- Keep your appointments as scheduled, and be on time. Treatments are generally scheduled on consecutive days at the same time each day. This is to ensure consistency with your therapy and accuracy with weekly measurements.
- Notify the Lymphedema Care Center of North Florida, Inc. at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment if you need to change the date or time.
- Wear loose clothing and bring larger shoes for lower extremity treatment , so that the compression bandages fit comfortably.
- Wear the bandages as directed by your therapist. Most patients are instructed to wear their bandages for at least 22 hours, removing them for two hours prior to your scheduled appointment. This should leave ample time for personal hygiene and travel time. You may be required to purchase a second set of compression bandages for the purpose of hygiene. It is mandatory that you bring your bandages with you each treatment session. Please roll your bandages prior to therapy; this will help with finger dexterity and wrist motion, as well as allow more time for your treatment. Hand or toe bandages (Elastomull) and stockinettes are replaced daily; however, they can be washed and used during your practice sessions and on weekends while at home.
- Please refer to the "Care of the Bandages" insert you will receive from our office.
- Do the exercises as instructed by your therapist.
- Notify your therapist if you experience any unusual symptoms. Your therapist will tell you what to be aware of and when to call.
By working as a team, we can expect favorable results. Please remember, it is of prime importance that you continue to enjoy your life to the fullest extent. Lymphedema is like any other chronic disease, the risk of it worsening is always present; and unfortunately there is no cure for it, only therapy. To allow it to become the focus of your existence is not only unhealthy but will produce a negative influence on other aspects of your life. In the majority of cases, the limb reduces in size. However, there may be contributing factors that may influence the results you obtain.
