Hi friends!
One of my colleagues on the Lipedema Education Group asked me how I got my pump recently. So I made a video explaining what I went through to obtain one.
In a nutshell though,
- I got a lipedema diagnosis after working with my primary doctor and my surgeon
- I went for some pre-surgery work to my Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She took measurements, worked to get swelling down using compression / bandaging / wraps
- Then she ordered a Flexitouch machine from Tactile Medical
- Tactile met me at the CLT office to do a fitting and a sample pumping session
- They took care of the rest – a couple of weeks later a package arrived with the pump and the leg parts
- Tactile offered to come to the house to show me how to use it but I declined because I’d paid attention in the meeting with Tactile at the CLT office
- Blue Cross covered most of it, except for about $1200
- Tactile let me set up monthly payments to pay it off.
- Later, my CLT ordered other pieces (a second leg piece and a trunk piece), and those just showed up in the mail.
I think I understand you can get a new pump every five years. Next time, I will request a Lympha Press Pump, because they support the lipedema community so much. Although the Flexitouch is effective, it is VERY hard for me to get in and out of.
I hope this helped someone!
Susan
PS: I store mine under the bed in a rolling Rubbermaid tote with a lid. I put the motor part outside of the tub, but under the bed. When I need it, I just roll it all out and use it, then pop it right back under the bed when I’m done.
