Hello RedHen: Pearl wears a compression sleeve and glove every day. She choses a compression class 1 or 2 elastic circular-knit sleeve when she is in minimum discomfort, and a custom flat-knit sleeve when she requires more heavy duty compression, or when the elastic sleeve causes redness at the inner elbow. I bandage her most nights after she does self-MLD. Sometimes, when she does not require the bandaging (which we feel is the gold standard of compression) she will wear a strapped compression sleeve or a quilted garment.
As for comments and information on insurance, reimbursement and appeals you might want to go to our web site
www.lymphactivist.org
For reliable information on lymphedema for the patient you must be very careful. A couple of good web sites are :
http://www.stepup-speakout.org and
http://www.lymphnotes.com/