Abdominal Compression

[Pattie]

I now have a confirmed diagnosis of POTS and my doctor is recommending stronger compression - either waist-high hose or abdominal compression band.  I would like to try the abdominal compression.  Can anyone recommend a brand that works well.  I am a small person - 4'10" and 90 lbs.  I am concerned about getting one not designed for small people.

[Pistol]

Dear @Pattie - the best way to find something right for your size is to try a medical supplies store. I - as you - am very petitie, and most small compression garments do not fit me OTC. I would check online where the nearest medical supply store is and check in with them. They can measure you and order the right fit. BTW - my sister ( who also has POTS and also is quite petite ) swears by her abdominal compression hose. 

[MikeO]

I agree with @Pistoland try to get one fitted from a Medical supply store. I was able to find one at my local Hospital. I would not suggest buying one off the shelf at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, I did and it did not fit well and did not have enough compression and was awkward to wear so i gave it up.

[Jyoti]

As an alternative to what @Pistol and @MikeO have done and found helpful (they  are great sources, but in case their suggestions do not work for you @Pattie)--Satish Raj--a Canadian doctor/POTS specialist/researcher has looked into the niceties of compression garments and found that the knee socks are not very helpful, thigh highs are better, waist highs better still.  This has all been studied and goes along with your doctor's advice.  https://www.jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.040

He also said that sometimes the medical grade compression garments are so hard to get on and off that people stop using them.  He suggests that if this is the case, some compression is better than none and he has a lot of patients who use SPANX shape wear, which I believe can be purchased in a large range of sizes.  I found that my medical grade compression garments were so torturous to put on and take off that I did in fact fail to use them daily.  I DO use SPANX all the time and find them helpful. 

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I am 5’4 1/2 “ and 122 pounds.  I was hospitalized in February 2021 for what turned out to be an ocular migraine due to high blood pressure.  I took the blood pressure log I have been keeping since 2014 to the hospital with me.  After mentioning that I also had orthostatic hypotension one of the neurologists, after looking at my log, suggested a waist compression panel.  He sent me home with one, 9” 3 panel binder (30” x 45”).  I used it almost continuously for several weeks when I had low BP symptoms.  

It is adjustable with velcro.  I had it on fairly tight and it allowed me to function much better.  In January of this year a new cardiologist put me on Droxidopa 100 mg as needed for low BP less than 100.  The combo of Droxidopa and the compression binder allowed me to have a near normal existence.  It was only a nuisance when sitting, but still so much better than without it. I used Spanx pre Dysautonomia, and found this binder much easier to use.  I also tried compression socks but when dealing with both very high and very low BP, getting the socks off and on multiple times a day was too much trouble, and they really didn’t help at all.

BTW the hospital episode ultimately helped diagnose me with Dysatonomia from Parkinson’s.  

I ended up ordering one from amazon. This one is considered Medical Grade.

Good Luck  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MikeO]

@Jyotiare boys allowed to wear SPANX? Haha never seen them in the mens department. Can't see wearing them in public but i am sure i could hide them under my jeans.

[Sushi]

Another alternative is to go to a sports store and look at the binders (they are probably called supports) and try some on they  usually have Velcro closings that allow you to adjust how tight they are. I think weight lifters use them.  I have also used a girdle that fastens with hooks and eyes or zips up. Spanx just don’t have enough compression.

[Jyoti]

22 hours ago, MikeO said:

@Jyotiare boys allowed to wear SPANX?

LOL.  You've got two legs and a belly above them (I'm assuming) just like women do, so I think Spanx'd work.  And while it is possible that Kim Kardashian wears her own brand of shape wear out in public, no one else does so if you hide whatever it is under your clothes, you'll be right 'with the program!'

[Concerned Mom]

Hi, I'm new here. I just wanted to say that if your Dr will write a prescription for an abdominal compression band then your insurance might pay for it. Also make sure to go to a medical store that is an approved medical provider with your insurance company. Good luck. I hope it helps.

[LaurPB]

Hello I’m new to this compression thing because I’ve had Long Covid for two years but just got diagnosed with dysautonomia. 
My long Covid doctor recommended an abdominal compression and if not that then waist high compression leggings. My question is, do the hose have to go over my feet? Or can they start at the ankle? And Per advice on this site or another somewhere I saw that a back brace might work because it’s more easily adjustable to loosen it when you’re sitting. So i have a I’m using a nice multi strap back brace for easily adjustable compression, but it’s like I have to choose between my upper abdomen in my lower abdomen because it’s not that tall. Are the medical grade real compression braces taller, are they going to cover the whole torso? 

Thanks for any practical advice you can give,

Laur