Donna Piper: Welcome back to this next episode all about compression. So welcome beautiful souls, and welcome to Dear Body, I'm Listening. The podcast for women navigating chronic illness, invisible illness, and that daily dance between hope and exhaustion. If you've ever been told it's all in your head, this podcast is for you because your body is not lying, and neither are you.
So again, my name is Donna Piper. I'm a movement therapist, pilates instructor and chronic illness navigator. After years of being missed, diagnosed, dismissed and doing everything, quote unquote, right, but still getting sicker? I created this space to tell the truth, our truth about invisible illness. Here, we talk about swelling, brain fog, nervous system crashes, all the things that don't show up on your lab results. And we explore different things like lymph, breath, movement, self trust, latest research on and on, basically everything, all from a place of compassion and honesty. This isn't about fixing you or your body. You're not broken. It's about finally being heard and getting some answers, so let's dive into the real talk recap for this week.
Okay, let's be real. There's absolutely nothing glamorous about pulling on a full panty hose, or thigh high compression hose, or even socks, especially in the summer when it's even 80 degrees and above. And if you're wearing them under jeans, like I do, it's already a lot. But then walking around and in the heat, it's definitely not my favorite. But this is a truth that I've come to live by in the last year and a half. The function is not the opposite of beauty. Let's go back to where I said, but here's the truth. I've come to understand that function is not the opposite of beauty. Being hot isn't about wanting to wear shorts. I haven't worn shorts in 30 years. It's about being present. It's about being hydrated and supported, and doing what your body needs to make it feel good. I know that when I wear a micro impression hose, I don't feel sexy, but I do know I have less pain. I wear them a lot right now.
As we record this episode, I am going through some intensive decongestion wrapping phase. So basically, if you haven't done it, I encourage you if you have lipedema or any sort of lymphedema, any sort of swelling, I got it covered by my insurance. So see if you can find someone in your area, see if you have a therapist, talk to people about it. But basically, what they do is you go to the program that I'm going to at Hogue in Newport Beach. Well, Hogue Irvine, but Hogue is a hospital thing in Southern California, and this is how they do it. Other facilities around here do it a little differently. But you basically go in and you wrap one leg, so literally from your groin, thigh up high thigh, to your foot, all bandaged in short stretch compression. And what that does is that helps push the lymph from your foot. For lipedema, we cup at the end. There's no swelling in the foot. It's really the ankle, but they don't want swelling to go down into your foot because with the compression hose, and the idea of the compression hose, especially for women with lipedema, to get flat knit is that we want to push the limp from the lowest or from highest energy to lowest, so we're pushing it up.
So we wrap this whole thing, one leg one day, you stay in for the whole night. If you want to unbandage it and take a shower, then go in. But basically, 20 to 24 hours, your leg is wrapped, and then the therapist re wraps it again. They do some lymphatic drain massage, and then they re-wrap it, and they measure it. And then if you plateau with it, then they stop the wrapping. And then the next week for the next four days, you do the same thing on the left side. So I had pretty good results this time. The first day, it went down, and then I plateaued over the next few days. So it's probably something I'm going to do again. But right now, yeah, it was nice to see that I'd had some reduction. And all of your expectations are really managed. When you do this for lymphedema, because it's not like lymphedema, you're not going to have a huge reduction of your tissue because what is there is diseased fat. But I want to get as much of what's not disease fat. I want to take care of my inflammation, and I want to get as much fluid working in the right way with as much support that I have. And even though this is not glamorous, it is a part of reclaiming my health. Part of me not giving up on my legs, and my legs not giving up on me, right? So no compression might be not cute by mainstream standards. They are trying to make them a little cuter now, but compression is healing. And healing is hot, so we go full circle.
Now, we're going into segment number two. So this week, let's get lymphatic, it is all about the compression basics. Because if you're dealing with lipedema, mast cell, EDS, POTS, even for a degree ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,sometimes it's not optional, it's essential because it really does help with the pain management. It helps with the swelling and the inflammation, and it gives your fluency that extra umph. Because with all of these things, with everything that I'm talking about, and everything I have, our lymph system is somehow in some form compromised. Because maybe the connective tissue in the blood, like all the things, I'm not a doctor, but I live in this body so I can tell you my experience, and we want to help whatever we can to get that compression going. So there's a special type for lipedema. So because I have all the things, I don't know if there's a better compression if you have POTS or if you have this. I know that I also wear stability, and we'll go through that probably later on too. But I use a shirt and a bra that's made for EDS that's made for having hypermobility, so it kind of holds my skeletal system together so I don't have to work as hard. So this flat knit compression is like that. It's custom made, it's medically graded gear, and it's firmer and has more structure than off the shelf options. And that's what you want, because depending on your level of fibrosis in there, and nodules, if your lipedema has little nodules in it, or grainy, we want to break that stuff up and make it smaller so it can potentially get through the lymphatic system. If it's going to, always surgery is most likely what's going to make it go away, and it provides a healing element to it.
So this compression, flat knit compression, also provides a gradient pressure higher at the ankle and lower as it goes up to help the lymph flow upward where it belongs. So blood flow goes down and around, but lymph comes all the way up. So you have the major arteries that it flows right around the collarbone, and that's where we want to push everything up. From our head, our lymphatic system, we want to drain it down and into the terminus, which is around the collarbone, mainly the left. But there's also a drain on the right. So for many of us, the starting point is about 20 to 30 mm HGS, and this gives you enough support for circulation with cutting out movement or comfort. And when you're in the earlier stages of lymphedema, mass cell or experienced POTS, always check that out with your doctor. Because again, I have POTS, but my other symptoms are more severe.
POTS symptoms were more severe when I was younger, when I didn't even know I had it. But it can reduce swelling, pain, dizziness upon standing, and fatigue from poor circulation. So why does this matter? So with lipedema, it reduces the heaviness and the pain of the legs. For the mass cell, it supports histamine stability. Yes, by improving lympho. So if we can get all of this stuff out of our system to help push it through, that's our detoxification system. And then also with the mast cell, you have some histamine, you could do over the counter H1 and H2 anti histamines. And also a thing called DOA, which is an enzyme that gobbles up extra histamine. So if you listen to that episode a few episodes ago, I gave you some resources with that, and we'll go in much deeper. There's so much about each one of these topics. I'm going to kind of get more and more into it as we go on, because I'm overwhelmed by all this stuff. And I'm sure you might also be overwhelmed. And then with the POTS, I know the circulation does help prevent blood pooling from the lower extremities. And because it's a whole thing, I'll give you a link to look it up on your own if you want more information, but it helps reduce dizzy spells and flares.
So in addition to the compression I talked about it a little earlier, I'm going through decongestive therapy. This is wrapping and it's usually what you like to do before your compression garments get fitted. So once you're in a program, sometimes you just go to your local manual lymphatic drainage specialist, and they might be doing it for you. They might want to wrap or not so. But for me, I'm getting my compression garments finally covered by insurance. So this is something that you do in order to get to your body in a place, whereas any lymph that's stagnant and not supposed to be there, let's get that out. And then when I get my compression hose, it'll be more fit to what I'm going to be needing when my body is out right now. So wrapping does help remove stagnant lymph, reduce swelling before the measuring of the garments, and prepares the tissue for long term maintenance. And it can be intense having a whole thing wrapped. Sometimes, you'll even have both legs wrapped, and it's a commitment. You really don't do much. You can't go out. I have been doing more power plates, and I do more things to get my body moving, and then walking because a short strip bandage also is helping. The more movement you have in your body, that also helps pump up the lymph. And it is a commitment. And it is a whole thing, so just be prepared that it's not easy.
Some people have a lot of discomfort with it. I haven't really had that much discomfort. There's a little pain in my foot, but you're wrapped half like mummy for a week. But the results can be less swelling, lighter legs, and less pain so it is worth it. I know from talking to my parent technique therapist, she also does lymphatic drainage, and she does work with lipedema and lymphedema. She says it's one of the best things. It is the highest standard of care, because the short bandages work, and also to break up some of that fibrotic stuff depending how your legs are. It does over time, so you would have a longer time with it. It wouldn't just be like four days for each leg that I'm doing. So talk to your therapist, do your research, see if you're a candidate for it. And yeah, try it. But it is a commitment.
And also, if you don't have access to insurance, maybe they're not funding, insurance is a whole thing. They don't really recognize these illnesses like they should to get us the support that we need. But you can look up some of the high quality flat knit and just Google it. And there is a place in Germany that's kind of the epicenter for all kinds of compression wear. They do, I think yearly, maybe semi yearly conventions to talk about the latest thing. I'll put the links down below. I think Medi are the two, and they require custom measurements, and that's the best thing to do if you have lymphedema. There's also a brand that I was encouraged to get when I first got diagnosed by Dr. Eicher, and I can use that link to their 20 to 30 grade. You just want to make sure that it's not too tight. There's things that go with compression, because you're just making things go up. So always check with your doctor to see if you have any other conditions other than the ones I'm talking about that might be contraindicated. And yeah, so the garment is really there to do some of the heavy lifting for you. There are nighttime garments and there's all these other things. But basically, I just get them for the day, and I wear them. And then I wash them, and I have another pair. So in the next few weeks, I'm getting, finally, custom garments made, and I'll let you know how that goes.
All right, so now I need a little bit of a break. So this is my third segment. This is our Ask Donna Segment. I'm into our question segment for the program. So this is my Ask Donna, and so the question I got this week is, how do you stay confident wearing medical gear in public? Well, that's a hard one because I was like, oh, I want to make sure I can cover it up. So I was wearing jeans before, and a little wider, and I put that underneath. And a lot of times, I'll wear skirts, especially when I fly. We just came back from Italy. And going there and back the whole day, I just wore a skirt that's comfortable so I could put it on, I have pantyhose that are full to the toe. So that's the kind of compression I have. Sitting for a long amount of time sometimes, depending on how I feel that day, could be a little bit too much tightness in the stomach. So that's why I like to wear skirts, especially when I'm flying. I used to hide it a little more. I still kind of do, depending on how I feel. But I have to remember that having this compression gear on is going to help me with my pain. So that's what I do.
So I'm like, do I look so fashionable all the time? Heck no. But I found some wrap skirts and some different skirts that I can wear my hose down enough so it doesn't look so goofy. And I'm still kind of a work in progress wearing clothes and finding clothes that fit the size with my proportions. It was a little easier when I was a smaller size. I always had a thicker bottom. But however, the pants were cut. I was thick in my upper thighs. I wasn't so wide. I could find a proportion. I didn't dislike how I looked in clothes so much as I have gained over, let's say I went from 140 to 180 with at my highest. Now I'm like, I'm still high. I'm 177, but still three pounds that widened me out. I'm short so I always kind of feel like a round ball. So my waist that I used to always rely on went away as I've gotten into a different stage. So getting clothes is challenging, but I still try to get dressed up. I don't always feel like I'm hiding my body. And layering helps with having the compression hose. And from what I've seen of the new styles and things, they're trying to make the compression look more like leggings so maybe there's hope to be really cute. But sometimes, you just have to make yourself feel cute whether it's glasses or accessories. I know for me, sometimes my shoes are what I would like to focus on because they're cute. And I make an outfit work with my compression hose to at least make me feel good about something that I'm wearing. Other days, I put things on, and I don't mind it. But those days, we all have them where it's like, oh, I have to put these things on, and I don't look cute. So that's my take on that.
So this is our last segment for today. Now let's go to a little feel good flow for the day. So this is one of my favorite self care rituals, and it supports the lymph, and it also helps tighten or soften some of the tight fascia, and it reconnects you with your body. Anytime I do any lymph work, I always do Dr. Perry's Big Six. I went through both of his, I think two or three programs, but I did lymphatic, and I did glymphatic. That is how I was able to find Dr. Eicher, which was a blessing. So I always clear all the major ones, and I'll leave a link down below if you don't know what I'm talking about. When I do my leg massage, I use some oil. You can use castor oil, you can use almond oil. You could use coconut oil, something that you aren't allergic to, and Gua Sha. So I have various kinds. Some are just the small, regular, traditional ones. Other ones, I found this big one. So really, it's just something that has an edge that you feel comfortable in. Because remember, we bruise a lot, it's a connective tissue issue. So whether you're dealing with all or one of these things, you want to get something that's going to be a nice material. So now they make so much available for different Gua Sha. I think what I got a long time ago was just Jade, and that I think is comfortable. Also for my hand because of the hypermobility. Sometimes, I don't like doing this stuff because my hand gets really tight. So that's your setup.
And then set a vibe if you really want to make it really luxurious, put on a fun playlist. You go do an essential oil diffuser if you're good with that. Maybe some lighting, and then you can warm the oil in your hands, just a few drops. And then also, if you want to add, if you're okay with frankincense or something like that, having a higher energy oil to it to really foster has all the benefits. I'll leave a link for what frankincense does, or something else that you feel like. Maybe as good oil as you could. And if it's tolerated, sent to it. And then you just start with your ankles and do gentle strokes upward towards your heart. So using the tool, you gently scrape along with light sweeps for your calves, your outer thighs, and inner thighs. Always go up, never down, because we want to get that, and it's miserable pressure. You're not scraping, it's just minimal. And then focus on tender areas with a more of a light touch.
So there's a few points in your legs, in your thighs that if you just touch them gently, or acupuncture, they might be more sensitive, and it just might feel intuitively stroked a little. Do whatever you can so you're more intuitive with this. You know where your legs maybe feel more congested, more tight, maybe have more of that kind of racy feel. But the main thing is that you're just giving yourself that extra boost from all the way down, and then coming up after you've cleared out your six major areas, so that lymph has somewhere to go because that's something that we don't want to do. We don't want to either push our lymph in the wrong direction, or if we're clogged or pushing stuff now and then, it has nowhere to go, right? And just do this for a few minutes. You could do 5, 10 minutes. It could be two minutes, one minute each leg, just something that you feel that you're giving some nurturing to your legs.
And then you can do an added bonus. Rest with your legs up the wall for like 5 or 10 minutes. And this is really nice to do after you've had a long day before bedtime. It's very relaxing, and it also gives you time, because I have not wanted to spend a lot of time in my upper thighs at times in my life even now. I kind of go back and forth. Sometimes I look and I'm like, it doesn't look like my body. And then I'm like, oh, my gosh. Who's in that mirror? I really have tried to integrate some of these practices a little bit more so I could start looking at my body, and start accepting it more, and start giving a little bit more love and nourishment, and thanking it for what it does do, not what it's not doing so.
Thank you for listening today. If you have any questions, always let me know. But if this episode has made you feel even a little more seen, brought you a tiny bit of clarity, or just reminded you that you're not alone, please take a moment to rate, review, and send it to someone who needs that same reminder. You can find more tools, blog posts and support over at donnapiper.com. And hey, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Again, if you have a question for me, please send it to [email protected]. It could just be a story, or a flare up confession, or anything you want to share. And until next time, Dear Body, I'm Listening. I am so glad you're here.
