Hot tubs?!?

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Hi, can you use hot tubs, just that Im off to florida (yippeee - need a break) on Saturday and my parents have a lovely hot tub in their room and nice ones by pool, hoping if I keep bad arm out that this shouldnt be a problem??

Also I dont wear my sleeve that much, maybe twice a week at work or driving long distances. Will wear if for the flight and few hours at other side and was then hoping I could ditch it apart from day when go to park on rides and maybe excess shopping (but not planning on carrying many bags!!).

Any advice?!

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Hi Lisaf

Florida - sounds lovely!!!

I think current advice ranges from ‘use briefly and keep your bad arm out of the water’ to ‘don’t use at all’.

I think that, like many lymphoedema issues, it might be a case of weighing things up. Things like:

How bad is your arm usually?

Does the littlest thing make it swell, or is it fairly stable?

And just how hot is the hot tub?

I think (but don’t quote me on this, because this is from memory only), that anything above blood heat is a definite no-no for your arm and a few degrees below is in fact advisable as a maximum, anyway. But someone else may have definite info’ and a precise figure.

I think if I were you, I would err heavily on the side of caution and try a really brief dip, with your arm out, first off.

If there’s one time you DON’T want to wear a sleeve, it’s on holiday, isn’t it? If you don’t normally need to wear a sleeve all the time anyway, chances are you might not need to on holiday, either. And if you’re going to be in the pool, that will really do your arm good.

Good idea to wear it for shopping and rides, as you say.

I suppose the other big precaution is not getting sunburnt or bitten/scratched…apparently, you can get sunburnt through a sleeve, yes, even a Medi corrugated cardboard special.

Have you got any prophylactic anti-biotics (cellulitis) from your GP just in case? They might be a good idea.

Have a FAB time!

X

S

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Thanks for info will be at docs tomorrow so will check out!!!

Thanks, knew you would have info. My arm is swollen but generally stays swollen a bit, doesnt seem to go up or down depending on anything I do, stable!

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Hi lisaf

This is a little off-topic, as I don’t really know anything about hot tubs, but one more important thing is to use a suitable mosquito repellent on your affected arm while you’re in Florida, and keep your arm covered at dawn & dusk (which comes much earlier in the evening than here in the UK), when mossies are most active. Florida can be pretty humid at this time of year, with plenty of biting flies & bugs, especially if you travel a bit inland from the coasts. Please don’t worry too much, but do make sure you’re “covered” with sprays & clothing. And have a great time!
Marilyn x