Slightly damp skin and compression stockings...

...just do not go! Again, this a relatively simple equation, but it really does cause an issue with when you're going to have a wash. And as I type this sentiment, I sit here thinking "That really does sound stupid!", but as we lymphies need to try and keep our skin as clean as possible and wear a compression garment, just how do we get round the need to wash/need to put on a compression garment dilemma?

I usually have a bath at the end of the day, to avoid having to put a compression stocking on again, but yesterday I'd been gardening at the allotment and was burning some weeds, so got very smokey and mucky in the process. I went in the shower as soon as I got home, but it was too early in the day to leave my stocking off. Even trying to get as dry as possible, there was much wriggling and struggling with the stocking. After some time, the stocking went on, begrudgingly. Talcum powder helps a bit, but causes such of a mess.

It's actually not just having a bath that causes problems, as swimming creates similar issues. In the humid atmosphere of a poolside changing room, I can never get dry enough to get the stocking on without discomfort. I have to admit to going home not wearing it in the past, but to be honest I've pretty much given up swimming to avoid these difficulties.

I realise that lots of people have this daily struggle, regardless of the fact that they have nice dry skin when they try to put on a garment. Some individuals battle with putting on stockings and sleeves every day, those with mobility problems or difficulties with their hands finding it sometimes impossible to get a garment on comfortably. I simply resolve to wash late in the evening to avoid the damp skin vs stocking battle - and to try and keep clean in the meantime!

The First Bite of Summer

OK, so I have lymphoedema in my left leg, which means my lymphatic system doesn't work properly and if I don't wear a compression stocking every day my leg will swell up. In black and white it looks very simple, but there are all sorts of complications and considerations impacting on my day to day living. But that's just what you try to do. You live with lymphoedema and try to make sure that it doesn't take over your life.

At this time of year I have to start thinking about wearing insect repellent to bed. Yes, this does sound completely ridiculous, as I'm not living in some sub-tropical, mosquito-infested paradise. Lymphoedema means that you have to try and keep your skin in as good condition as possible, and try not to get cuts, grazes and bites, in fact anything that could let the bacteria in and potentially cause an infection. Cellultis is NOT the lymphie's friend and I do go to great lengths to try and avoid it. As I am taken to be a tasty meal by every biting insect in a three mile radius, in the Summer I moisturise with aftersun containing insect repellent at bedtime, meaning I'm maintaining the condition of my skin and repelling the biters at the same time. Last night it was actually very chilly and the windows hadn't been open during the day, so I never thought there was need to use the repellent stuff. I woke up with a large bite on my hip. Where was it hiding? And how had it survived the cold? In it's thermal undies, just waiting to get it's teeth on me? Luckily it wasn't in a place effected by my lymphoedema, so I'm not anticipating a problem, but it does indicate the time is here for insect repellent when I'm sitting out in the day and at night. Sigh.

This is just a small vignette of what it's like to live with lymphoedema. My blog is actually part of a much bigger project - more to follow!