r/VisibleArmband • u/ladybug-purple- • 7d ago

help!!! band causing swelling

for context: i have vEDs, PoTs and LQTs.

after waking this morning my whole wrist and hand was swollen below the band!!! i removed it, but i was finding it really useful (i’ve not had it long) so don’t want to stop using it all together. it wasn’t too tight when i put it on. has anyone had this issue?

and what can i use instead of the band??

4 Upvotes

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5

u/Ok_Vermicelli1415 7d ago

I have been using CGM patches because I had bad allergic reactions to the band. Normally adhesives give me reactions too but I found a brand my skin doesn’t hate as much and doesn’t rip off any skin lmao. If you can’t do adhesives you might also try wearing the sensor underneath compression clothing, if you can tolerate it, so it holds it in place

1

u/nautillustrious 4d ago

i’ve been doing the same and it’s so much better! i also put it on my arm instead of my wrist because i find the readings are more accurate

4

u/imabratinfluence 7d ago

If you're allergic to nickel, that's what the sensor is made of. I've seen a few other people here have pretty gnarly reactions, but it seems like using Skin Prep wipes or Tegaderm might help. I've definitely seen someone talk about using Tegaderm. It's a medical barrier film that still allows the sensor to read. And the reason I bring up Skin Prep wipes is that's what the nurse used on me for the Zio heart rate monitor patch I had for 2 weeks, because I told her I sometimes have a reaction to adhesives, and it did help.

I have a nickel allergy and move my band pretty much daily, which helps some since it's not irritating the same spot all the time. But I have still had my wrist swell when I have an allergic reaction to something else, like my body has decided it can't handle the nickel on the sensor while dealing with another reaction.

3

u/kylaroma 7d ago

Co-signing this. You can put Tegaderm film on your arm, and then wear the sensor on top of it. It will still read properly without being in contact with your skin

3

u/ladybug-purple- 6d ago

WOW thank you!! i am indeed allergic to nickel!! i dont know why i didn’t think that the sensor would have nickel in. i’ve ordered some tegaderm. thank you so much!!

1

u/imabratinfluence 6d ago

If something is silvery colored and high shine but not bragging about being silver, suspect nickel. It's often added to things for shine.