Do you wear compression stockings?

[halbashes]

Do you wear compression stockings as a part of your treatment for Dysautonomia?  Elaborate below if you will like.

[AireScottie]

Like Heiferly, I can't say enough about my 40-50 compression thigh highs, but it kind of depends on how bad your symptoms are.  If you're one of us crazy people that passes out when you get up from the couch, get halfway up the stairs, or roll over in bed, then these should be your new best friend.  Mine still don't last six months, but at least when the 40-50s lose compression, they only drop to 30-40.  Those pretty looking silky 30-40s drop down to 15-20 after just a few weeks in my experience.  For those of you in warmer climates, though, I don't know how you could wear them in summer.

Just FYI for those who can't get them covered or need more pairs - there's a company called Ames-Walker that you can buy from without an Rx, at least up to 30-40, and they have their own off brand as well that's MUCH cheaper.  If you have already been sized by a trained specialist and don't fall between sizes, you might want to check them out.  Just google them to get the website; there's also a paper catalog.

[Want to feel well!!!]

I was given an Rx for knee highs by a so called "expert" in the field...ha, a waste of money and time...my local cardio said don't even bother with them.  He said for any results they have to be thigh high.

He was right in my case...the knee highs didn't do anything to help my situation.

Thanks for sharing your thigh high experience...perhaps I might reconsider and try them at some point.

Wanna :o)

[laurab2818]

Thanks so much.  

Laura

[Heiferly]

MediCARE will not cover compression stockings for any diagnosis code whatsoever.  :-(  For some reason, MediCAID does, but they don't.  

http://healthylegs.com/content/Questions_about_Medicare-Insurance_and_Support_Stockings.htm

Occasionally Medicare Advantage plans cover things above and beyond what Medicare itself covers, so I went ahead and called BCBS in my state and they said they do not cover compression stockings.  You may want to double-check with your state's BCBS, just in case the coverage varies.

To answer your other question, two dx codes that may apply to dysautonomia cases are orthostatic hypotension or venous insufficiency.  

[laurab2818]

I have Medicare Advantage/Blue Cross Blue Shield and they did not cover my stockings but I don't remember what diagnosis code was given.  What other codes have worked?

Mine are 20-30 and seem to help some, but I am wondering if I should try 30-40 when I am ready to replace these.

[halbashes]

Medicaid has paid my compression stockings in full when written for Orthostatic Hypotension.

[Heiferly]

Tonya,

Did your doc give you a prescription?  You can't get any of the ones with high enough compression for dysautonomia without a Rx, as far as I know.  I think the highest you can get over the counter is 10 or 15, and the lowest recommended for us is 20-30mmhg.  Also, they are quite costly so you want to try to do it through your insurance if at all possible.  There are specific diagnosis codes that increase the likelihood that your insurer will cover them, or so it seems from anecdotal evidence.  For medicaid, you can actually find the ones that are approved online in the medicaid statutes for your state if you're adept at internet searching; I'm not sure about how to find them for other insurers, but they may be fairly consistent across the board if you want to a heads-up on the two that I know of that are most applicable to us.  Which is to say, your doctor doesn't need to lie on the rx or anything, but the diagnosis code that goes for these isn't one for dysauto or pots, it's one that's symptom-specific, and I guess they expect doctors to be psychic and know exactly what to write to get it approved since they can't just write our primary diagnosis code??

[tonyad]

  Thanks for the bit of info. I would certainly agree that the thigh high ones would be much better for having to use the restroom. (lol).
I was told by electro-cardio doc to get some but have not as of yet. It is however on my
"To-Do" list.

Take Care,
~Tonya

[Heiferly]

I know I've sung the praises of my stockings on several threads since I got these new ones this year, but I'll repeat it here for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

I have custom 40-50 mmhg thigh-high graduated compression stockings from Mediven.  They're no dream to get on and off, they're uncomfortable at times, but they do make a marked difference in my standing blood pressure and orthostatic symptoms for short periods of upright posture (0-10 minutes, I'd say).  Beyond 10 min, I start to get diminishing effectiveness over time if I remain upright.  

I've had ones as low as 20-30, and there is no comparison between those and the 40-50s.  If you've tried lower compressions and they haven't done much for you, you may want to give a higher compression a shot.  (Not everyone needs that much though, so it's probably best to start with whatever your doctor recommends for you.)

I will never go back from thigh-highs to the waist-high panty-hose style ones because it's easier to use the restroom without having to pull stockings up and down every time.  I'm not sure how much better custom fitting is than regular, but I have no complaints about mine.