Compression garments – what Lucia wears

How is it mid-September already and how are we slap, bang, right back into routine again? School started a few weeks ago and that wheel has already started turning with homework, after school clubs, ballet, football, swimming and everything else that happens on a daily basis. Some days there really just isn’t enough hours.

Following my last post about Lucia getting measured up for new garments after the bandaging, I was messaged a few times on what compression Lucia wears. So I thought a quick post would be helpful.

Lucia has been wearing Juzo Expert garments now for just over a year – and they are brilliant. They do a great job and, most importantly, Lucia is comfortable in them.

Juzo fits

What we love with these garments is that they fit! That may sound simple but those of you with Lymphoedema will know that this is often not simple at all. We have had garments from a different supplier in the past that had to get sent back constantly to be adjusted or re-made completely – even though they receive up to 40 different measurements from Lucia’s toes to her waist so they can make them specifically for her. At one point last year Lucia was in garments that were nine months old because they just couldn’t get it right – and you can imagine how much she had grown in that time period. In the end we just gave up and that’s when we found Juzo.

I’ll say it again – they fit. When you go through the process of getting measured and you wait for a few weeks to get your new garments because you are in desperate need of them, you just want them to fit! And (apart from one occasion) Juzo has come up trumps every time.

As well as fitting, they do an amazing job with her swelling, they are soft, Lucia finds them comfortable, they look great with her little dresses and – most importantly when you are five years old – they come in different colours!

Colours, colours, lots of colours

First and foremost Lucia wears ‘Happy Red’ five days a week as part of her school uniform. When she first set eyes on them her wee face just lit up with joy – ‘I don’t like them mummy, I love them!’ They are a wonderful shade that matches her uniform perfectly and look just like ‘regular’ tights. The only thing I am worried about here is that they are classed as a ‘Trend Colour’ so come March this colour will be no longer available. We hope that they will still have some shade of red that will suit (last year she wore Cosmic Coral so fingers crossed.) Or, Juzo , if you are reading this can you help us out on this?!

We also love ‘Sugar’ which is an off white shade – great for ballet class and under dresses and skirts. But her most favourite of all the colours is ‘Very Berry’. They have no pink at present in their colours (hi again Juzo! Preferably a pastel type pink!) but the next best thing is purple. She actually shrieked as if it was Christmas when she received the purple shade and wanted to wear them everyday with pride. Such a simple thing that brings so much happiness to a little girl.

Style

I’m not sure if this is classed as style but Lucia wears full tights but with an open toe on the right and toe caps over the top. (I have a more detailed post on this combo and how it came about here.)They stay up really well, they wash well, dry quickly (overnight if you use the washing machine), are great quality and we know we can depend on them. And most importantly they are doing a great job. The difference in her foot and toes in particular each evening is amazing and her leg gets some wonderful results as well. Some days are better than others depending on what she has been doing or just how her system is working on any given day – but overall these garments work well.

We are so so pleased to have these garments in our lives as we know we can depend on them – and considering compression is one of the most vital components in the daily treatment of Lymphoedema this helps to take a bit of the weight off our shoulders, knowing she is comfortable and happy.