Tag Archives: update

What would you like to see on the site?

Ever since I started my other blog 42nd Chance I haven’t been as active here, and I really feel badly about that. I want to make some changes on how this blog is run and make a genuine effort to update it more often, because I love the lymphedema community and want to help make it grow.

This blog will continue to be a mix of lymphedema management tips and my own personal stories, but I want you as the readers to become more involved: let me know what sort of topics you’d like to see discussed; become a part of the discussion by leaving comments; send in your stories to be featured on the site. We’re all in this together and the more we learn about one another, the less alone we feel!

Let me know what you think.

Stay elevated,
Alexa

My garments are in!

After three weeks of wrapping, my garments have come in: I’m now the proud owner of a brand-new Mediven stocking and a Solaris Tribute nighttime garment. Wahoo!

I’ve had both open- and closed-toe stockings before but I didn’t find either to be particularly comfortable, so I decided to go a different route with my new one. I’ve never had a stocking quite like this – I love my new Mediven! My new Medi is closed-toe but each toe is separately enclosed, with sort of a “toe socks” aesthetic. Having each toe separate gives it that much more individual compression, which I need because my toes and forefoot are my most affected areas. It’s super comfy, too – the team at GBMC and Caring Touch Medical did a great job measuring me for a custom fit. I’m looking forward to ordering these in a couple more colors when I go for my follow up appointment next week.

For nightwear, I got a Solaris Tribute. I’ve had a Tribute before and so I’m already pretty used to it, although my new one is a little different: it’s colorful! Solaris offers the Tribute in a small variety of colors now – a simple pleasure for us lymphies – and I got mine in a pretty shade of navy blue with two different sleeves: one jade green, and one red. I also got a set of toecaps to wear at nighttime for some extra compression. So far so good although I’ve been taking it off in the middle of the night, in my sleep. Not quite sure what that’s about but I think after a few more nights of wearing it I’ll get adjusted to the new fit!

I’ve been really consistent about wearing my stockings these past couple months, and getting new ones is strengthening my resolve to continue doing so. If I am able to wear my garment and have my leg wrapped during summer – the most difficult season for lymphies – then I can keep it up during the fall and winter!

What types of garments do you have? Which ones do you prefer?

Faces of Lymphedema Project

Hey, everyone! I’ve got super exciting news to share with you, but I’m going to need your help to make it happen. I’ve decided to start a project – The Faces of Lymphedema Project – that will become a new feature on the site. I want to create a page that shows all of us celebrating our lives and not letting our medical condition get in the way of doing the things that we love. The most exciting part is that it will feature the real faces of lymphedema – all of you!!

I need my lovely lymphie readers to help make this happen by sending in some submissions for the page. Here’s what I would like from you:

  • A picture of you – preferably of your face!
  • A small blurb about yourself and the things you enjoy doing – please keep the lymphedema talk to a minimum!
  • Another picture of you doing something you love or something you are proud of – be it a picture of you at dinner with your friends, a painting you did, or a beautiful cake you made… share it with us!

Too often we get so caught up in our lymphedema that we forget that there are so, so many other great things about our lives. We are more than this disease. We are more than our compression garments, and our embarrassment, and our discomfort. We are beautiful people who lead beautiful lives, so why not celebrate?!

Obviously, there is no pressure to share. If you would like to send text but no picture, that’s perfectly fine! Please share as much as you feel comfortable. Once I collect enough, I’ll launch the page – but I will continue to accept more submissions whenever they come in :)

Send your submissions to this email address: facesoflymphedema@gmail.com
I look forward to hearing from you!

xoxo Alexa

What’s Coming Up..

Hey, lymphies!
I have some big plans for some upcoming posts on the blog, and I wanted to share them with you so that you can get just as excited as I am about them. So, here’s what I had in mind…
-Fashion, clothing, & style. How does lymphedema affect your style, and how can you have clothes work for you rather than against you? This post would also include pictures of yours truly trying out some tips to draw attention away from your lymphedema and on you, instead!
-Exercise. What are some exercises you can do with lymphedema? How does exercise affect it, and vice versa?
-Food. Which foods should you avoid? I’m lookin’ at you, sodium..
-Travel. Traveling with lymphedema can be a pain, but hey, it can be done! I’ve been to eight countries and was able to manage my lymphedema. I’m going to share some travel tips as well as exercises you can do on the plane or train to keep your circulation moving.
-Shoes. Suchh a hot topic for us lymphies, and definitely the most common question I get from your emails. Shoes will be discussed in abundance, including the best kinds to wear as well as the comfiest. Also: socks.
-Routine. What’s your daily routine? I think it’s safe to say that the lymphies who visit this site have a wide range of practices, if some of us even have a routine at all. I want to talk about mine (and my lack thereof) as well as hear about yours. I also want to discuss what’s a “manageable management routine” that can be done for those of us who feel like we don’t have a lot of time to devote to care.

As always, I want to hear your comments on these, as well as give me suggestions for future posts. I’m so sorry I’m not keeping up with this as regularly as I should! School has been busy, and I’ve come down with a bug, which of course makes everything about ten times more miserable. But please – keep sending in your comments and emails, and tell me what it is you want to see discussed on the blog! Let’s get a conversation going :)
xox Alexa

I’m still here!

Hey, everybody!

I’m soo sorry I haven’t posted in a while – things have been super busy lately with school and such. I know it’s not an excuse, but I want to let you know that I’m serious about keeping up this blog and adding lots of cool stuff, like tips and tricks on living with your lymphedema.

Also: I want to hear from you!! Please leave comments, or send me an email! Let me know the kind of stuff you’d like to see discussed, or share your story. I love receiving comments from you :)

PS: Over the weekend I went to the Dew Tour in Killington, Vermont. I got to see snowboarders and skiers compete, and it was a lot of fun. However, it was SO COLD. Like, negative thirteen degrees kinda cold. Brrr. Check out a couple pics below: