The Lymphedema Fashionista

When dressing up for more formal events, there are a lot of options for covering-up your compression. Plus, with most attendees wearing similar short dresses, you might even out-dress them with your different but fashionable look. For parties or other casual events, I typically wear a dress or skirt with tights underneath. If tights aren't really fitting in with my outfit, though, I sometimes just embrace my visible compression. Long dresses are perfect for proms and dances, but often can be a bit hard to pull off or are too fancy for less-formal events. Jumpsuits are a great alternative to long dresses. In my opinion, they look upscale without being overly dressy. For last year's prom, I wore a floor-length dress like many of my classmates, but paired it with Doc Martens as opposed to heels. This year I was planning on wearing a jumpsuit to prom and a long dress to an awards ceremony, but all end-of-year events were canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. When it comes to mo

Like someone on a diet taking a day off to eat junk food, I call the times I go without compression “cheat days.”  Perhaps it is just a couple hours out of the house where I want to wear a specific outfit without my compression. Or maybe it is just a one-day break from the time consuming and exhausting daily management of my lymphedema. Whatever the reason, it can be healthy for your emotional well-being to take a day off from compression every once in a while.  However, it is very important to note that you should have confidence in your control of the situation before taking a cheat day. Try to resist the urges to go without compression if it will hurt you in the long-run. I have a pretty good feel for my limits when it comes to my swelling. I know that I can use lymphedema management techniques to return to my baseline size after a few hours up and about compression-free, or the span of the day if it’s particularly low-key.  Additionally, for every cheat day you take, I recommend tr

Being in a pool or the ocean can feel very freeing as a lymphedema patient; since water provides natural compression, no garments are needed. The problem, though, lies in the time spent out of the water. When spending several hours at the beach, any time spent out of compression can quickly catch up to you. To stay on top of swelling, it is important to continue wearing your garments. For trips to the beach, I recommend wearing a toeless compression stocking if possible. This allows you to wear flip flops and roll up just the foot part if you want to feel the water without going all the way in.  If you do go in the water, it is best to wait until the end of your trip to the beach, as it is extremely difficult to get back into compression afterwards, and it is important to limit the time out of it.  Personally, I find that I have foot circulation problems and nerve pain when wearing purchased toeless compression stockings. However, I cut off the toe of an old stocking, and put clear nai

My first few summers with lymphedema, I wore skinny jeans all summer long. Needless to say, in 90+ degree weather, it did not go well. Over the years, I have become much more experimental and creative in finding a happy medium between comfort and style. A few years ago, I discovered wide-legged women’s pants made in lightweight materials available at stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Old Navy. Also sometimes referred to as “flowy pants” or “beach pants,” this is a much cooler and more comfortable summer alternative to jeans. With a wide range of colors, patterns, and styles, these pants can be worn for casual recreation, such as a trip to the beach or the park, or for a formal occasion. While it may seem like shorts are not a possibility for those who are embarrassed by their compression, wearing tights under shorts is a cute and simple summer look. I recommend starting with solid colors like black, navy blue, and grey, but I also love to mix it up with prints. My favorite pair of ti

A little over a year after finishing cancer treatment for the first time, I was in physical therapy working to rebuild the strength I had lost during my year of chemotherapy and radiation when my physical therapist noticed my left leg seemed a bit larger than the right. The difference was slight, but noticeable.  Fearing it was a blood clot, I visited my primary care doctors, but there were no other indications of one, so that cause was ruled out. After close to a month of elevation and rest, the swelling in my leg still had not gone away. With a good amount of research and consultations with my oncology care team, it was decided that I probably had lymphedema. I got measured for my first compression stocking soon after that, and began to wear it every day. Embarrassed by its appearance, for the next few years I only wore clothing that covered it, but it was at the expense of my comfort. Not even some of my closest friends knew about my lymphedema and compression, and even in 90