Content for Patient Info/Letter Regarding Bandages
If bandaging is part of your treatment, please bring your clean bandages rolled flat and tightly to each treatment session. If you choose to not wear shoes with your bandages and they are extremely soiled, you may need to purchase an alternate pair of bandages so that you can wash one and wear one. You will need to purchase lotion, “Eucerin” or “Aquaphor” is preferred, but “Nivea,” “Curel,” or “Lubriderm” are fine. Anything without perfumes or dyes will work. If you use a specific lotion for particularly sensitive skin – that will be fine.
Please bring your bandages and tape (masking tape is fine) and lotion to each session. BRING TO EACH SESSION:
BANDAGING materials,
SHOES (that can go over bandages)
LOTION, and
TAPE
Without compression, the swelling will return – the bandages are critical to the success of treatment. Compression with foam pads and/or bandages should be worn 22 hours a day. The longer you tolerate staying in the bandages each day, the quicker treatment ends. Ideally you will wear bandages until just before you return to therapy, then remove, shower and roll bandages.
Generic garment vendors include ameswalker.com, discount surgical.com and there are others. Your therapist may recommend a custom garment if necessary due to your limb shape and density of the tissue. If you have Medicare, it currently does not pay for these garments, so you may need to save up for them although we will try find the most cost effective option for you. This is not a local or state issue. For more information on this, see the http://lymphedematreatmentact.org or http://monarchce.com/dev/dev/navigating-medicare-as-a-lymphedema-patient/.
For all other insurance, such as Aetna, Cigna, BC/BS, you MAY have insurance benefits for garments, bandages, etc. It is your responsibility to contact a DME vendor in your area and or your insurance to verify. Your therapist can send appropriate measurements to these vendors and help you pick out the garment and fabric you need.
