Hi,

If you get a tool called a "Freshette" you won't have to take your garment off.  I used this when I had my thigh PS done.  I had open wounds that needed the wet dry treatment.  Since they were near my groin I would have to change them everytime I went pee.  With the freshette, they never got wet.  I found mine at a hiking store.

Here is a web link : http://www.freshette.com/  that tells you about it.  I know REI sells them or you could order one online.

Kelli

The first time I heard lymphedema was from my GYN, years ago. My WLS was mildly knowledgeable about it, he was at the same hospital (Ohio State Medical) as the doctor who I finally sought out for help with the lymphedema...a vascular surgeon who got me a pump, and suggested MLD from a physical therapist...he NEVER mentioned lipedema...a friend who I met on here and/or a yahoo group had lipedema and of course it sounded like what I had also. When I moved to Miami 5 years ago I saw a lymph specialist Dr. McDonald and he told me first thing...you have lipedema and lymphedema then asked if my WLS had told me surgery would only help me lose weight above the waist...well of course he didn't tell me that...but honestly the weight loss above the waist has at least reduced the pressure on the lymph system...and the LE is better managed....the lipedema...ah well...who knows.

What is the garment's name?  I bought ones through the hanes outlet (not fitted for me, etc) and are so tight I hate wearing them.

My legs, especially my thighs are still huge, I just got back from clothes shopping and feel like chopping off my arms and legs because both make fititng into clothes hell. But while WLS didn't solve the lipedema problem it has greatly helped me by losing what I call the weight that was actually my fault....I've been regaining the past 2 years and of course it's in my legs/hips mostly. Tell me how I'm exercising and eating better than I ever did pre-op and yet gaining more per year than I ever did pre-op..the answer of course is Lipedema. And it's doctors and the world who don't understand...

Hi Mary - Congrats on your weight loss!

Weeping + edema is really not a good sign.  When your edema goes untreated (and by untreated I mean you aren't using manual lymph drainage and compression and physical therapy to reduce the edema and then maintain the reduction with compression garments) the skin will break down. Weeping, open wounds, ulcers etc are the result, and with the edema the wounds are very slow to heal (with severe edema, they sometimes don't heal).

I would strongly, strongly recommend you get tested to know the source of your edema - it could be vascular or lymph, and the treatments vary.  For example - if it's Lymphedema, one of the side effects is very dry skin (which can make skin more likely to break down) - so you need to use a quality lotion and apply religiously to keep the skin hydrated and supple.

In my case, the weight loss has improved my Lymphedema, but it has not eliminated it.  I still use compression garments (though i can now use off the shelf socks) and ensure I'm caring for the skin religiously.

Here's some links you might like to check out - but please don't delay in getting proper treatment for the underlying cause of the wound - otherwise you could end up with more of them.  It does get better - but you need to treat it first.  The most frustrating thing is that Lymphedema is not generally well understood even by medical professionals - so you really need to push your doctor to help you to deal with the edema, and not just the weeping skin.

www.medicinenet.com/breast_cancer_and_lymphedema/article.htm

www.lymphnotes.com/

Best of luck!