When my mother experienced the massive swelling of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, her doctor recommended sequential compression to reduce the risk of blood clots and alleviate the fluid buildup she experienced. Although the doctors and nurses were very helpful and caring, little information was available about how to go about purchasing lymphedema products. And these products were EXPENSIVE, we soon found out; definitely not a purchase to take lightly—making the wrong choice could drain your pocketbook!
Over time and by asking lots of questions of health care providers, my mom and I got the right lymphedema products she needed at a decent price—but not without a huge amount of effort and head-scratching in the process. I wrote this brief guide to help you if, like I was, you're tasked with purchasing lymphedema products for yourself or a loved one and you're not sure where to even begin. I hope that the tips in this booklet answer a few basic questions, point you in the right direction, and inform you about some of the products you may need to buy if you or a loved one has lymphedema.
