40-50 Waist High Stockins Help!

[mkoven]

when I was in a huge flare this morning, I asked for a prescription for 40-50 mm hg waist-high stockings. I now have one pair. They are significantly harder to get on than the 30-40, and not particularly comfortable ( when they bunch up!) and the seams do cut into me some--so not a recommendation for comfort and ease. On the other hand, they are a big help on bad days. I have been wearing them on the first day of my period and they help significantly more than the 30-40. When I take them off, boy, do I feel it! You do need a prescription and to be fitted. Mine are made by Juzo. But I'm glad to have them on hand. I think they also help because they have a lot of abdominal compression. My 30-40 are waist-high, but the waist portion is not very compressing.

Just as an example, I think I'm prone to migraines when there are sudden changes in bp. I was on the verge of a migraine yesterday, put on the stockings, and it went away!

[pat57]

get yourself some disposable latex gloves, it makes putting them on much ,much ,easier.

[ken870]

do they make compression hose for men because my stomach and legs are swelled real bad.

[mkoven]

absolutely. you might call one of the companies like ames or bright life and ask about men's styles and sizes.

[Maxine]

I have a pair, but with my EDS and spine problems they are horrible to pull up. In fact I shouldn't---

My husband would have to put them on me, with no help at all by me, but the problem is that when I have to go to the bathroom, I still have to pull them up myself when my husband isn't around. They did help me one day when I walked around the mall. I lasted longer then I usually do.

Maxine :0)

[Sunfish]

yes ken they definitely make them for men as well...in a variety of sizes, styles, etc. definitely get the prescription ones though rather than ones you might find behind the counter at walmart or the like. for me the 40-50mmHg compression doesn't seem to help any more than the 30-40mmHg variety but will definitely attest to the 30-40mmHg working much better for me than the 20-30mmHg variety so it makes sense that, at least for some, the 40-50mmHg might be that much better still; as with so many things we're all different.

i definitely would NOT recommend starting with the 40-50mmHg waist highs though if you've never worn any type of support hose/ stockings at all. i don't think you need to start with the lowest variety either (i.e. 10-25mmHg), but b/c of some of the aforementioned issues related to comfort, ease/ difficulty putting them on, etc, starting with the absolute highest compression (40-50mmHg) would likely be pretty tough. i can't remember for certain as it was so many years ago but i think i started with 20-30mmHg & soon moved up to 30-40mmHg which. despite some issues requiring a break & some changes over the years, have continued to be a helpful addition to my treatment regimen over the years.

due to my GI issues - not only a lack of tolerance to abdominal compression related to pain, bloating, reflux, etc. but in recent years also related to having both G & J tubes that get in the way - i can no longer wear waist high hose of any variety but have still found the thigh highs to be helpful. they're not AS good as waist highs objectively speaking but definitely much better than nothing (and still better than knee highs, which i would presume would themselves still be a bit better than nothing).

i also have had some trouble with rashes & skin irritation from the hose at times...not sure if i've changed or it's the particular hose i had/ have or what but that doesn't seem to be as much of problem for me now as it once was. the duration & frequency of wearing them may be the key....when i had the problem i was wearing them for longer periods every day as i was still able to work. i think heat also played a role in the equation as rashes seemed to happen more often during summer months. we've had some discussions related to skin problems & hose in the past so i'll leave it at that for now; anyone who might be interested in further ramblings might want to do a search for past posts on the subject.

getting back to the matter at hand though, i would encourage anyone considering hose/ stockings for the first time (or considering trying them again after a less-than-successful attempt) to make sure you get good, WELL-FITTED hose in order to truly give them a fair shot. they don't have to be the most expensive variety available in order to be well-fitted but the fit really is key. if you just buy the S/M/L variety off the shelf at the drug store it's really not a fair assessment of their value (or potential value). if you get the individually measured/ fitted variety & then want to see if you might be one of the lucky people for whom the S/M/L variety work just as well then you might luck out but they're not the best idea for a first try.

while obviously having insurance coverage & getting measured/ fitted is the best/ ideal way to go about getting your first pair, there are other options if you don't have insurance coverage, most namely a couple of online vendors who carry the best brands as well as their own generic brands. these places (the good ones at least) have helpful customer service reps who are knowledgeable about the wide range of products available as well as their respective fits, prices, etc. and there are very detailed sizing charts available, either online or via mail or phone, that are specific to each particular brand of hose & will allow you (or the customer service rep) to essentially "fit you" very similarly to how the fitting specialist would if you were to go to a durable medical equipment & drugstore for a fitting in correlation with an insurance-covered (or pricier out-of-pocket) purchase. in the long run, by doing this you're much more likely to end up with hose that actually help you, and on the chance that they still end up not being something you like/ use you'll know that you gave it a genuine try. and with a bit of comparison shopping &/or recommendations from others you really won't have to spend too much more than the more generically fashioned over-the-counter variety from your local corner store. i promise. and once you're more of an expert wearer you'll know enough to stretch the limits of finding the best deals & the like. though you may also find that some "deals" aren't really that much of a deal in the end b/c some (not all) of the cheaper hose don't last half as long & thus have to be replaced twice as often which at the end of the day makes them the same, if not more expensive, than the "pricier" mid-range varieties might have been in the first place.

so....all that to say i too am a big believer in WELL-FITTED compression hose. they don't have to be the priciest/ "best" ones out there but if they don't fit properly they won't help as much as they otherwise might and in all reality might even hurt (in terms of comfort but perhaps even in terms of causing problems with circulation, skin, etc). the higher compression the more trouble they might cause if they aren't the proper fit.

hope this helps (and lecture over ),

melissa

[Ernie]

Hi,

Thanks for the information on the higher compression hose. Presently I have 30-40 mm but 2 years ago I asked my sale lady for a higher compression and she told me it was dangerous. I will talk to my specialist about and give it a try if he agrees to it.

[mkoven]

I also had someone at a medical supply store tell me they were dangerous-- I think they're worried about hypertension and pushing too much fluid upwards-- NOT a problem for most of us. And then you do have to be careful about stockings bunching up and irritating skin or becoming too tourniquet-like. As I said, the 40-50 are not particularly comfortable, but on days when even with meds it's shaky, they're a good addition. I had mine fitted by a physical therapist who specializes in lymphedema-- which I don't have-- but is another typical indication for compression. I'll admit the fit isn't perfect, even though I was fitted, so actually I can pull the waist up to under my bra! this actually helps the abdominal compression, and stops them from squeezing my stomach in the middle uncomfortably. Another advantage of the juzo is that they're latex-free. Some of the other 40-50 use latex. I agree with Melissa that 40-50 is not a good place to start, for someone new to compression. 20-30 is probably a good place to start, where you may feel some benefit. But if you already use 30-40, the bump up to 40-50 may make a difference.

I also always pick open-toe. For some reason I hate having stockings cover my whole foot--too confining. I now am only wearing the 40-50 on really bad days, or days I fear will be bad (first couple days of period). As I mentioned, they've nipped some migraines in the bud! But then also be careful when taking them off, because it's a huge, immediate sense of having my pressure fall. So be ready to lie down for a bit.

[ken870]

do the compression pantyhose help with the blood pooling in the abdominal area i was told at a medical supply store today that they did not help.

[mkoven]

You may need to order them custom. The ones I got from the lymphedema pt do. you can also get an abdominal binder.

[Ernie]

Hi,

I think it is worth trying one pair first and see how it goes. I know there is a big difference when I don't wear them, the stockings and the pantyhose. So believe you that they are more efficient that the 30-40 mm. I would like to have more pressure because my veins dilate instead of contracting so my problem is helped with compression.