colour. The lymph nurse changed me to medi when I had to use a made to measure sleeve (this one covers hand as well as arm), but am hoping to return to a Juzo when this is sorted. There are several sites on web - lymphedivas is one and I think you can get your measurements from your nurse to order. I would think you would also need to have the correct compression.
Hope this helps and Happy Christmas.
Take care
Lynni x
It is expensive and time consuming to get lymphoedema sleeves privately as they need all your arm measurements and you would need to get a letter/order form from your lymphoedema clinic.
Doesn’t your clinic offer other makes as mine do as they all vary in length of sleeve, the compression areas and colours?
It is so miserable isn’t it - having to cope with a big arm that is heavy and painful and then the sleeve is so obvious.
Hope others have more useful advice than I have
Kate
Hi Hatts
Kate is right - getting your own sleeves can be expensive, but sometimes it’s worth it to be able to wear something just a little less ugly sometumes.
The ‘bog standard’ Medi is quite hideous, isn’t it? I think the product is a poor offering myself - I’m glad I don’t still wear them. I think having a cheese grater strapped to your arm would be more comfortable.
There are lots of different types of sleeves and many are available in all sorts of colours. Unfortunately, many these are not normally available on the NHS (who seem to stick with Medi sleeves as much as possible - they must be cheap!)
Have a look at the new website ‘stepup-speakout.org’ - there are links to manufacturers such as Juzo and organisations such as lymphedivas who do coloured, glitzy, patterned, less obvious and more comfortable sleeves.
I couldn’t get on with Medi sleeves myself - they were too long, irritated my skin and the compression was too high for my tennis elbow. I did eventually manage to get Haddenhams Venex sleeves via the NHS - their beige (whoever calls it ‘skintone’ is taking the mickey) is better than many and the white was also available at no cost, too. Haddenhams sleeves are actually made in Germany by a company called Schiebler and are also available ‘off the peg’ in, I believe, black, blue-grey, navy and chocolate brown, although I don’t think the NHS will supply any of these other colours.
If you want to buy them yourself, you will have to be sure to get the sizing AND compression right. Some UK based suppliers/manufacturers will not sell direct to a patient without confirmation from a qualified lymphoedema nurse/private lymphoedema therapist of exactly what you need, although it is possible to order sleeves for yourself from abroad (mainly the US) via the internet. If you have a helpful lymphoedema nurse, she may be able to liaise with the manufacturer to make sure. If not, a private lymphoedema therapist will also be able to measure your arm(s) properly and maybe even take care of the ordering for you.
Hope this helps a bit.
And Happy Xmas to everyone on the lymphoedema boards.
X
S
Thanks for your advice everyone. It’s a minefield isn’t it! I will do some research. I like the sound of the Haddenhams one Bahons and will look into those.
x
You can get made to measured sleeves on the NHS, made by a company called Jobst. The physiotherapist at the lymphoedema clinic will not measure me for one but i have treatment in Austria each year and I use their measurements. I just asked my GP to give me a prescription for 2. The only problem is I only get measured for one annually.