You know that feeling when you get a new top that you just love? And when you put it on you feel confident on the inside and walk that little bit taller? Well that is how Lucia has been feeling over the last two weeks in her new pink compression tights. Yes, you did read PINK!
When Lucia was last measured for her compression I asked if we could get any other colours. So far we have just stuck with white and a really not so nice beige (very un-little girl like) – then we discovered Jobskin had a pink. So we decided to order her a pink pair.
And when they arrived they were so pink and so pretty and I was mentally going through Lucia’s wardrobe thinking of all the little dresses they would match with beautifully. Sadly though the sizing was all wrong and they didn’t fit her at all despite being made to her unique measurements. (Unfortunately this isn’t the first time this has happened but we do manage to get the issues ironed out.)
So first of all I was really annoyed. I saw the pink and then felt like it had been snatched away again. It feels like forever waiting on garments to arrive and there is always so much expectation and, believe it or not, a little excitement too. So when I got them home and they didn’t fit it felt like a kick in the teeth. But this time, Lucia was also disappointed and that annoyed me so much more. We tried the pink tights on and she LOVED them. She loved them so much she didn’t want to take them off never mind send them back.
Thankfully, we received a much better fitting pair two days later and our little lady couldn’t wait to get them on – and weirdly she looked so different! The pink was such a gorgeous change. Lucia absolutely loves them and has been asking to wear them everyday since we received them – they obviously make her feel extra special. I also know that I need to cherish her asking to wear them as I have no doubt that this won’t always be the case.
So now I have the colour bug and have been getting a little carried away. What other colours are available? Can we get patterns? Stripes? Spots? If not, why not? Can we make this happen? Pink is amazing but greedily I want more! And Lucia deserves more – as does every other child, girl or boy, with Lymphoedema. Obviously the job that the compression does is of paramount importance but surely in 2015 it should be possible to create something that looks nice as well. Something to think about.
Aww how lovely, I am glad her pink pair now fit her!
What about adults, mine DON’T fit and insurance won’t pay for another pair 🙁
Hi Jennifer, I understand your frustration. I know how annoyed I get for my little girl. We started off with beige and for a 2 year old it was just horrible 🙁 and the fit is so vitally important. I hope you are able to get something sorted.
What brand of socks are these? My teenage daughter would love to wear colors. Thanks! Also, as an FYI, correct measurements never guarantee good socks. Its an on-going saga. Especially with Juzo. We still can’t get a correct pair after a whole year of sending socks back and forth.
Hi Mary Jo, Lucia wears Jobskin compression tights. Check out http://www.jobskin.co.uk And thanks for the reassurance on the fit – it can be so frustrating at times! I find it hard to understand why it is so difficult to make garments to fit when they have measurements right there!
I am a teenager living with LE in South Africa and wearing beige… SUCKS! I am the first to suggest colours and patterns but never get heard. I find it extremely unfair that there are patterns and colours for sleeves but not for stockings. Let us unite and help fight this battle to make a horribly uncomfortable thing at least funky!
I totally agree – there are some really funky sleeves available but when it comes to legs there doesn’t seem to be the same choice. I am so happy to have found Jobskin though and hopefully we’ll be able to get more colours for Lucia and patterns too!!
My 3 year old daughter has pink garments and my 21 month old has lilac/purple garments they love them 🙂 definitely helps especially in the summer when everyone can see them 🙂 xx
Hi Emma, that is fantastic! Little girls really love the bright colours! And it’s good for us mums too to see them happy. Do you wear Jobskin on your daughters?xx
They look great!!! Nila also wears jobskin and we get pink, we have had butterfly motif’s but unfortunately they wash off grubby
Hi Andrea, I can’t believe I didn’t know about the pink until now!! The motifs sound so cute though not if they wash off badly 🙁 Does Nila wear tights or socks?
Nila is in socks, that go up to her knee’s with each little toe individually caped! So measurements are extremely important. We have used jobskin from Nila was 13months. We also tried juzo and weren’t happy with the results, the fit was quite poor and Nila cried when we tried putting them on. jobskin are finer, it makes a difference especially around the toes.
I’m all for funky pattern’s!
Nila loves shoes, tights and socks, the brighter and more bling the better.
Really having trouble with shoes, one foot is a size 5 and the more affected is a size 6 on a good day
Jobskin garments are great because they are so fine, any others we have looked at have been so thick that I don’t think we’d be able to get a shoe onto Lucia. What shoes does Nila wear? Apart from our one pair of Clarks shoes Converse are our staple as they are so adaptable.
Hi.
Both girls get their garments from a company called Haddenham xx
When my daughter (who is now 21) was young, we used to dye her older garments when with replaced with new ones in different colors to match her outfits. She especially liked purple and orange ones! Would have been easier to have them come that way already though.
That sounds pretty cool 🙂 Bet she loved them. But yes, much handier to have them come in different colours already!
Wondering if the non color ones can br died or tye died?
Insurance doesn’t cover the colored and designed compression sleeves here.
Breast Cancer Survivor
Hi Gina, I’m not too sure about the dyeing of garments as I never have, though as tempted to when we first had the beige coloured ones. You would probably be best to check with the company you get them from in case dyeing may damage the compression? Or Dottie who has also commented on this post mentions dyeing compression for her daughter years ago – maybe she would be able to help?
My 11 year old daughter Ruby would love to have options other than beige or black, which is all that is available now with her Jobst Elvarex leg stocking.
I agree it would be wonderful if more colours could be provided for made to measure garments, but I guess it is a question of supply and demand. I bought a decorative cover for adult arm compression garments which fits her leg and, although she hasn’t chosen to wear it much, she does really like it, and her friends at school were very positive about it. It was a ‘tattoo’ style one with a skull and diamante studs. (Most of the time Ruby wears leggings or jeans, but she might wear it more often now that she is sometimes in shorts for the summer.)
It is from a website called http://www.mysassysleeve.com Hope this helps.
Hi Stephanie, Many thanks for this information. That is a brilliant idea – one I’d never thought of for the future. I think I just find it hard that kids should have to wear such dark and dull colours on a medical garment that they have to wear all day everyday forever. It’s tough enough that they have to wear them in the first place I think companies should be trying to make them a little more fun. But the sleeve idea is great for a bit of an adaptation – especially in the summer. How does your daughter cope with her Lymphoedema? Has she had it from birth? Thanks again for commenting 🙂
Hi Jo-Ann. She obviously hates having Lymphoedema but she just gets on with it. She has good days and bad days but her school has been supportive and her school friends are used to her stocking and just accept it. Always a bit tricky when she meets someone new and has to re-explain it – but she is normally positive and very open and friendly and we are very proud of her! She had swelling on her foot/leg at 3 weeks old but it went away and then reappeared more significantly at 3.5 years, and has stayed every since. But she wears her stocking all day every day, and the leg is in good condition. It’s a journey!
Hi Jo-Ann. She obviously hates having Lymphoedema but she just gets on with it. She has good days and bad days but her school has been supportive and her school friends are used to her stocking and just accept it. Always a bit tricky when she meets someone new and has to re-explain it – but she is normally positive and very open and friendly and we are very proud of her! She had swelling on her foot/leg at 3 weeks old but it went away and then reappeared more significantly at 3.5 years, and has stayed every since. But she wears her stocking all day every day, and the leg is in good condition. It’s a journey!
She sounds fantastic – exactly how we hope Lucia will be about it all. I suppose because Ruby has had it from such an early age she doesn’t really know any different which we hope will be an advantage in Lucia’s case as well. Everything we do for her everyday and the compression is just part of the routine and hopefully that will stick with her. A journey is definitely one way to describe it!