Selling my compression pump

I have decided to sell my old compression pump, the PulsePress Multi12 on eBay. I also have a Lympha Press so the PulsePress is just sitting in its box not being used. It is in good condition and have not been used much. It will probably make most sense for Europeans to buy it as the shipping costs outside Europe for a 7 kg beast are horrendous.
You can view the pump here. I am also still selling the lonely partners of my odd-sized shoes, check them out here. I have a couple more than listed at this time as they are more for winter but do ask if you are interested. I have just listed some leather sandals with closed toes, check them out.

Since I heard about CNN's Freedom Project many months ago I have been wanting to support organisations that helps women and children that are victims of slavery or for other reasons need help. Last month I donated some money to an organisation that helps victims of acid violence. One can donate as little or as much as desired and with PayPal. If you want you can check it out here:
http://www.acidviolence.org/

I have been thinking about giving the cabbage poultice another try, perhaps doing it every night for a month or so. I really think this is a powerful remedy and who knows if it could help us. More about this soon.

Thank you for your comments, they really mean a lot to me and to other readers. I am sorry I am being so slow to reply.

Update: Sold.

LymphaPress Optimal

Before my holiday I had the LymphaPress Optimal to test and I managed to try it six times. Here goes:

The pump has two functions, actually four:

• Gradient 
• PreTherapy + Gradient 
• Wave 
• PreTherapy + Wave

PreTherapy is a feature that sort of "clears a path" for better drainage during the treatment itself (Gradient or Wave). PreTherapy takes about 8-9 minutes before the pump moves on to the desired program, Gradient or Wave.

• I have been running it between 45 and 60 minutes, pressure 40-50 and I've tried both programs, incl. PreTherapy. 
• Common to all days was that the foot and ankle were not drained nearly as good as with the LymphaPress Mini I tried previously.
• The Gradient program seemed a little bit more effective than Wave as it maintains the pressure while the next chambers are filled. 
• Both programs operate in a very choppy manner. In the Wave program every other pump is very short, the other a little bit longer. On Gradient the pumps is more or less of the same duration.

Before and after each session I would measure my leg three places on the lower leg and three at the upper leg. The result was surprising, about half of the measurements had gone up, the rest a little bit down. As I mentioned the other day I have now applied for a LymphaPress Mini. I hope it comes through. I am still not all that hooked on the velcro boot, I am not sure it is tight enough and fits properly. Will try and get the one with a zipper.

The red cargo pants I ordered a little while back was a disappointment. The fabric was very light, too light for this style, the legs weren't straight and they were a little too tight on the bum, which I don't think this style should be.

Things are starting to be more normal again after a busy time at work, my holiday and preparation for the poxy wedding. This week I've got a couple of things I am looking forward to. I am attending a meeting where a controversial, but cool politician from Parliament will speak, and the next day is a big day – election day. It looks like were might be getting a new goverment, but it is all up in the air. Lots can happen still. Whatever happens it is a day to celebrate. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the freedom to choose.

In this country we have had coalition goverments for donkeys years (great expression, isn't it...), and so we will again.
Our Parliament: On the left wing we have a very left-wing party called Enhedslisten (the Red-Green Alliance). Because the conservatives have messed up and thus reduced so much in recent years this party is now bigger than them! Then we have the Socialistic Peoples Party, then the Social Democrats. In the middle we have two centerparties – Liberal Alliance and the Social Liberals. On the right wing there is the Liberals and a horrible nationalistic party. And the Conservatives, of course. Beyond the Conservatives is where the US Democrats start. I was quite surprised, when I first learnt that.

At the moment it looks like it will be a coalition between the Socialists, the Democrats and the Social Liberals, perhaps relying on the Red-Green Alliance (not sure). The leader of the pack – sorry, Democrats – is a woman, so perhaps we will have our first female Prime Minister ever. Great song, by the way.

LymphaPress Mini

I have now tried the LymphaPress Mini five times and I must say it is clearly better than the one I have (Pulse Press Multi 12). It makes a difference that it inflates from the foot upwards every time instead of all over at the same time. Especially my foot and ankle feels completely different and flexible with the LymphaPress, as if it has been completely emptied of extra lymph fluid. It wasn't perfect around the knee, and I am not all that keen on the boot with Velcro, but perhaps it is possible to get it with a zipper, and also, this one may not match my measurements a 100%. All in all it was better than the one I have now, so I will make the arrangements to apply for one. 

Oh man, was it hot and muggy yesterday, and it is building up again as I am writing this. I went out for brunch with a good friend, and when I came home after having cycled in the humid and warm air, I ran for the atomizer which I store in the fridge, and sprayed the compression stocking. Oh Heaven! The one I have is big, one liter. I did have a smaller one that I brought with me to Thailand and Laos in November, but I dumped it on the way since I never used it and it just took up room in my backpack. On my trip to England later this summer I am going to get some 100ml travel bottles with spray to have in my bag, I can see they have them in Boots.

Before the storm.

Here in Copenhagen we had a torrential rainstorm last night with thunder, lightning and all in a volume that no one can remember having lived to see before. Roads and basements were flooded, Tivoli Garden evacuated the guests, movie theatres closed and some areas were cut off from electricity. I live on the top of a hill so my building wasn't in trouble, but the window in my bedroom leaked at the frame when the rain came pounding directly on it with great power. It is an angled window like the ones you see in the roof on the picture. I managed to save my bed just in time and organise some containers to collect the water. I think we're in for more this evening...

Pumping and wrapping

For the good part of two weeks I've been pumping and wrapping almost every night and last weekend even pumping in the morning upon getting up. The measurements don't show any significant difference but the tissue becomes soft and the lymphfluid more sort of movable. I notice that when I (no stocking on) lie on my back in my bed with my knees pulled up to my chest, my feet are now next to each other instead of like before when the lymphedemafoot due to fluid was much higher up than the other. In other words; I can bend the lymphedemaleg more now.
 
I am getting better at wrapping, but I need many rolls of bandage. I have nine rolls of shortstretch bandage and that's what my Physical Therapist uses to wrap me, but I find it hard to get the bandage as compact as she can, with only nine rolls. Will ask her for some tips next time. Might have to get some more, was thinking of getting another set anyway.
 
I have already received the LymphaPress that I am to test, that was quick. Bit of a hassle to get the big box home on the bicycle. Unfortunately one little part was missing, but I will get that tomorrow. The trial period is only just over a week, so I will have to return in next Monday. Hopefully I can pump every night starting tomorrow and get an impression of it. I'm excited to try it. 
The pumping and wrapping has also meant that I can now wear my beloved old trainers/walkingshoes again. But only just, and I take it off under my desk at work.
 
The trick with spraying water on the compression stocking with a atomizer is not bad at all, it cools the leg, which is much needed on a day like today, it is very hot overhere at the moment.

In line for a LymphaPress

Last week I phoned the company that sells the LymphaPress compressionpump overhere. I spoke with a real nice lady who put me on a waiting list for a pump to test. It will be interesting to try it once I get it. We talked a little about the pump I have now (Pulse Press Multi 12) and she said that it works by inflating from the foot upwards, but only the first time – from then on it inflates all over at the same time, which I don't think makes sense when the idea is to push the fluid up and away from the leg. I do think it works somewhat afterall, especially after I brought it to the physiotherapist who adjusted the settings to 30 seconds of pumping and 10 seconds pause, but it doesn't seem to bring the swelling down. The LymphaPress inflates from the foot upwards every time.

It turns out that the company I got mine from does not, as I had been told by the hospital who applied for it for me, have the competitive tendering on compression pumps in my area, they are just "really good friends", whatever that means – with the hospital, which is why I got this one and not ie a LymphaPress.

I'd be very happy for comments if you have experience with the LymphaPress. Thank you. All readers can see comments and benefit from them.

Compressionpump seeing the physiotherapist

My compression pump.

The new settings, pumping for 30 seconds, then resting for 10. Pressure apr. 50.

Yesterday I was at the physio therapist and I brought my compression pump. My bike sure was heavy loaded, as I had my giant bag with the pump, sheet, bandages and parashutepants and sandals for possible wrapping on the back, but I managed. When going home, I thought it was best to bring some balance to the vehicle, so I had to get a cream cake out of a bakery and put it in the basket in the front of the bike. What else could I do?
It was very interesting to bring the pump so my therapist could see it while it was working. She was not happy about the way it was pumping, but after she adjusted the settings and it had been running about half an hour while she performed MLD on my upper body it turned out that it had had an effect afterall. She could tell on the foot and feel that the tissue in the calf had loosened up some places with lumps of build up fluid before. I will be using it every night for a week or so, then going to see her again and I will measure the leg tonight and after the week of pumping too see if there is any difference.
My therapist thought I should try and borrow a LymphaPress from the distributor, so I will do that. Apparently the LymphaPress works a little differently than my pump, it sort of "rolls" the air up the leg in a better way than mine and that is what it's all about – pushing the lymph upwards so that it can be distributed into the rest of the body.
It was also really good to get the settings adjusted. From now on it is 30 seconds of pumping and 10 seconds pause.