I first posted this a couple of days ago in the ‘Lymphoedema’ section, but it is very quiet there at the moment, so i hope you don’t mind me posting it here.
In particular, can you recommend gardening gloves? I am in the early stages of the ‘beat the BC’ process, having had a WLE and SNB just over 2 weeks ago, will see oncologist in August about chemo. Unfortunately, it is my dominant arm which is affected - I have a large garden and am very concerned about how I will cope with it (I am on my own). I am already in the habit of covering up, not being out in the hottest part of the day, and wearing gloves for most jobs, but have occasionally (pre-treatment) had thorn pricks through gloves, or scratches, which in the past were not a concern, but I must be even more careful now.
As you know gardening gloves must not let thorns through, but need to be thin enough to be able to grasp a small weed/plant effectively. Also, as I am likely to be reaching past thorny things, they need to have a long cuff to protect the wrist below the sleeve.
Any other useful gardening experience would be very welcome.
I bought a good quality thick leather pair of gardening gloves, but as you say it makes it hard to do some things. So I often only use the one on my affected arm, and leave the other hand free.
I haven’t see any arm length ones, but I do wear a compression sleeve which gives some protection, and a thick coat or fleece if an am doing something particularly likely to cause scratches.
Hi LuckyLass, I had a Mx with LD recon and SLNB exactly a year ago and developed lymphoedema a few weeks later. Thankfully it seemed to be a temporary post op blockage and went away in March but I am very aware it may return at any time. I use a gauntlet glove by Town and Country, they go more than 1/2 way up my forearm and are made of a good soft but thick leather. I have used them for a few years with no problems. I saw your post in the other section where you mentioned antibiotics. I got a phone appt with my GP and after explaining what I needed he was only too glad to give me a course. I am also quite aware of insect bites and use a jungle strength repellent on my arm. Maybe overkill but I’ve been bitten in other places but not there.
Hope you find your gloves. Helen xx
Not sure if anyone could help, my wife is currently suffering from Lymphedema, so the swelling in her left arm is pretty bad, she has a standard glove which does not do a great deal we were wondering if we were to pay if there is some kind of advanced glove that can be brought?