As many of you know, March is Lymphedema Awareness Month. Each year, lebontadipio supports the lymphedema community through advocacy, education, and giving back. This year, we are giving away a $100 lebontadipio gift card to one lucky winner! You can find the rules and enter below.

What Is Lymphedema?

First, for those who are unfamiliar with lymphedema, here is some background information: Lymphedema is a chronic lymphatic disease that is characterized by swelling (edema), that is caused by a collection of too much lymph fluid. It is most commonly in the arms or legs but it can happen in other parts of the body as well. This swelling may cause pain and limit how well the affected area moves. This condition affects up to 10 million Americans and over 100 million people worldwide, yet is still unknown to many doctors and patients. Some people are born with lymphedema, this is called primary lymphedema. Most common is secondary lymphedema which is caused by the removal of or damage to your lymph nodes following a surgical procedure, often after a breast cancer diagnosis.

Today, there is no cure for lymphedema. However, the lymphedema community has made great strides in awareness to bring this condition to light to find a cure. Award-winning actress, Kathy Bates, developed lymphedema after undergoing a mastectomy. She is now the face of the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN), sharing her story with the world to help others.

World Lymphedema Day

World Lymphedema Day (WLD) is celebrated annually on March 6th. This patient-driven awareness day is filled with incredible support from doctors, patients, lymphedema therapists and many more. The goal is to educate our communities and make cures for lymphedema and lymphatic diseases a global priority. The first ever WLD occurred on March 6, 2016. Since then, the lymphedema community has made great strides in education and awareness.

How Do You Manage Lymphedema?

There is no cure, and without proper management, lymphedema can become a debilitating disease. Lymphedema treatment focuses on reducing the swelling and controlling the pain. Treatments to minimize swelling include: manual lymph drainage (MLD), exercises, staying hydrated, wrapping your arm or leg and the regular use of wearing compression garments. Many people with lymphedema struggle with the idea of having to wear compression stockings or arm sleeves for life, but compression companies are listening and are making options that are as comfortable and stylish as possible. Garments come in numerous colors and patterns to let your personality shine through without anyone ever knowing your wearing compression!

Well-known compression brands like Jobst, Mediven, Sigvaris, and Juzo, all offer compression garments in a wide range of sizes and styles in both the upper and lower extremities. We have fashionistas covered too! There are tons of stylish arm sleeves and stockings out there waiting for you. If you want a fun patterned arm sleeve with a matching glove or gauntlet, LympheDivas is for you. Choose from their ever-expanding range of patterns and colors to add some pizzazz to your wardrobe. Juzo is also hip to fun colors and patterns as well. The Juzo Dream Collection offers new colors for Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter in knee highs, thigh highs, pantyhose, leggings and armsleeves. The Dream Collection is available in 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-50 mmHg in sheer, tie-dye, and opaque styles.

If you struggle to put on traditional compression garments, we have you covered as well. Compression wraps are a great alternative and are easy to put on. More and more people with lymphedema are turning to wraps for their ability to adjust compression levels and are able to accommodate swelling fluctuations. Therapists love them for their ability to fit like a custom garment at a ready-to-wear price. Sigvaris (formally BiaCare), CircAid, the Solaris Collection by L&R, and Juzo, all offer fantastic wraps for the legs and arms. 

lebontadipio understands the difficulty in finding the right garment. Between finding the right fabric or size, it can be an overwhelming process. Give us a call at (+31)262843975 and talk to our team of certified fitters to find the perfect garment for you. We are always happy to help you.

How Can You Get Involved In Lymphedema Awareness Month?

• Local Events: Get involved in upcoming events. LE&RN has a ton of opportunities to get involved in your local community and online. Check out their website to find a chapter near you.
• Online Advocacy: The lymphedema community is growing every day. Join a Facebook group or search on Twitter and Instagram to connect with fellow lymphies! People from all over the world are sharing their journeys through blogs and social media to support one another.
• March 6th is World Lymphedema Day. Share posts online and include #WLD2022 to show your support. Many cities all over the world will be lighting up landmarks in blue in honor of World Lymphedema Day.

Enter to Win Our Giveaway!

One lucky winner will receive a $100 gift card to lebontadipio. Here is how to enter.

• First, leave a comment on this blog (below) about what Lymphedema Awareness Month means to you. 
• Then confirm you left a comment.

The deadline to enter is Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 11:59am EDT. The winner will be announced on Monday, April 4. Good luck!

In honor of Dysautonomia Awareness Month this October, here’s your official spoonie guide, complete with tips and information to educate your friends, families and doctors. Plus, enter to win a $50 gift card in honor of Dysautonomia Awareness Month. See below for entry and details.

FACT: Dysautonomia symptoms can include lightheadedness, fatigue, fainting, blood pooling in the extremities, brain fog, chest pain, heart palpitations, nausea, migraines, shortness of breath and more.

HACK: Laying down or wearing compression socks can provide relief for some symptoms of dysautonomia. Many POTS patients have difficulty standing, so laying down can help your body improve the blood flow and reduce symptoms. A proper diet and exercise regimen can also help regulate symptoms.

FACT: Dysautonomia is an umbrella term for disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which helps to maintain the ideal blood pressure and body temperature, controls your heart rate, breathing, sleep cycles and digestion. Many dysautonomia patients look “normal” because their symptoms are invisible.

HACK: Educate others about the symptoms of dysautonomia and be aware of your own. The severity of symptoms varies between patients. Keep track of medications that work or don’t work, activities that provoke symptoms and note how your body reacts to different situations, so you can stay in control of your symptoms.

FACT: Over 70 million people worldwide have developed various forms of dysautonomia. A common form of dysautonomia is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which can be found in people of all ages and genders. POTS impacts an estimated 1-3 million Americans, and is most often found in women.

HACK: The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Get involved with a local support group or volunteer with an organization like Dysautonomia International or participate in Dysautonomia Awareness Month activities to help fundraise to find a cure.

FACT: Dysautonomia is a relatively unknown condition to doctors and patients.

HACK: Find a doctor or a specialist who is knowledgeable about Dysautonomia or autonomic disorders. It’s important to work with someone who can determine the most appropriate medications for you to effectively manage your symptoms, and who can answer any questions you may have. Finding a doctor who can create an individualized treatment plan is crucial. 

FACT: Although Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is not a rare condition, it is frequently misdiagnosed. The average diagnosis can take almost six years.

HACK: Participate in Dysautonomia Awareness Month this October to educate patients, doctors, friends and family about this condition. Share your story or get involved with organizations like Dysautonomia International and support research to find a cure.

FACT: There is no cure for Dysautonomia.

HACK: Adapt your lifestyle to assure your symptoms do not get worse. Remember to wear compression socks to prevent blood from pooling in your legs and relieve the dizziness or lightheadedness from orthostatic hypotension. Get organized, fight off stress as much as possible, and eat lots of lean proteins, fibers, fruits and vegetables. A high sodium diet of about 2-4 grams of salt a day is recommended, along with increasing your fluid intake to about 2-3 liters of water each day. Refrain from consuming refined sugars and caffeine as much as possible. Make sure you are staying active as much as your symptoms allow and are getting a good night’s sleep. Most of all, stay positive!

Have some great tips and tricks of your own? Comment below to share!

ENTER TO WIN OUR DYSAUTONOMIA AWARENESS MONTH GIVEAWAY!

To win, follow the rules below and participate in Dysautonomia Awareness Month for your chance to win. Just comment on this post or share it on social media. Good luck!

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Here at lebontadipio, our customers are very important to us. Each day, we talk with people who have been diagnosed with lymphedema and hear not only their questions, but their struggles. Lymphedema is commonly overlooked by doctors and can go undiagnosed for a very long time. Many people battling breast cancer are unaware that lymphedema can be a side affect to treatment and are unprepared for managing this condition. It can also be hard to obtain the resources needed to manage lymphedema due to a lack of regional availability of therapists and the financial cost. Since there is no cure for lymphedema yet, patients must wear a compression armsleeve everyday which can be costly, especially depending on the severity of the swelling.

The lebontadipio Armsleeve Assistance Program

In light of this, BrightLife has partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to provide compression armsleeves to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it. We will be providing free compression sleeves to patients at six different Komen grantee organizations here in Washington, D.C. These awesome organizations will help the patient measure for the correct fit and find the best armsleeve to help manage their symptoms. They will then send this information to us, and we ship out the armsleeve free of charge the same day. Check out Francia, pictured on the left, happily showing off her new compression armsleeve!

Enter Our Breast Cancer Awareness Giveaway!

You can win! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, lebontadipio wants to give back to the lymphedema community. To help others with the financial burden of lymphedema, we are offering a $100 gift card for one lucky winner to choose any armsleeve or compression stockings of their choice! See below for entry and details.

Lymphedema Style Guide

lebontadipio offers tons of compression armsleeves in a variety of sizes, colors, patterns and fabrics so you can find the perfect sleeve for you. If beige isn’t your style, we have lots of fun patterned armsleeves like LympheDivas and the new Juzo Signature Prints. The Juzo Dream Collection offers armsleeves and lower extremity compression garments in fun seasonal colors and tie-dye patterns. If you’re looking for eye-catching patterned leggings, try the new Juzo Soft Print Leggings, available in a large variety of patterns. Check out our style guide below for our customer’s favorite lymphedema options:

Lymphedema Compression Garments for Fashionistas

• LympheDivas Armsleeves
• Juzo Signature Armsleeves 
• Juzo Dream Collection
  
• Juzo Soft Print Leggings – new!

Mild to Moderate Lymphedema Garments

• Solidea Compression Garments – 15% off this month only!
• Juzo Soft Collection
• Allegro Armsleeves – lowest price!

Moderate to Severe Lymphedema Garments

• Juzo Dynamic Collection
• Jobst Relief Compression Garments
• Allegro Surgical Weight Garments – lowest price!

Lymphedema Compression Wraps

• Alternative Wraps
• Full Leg Wraps

Sizing Help

If you’re shopping on your own and don’t know your size, check out our Size Machine! Just enter your measurements and we’ll tell you what fits you best in all of the major brands. If you still have questions or would like some help deciding, please contact our customer service team.

You Can Win!

The rules are simple – the more you share, the more likely you’ll win! You can comment on this blog post to share your experience with Breast Cancer or Lymphedema, or share this post on social media. For details, see the Rafflecopter Contest Box below. Good luck!

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