Compression Sleeve and Other Precautions

Shannon:

August 3, 2009

This week I have to try and get my compression sleeve so that I can graduate from my physical therapy. Wearing the compression sleeve is another one of the precautions that I have to take from having the ancillary lymph node dissection. I will need to wear it while flying and while playing sports or doing any other repetitive activity with my right arm.

Another precaution that one should take after having this surgery is getting a medical ID tag. Your tag should include the word lymph-edema and any other medical issues or allergies that you might have. The first thing they will do if you are injured in an accident and have had lymph nodes removed is pump you full of antibiotics to prevent infection. Since I have an allergy to penicillin this is important to note on my medical ID tag.

This past weekend I took care of getting my medical ID tag. There is a really good website that offers the medical ID tags along with pretty beaded bracelets and charms to make it cute and fashionable. http://www.laurenshope.com/While the idea of this appeals to me greatly I found that the bracelets themselves are way overpriced. I essentially make and sell the same interchangeable beaded bands for my watches on my website and only charge $9 a band v. $50-$80 for a band on the medical ID website. I ended up ordering my ID tag and using my own bands for the watches which worked out quite well. 

But back to the compression sleeve. I was able to pick up the compression sleeve the same day that I went in for it. One thing that I found was that my insurance did not cover any part of the compression sleeve and gauntlett. I ended up spending $120 which everything considered is not too horrible. It is not the most comfortable thing I have ever worn and while talking to my mother on the phone she came up with the perfect analogy for it. It is Spanx for your arm. 

I decided to get a nude color instead of getting a fancy color since the nude will go with anything I wear. The compression sleeves are available in a variety of lovely colors including pink, lavender, and mint green. However, while the colors are pretty and can make you feel like the sleeve is more like an accessory instead of a necessity, the nude is really more practical. After all it goes with all of my shoes!

Audacity: The Art of Boldness

Shannon:

August 1, 2009

Today I started a daily tradition that I believe I will continue. I looked up the synonyms for the word “boldness”. I loved the list of words that came up. Also in my search for boldness, synonyms for the words “audacity”, “chutzpah”, and ”assurance” came up as associated words with boldness. Here are some of my favorite synonyms under boldness, audacity, and assurance:

1. Chutzpah
2. Courage
3. Daring
4. Dauntlessness
5. Determination
6. Aplomb
7. Faith
8. Poise
9. Trust
10. Valor

I have had blessed assurance through my diagnosis, subsequent tests, surgeries, and treatment. I also had boldness when talking and dealing with my doctors. I find that I am going to need audacity when I have to do some of the things that make me feel a little foolish. Some of the things that might make me feel a little foolish are the precautions I now have to take.

There are many precautions that you have to take when you have had an ancillary lymph node dissection (removal of the lymph nodes). My lymph node dissection was on my right side under my arm so some of my precautions are related specifically to the right arm. Here is a very helpful link to the precautionshttp://www.breastcancer.org/tips/lymphedema/avoid.jsp .

The risk of infection is the main reason for many of the precautions listed. So now I need to avoid being poked, bitten, scratched or cut now. So with this in mind here comes my need for audacity. I went to a crab-feast today. Now anyone who has ever picked steamed crabs knows that you get tiny little cuts all over your hands. So to prevent myself from getting lymphedema I have to wear a glove on my right hand.

Maryland Steamed Crab...Yum!

So here I am. Yes, I got laughed at a little, but the same audacity that allows me to wear neon pink maryjane stilettos allows me to rock my new look. I have to say that I wish I wore a glove on the other hand as well. I did not get any cuts on the hand I wore the glove on and when I was finished I just wipped off the glove and viola! Finished.

I of course tied in my outfit so that I matched my glove. I wore a bright blue lace cami under this top and a blue and silver tooled leather belt. My shoes unfortunately were downgraded to mere flip flops…it is a dirty crabfeast after all!

No matter how silly you may feel the most important thing is to enjoy yourself and your time with your family and friends and of course to do it with style!