The garment has a pee-hole in it very wide, so its easily moved to the side not to mess it up.  I started PT at a local hospital for Lymphedema and they were totally impressed with the garment. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your story is encouraging. I just got out of the hospital because I have lymph in my right leg. Even tho' it is mild (swelling in the calf) My sister has it in her legs like yours. It took courage for you to post the pics and I am glad you took the steps to look like you do now. No one except someone going throught this can understand the problem we face. We are in a 2% majority of people who have this condition, that is why the doctors won't spend the time or money to find a cure, but I believe one is out there. Keep your head high and be proud of yourself.
Gwen

Nan,

This is such great news!  Congratulations, I'm really happy you bought it.  You looked great in it too!

Debbie

I just wanted to say I feel for you , cause I have it in one leg and I hurt with it I can only imagine how you hurt. no, one around here where I live don't know how to deal wit it or what caused it. I have had it since 1996, along with some other health problems i can no longer work. I will keep you in my prayers.

Honestly, I took my Circaids to the hospital, but didn't end up using them at all ****il I left to go home).  My surgeon's program is pretty aggressive about dealing with the potential for blood clots after surgery (puts their patients on anti-clotting meds - heparin I think it was), had us up walking every few hours (just short walks, so not long enough to be worried about edema), and while I was in bed had inflatable compression 'sleeves' on my legs, so there was no need for my compression devices.

They probably won't want you wrapped in bandages while you're in the hospital - they need to check circulation etc and that's hard if your feet/legs are invisible.  Plus in the operating room they don't allow any foreign materials that could harbor bacteria etc.  I'd ask if it is possible for your LE therapist to come wrap you back up before you go home, because bending over to do it yourself is going to be pretty unlikely... your stomach will feel like one big, painful bruise.

Bandaging is the most effective and lowest cost treatment for LE... for me, since I live alone and have a really busy life (work full time, study, volunteer etc) wrapping was too long and difficult a process - so I went with the Circaids - but it sounds like a great option for you.

Good luck with your consult - be prepared to explain in detail what you need with your LE... most surgeons, doctors and nurses know very little about the needs of LE patients, so you need to be very specific about what is involved.