Compression stockings

[AireScottie]

How long do your compression stockings work?  Most brands state they should last 6 months.  Mine always start to stretch out after 2 weeks, and by 5-6 weeks, the tops of the thigh-highs are around my calves.  My doctor says this is common, but the medical supply fitter says he's never heard of this.  If you all have trouble too, I think we should let the companies know.  It just really steams my rice for something to cost that much and perform so poorly.

[auntissie]

I go to the Bali Hanes outlet store and get the Barely There brand of long leg compression pants and the tank top to compress the upper body.  It really makes a huge difference.  I put my compression hose underneath.  You can use the knee high hose if you have the pants on.  They breathe pretty well.  But when you add layers, your going to get hot.  I like these better than the Spanx and they hold up better.  They also make a thigh length that you can use with the thigh high hose.

[Kavbear]

I saw a doctor here yesterday who saw a neurologist from Mayo lecture on POTS and said to Try Spanx. They constrict the stomach area (not the footless long leg Spanx, just what I always called suck em in undies)
I am still not sure about wearing them in Florida heat on top of trying (key word) to wear the thigh highs....gaaa
Maybe if I went to dinner?! Maybe if I could not stand the thigh highs
Maybe Maybe Maybe...sorry I am just can't seem to wear these things.
I just wanted to throw this out there for anyone.

OH also I just got a letter from the place at Mayo where you buy these things that said if you buy two pairs of stockings you get a third free during June. If you want the number let me know!

[mtgardner]

Boy this is a good thread!  If you have that article I would really like a reference to it concerning not wearing knee highs.  My doctors were thinking start with knee highs and see how they work  Well at $110/pair...^&*&*$#(!  I did have problems with them as they seemed to make the vessels break on my thighs.  I think the thighs also needed the support.  I have not been wearing them because they also caused my BP to skyrocket.  I am thinking when I am off my diovan completely and my BP is needing constant support I will wear the stockings then.  It is really good to hear there are places where you don't have to break the bank to buy a pair of these.  Mine were professionally fitted but I did not get any real advice as to which to pick out as far as material was concerned.  I ended up with black shiny ones.  Oh my.  Not sure how those will be in summer.  If I have the article I can pass it along to my doctors and the next time I will get thigh highs.  

Marie

[Heiferly]

Ah.  Good to know there's someplace that sells them relatively cheaper for those on our site that don't have insurance coverage for them!!  Thanks for that info.  The URL to that site for everyone who wants it is:

http://www.foryourlegs.com/

I still think it's rotten that not all insurers cover these.  Hello?!?!  We SO *NEED* them!!  That's one thing that I'm really grateful to Medicaid for--they have been really great about covering my stockings, even when I switched to custom fitted (where they make a gajillion individual measurements separately on each of your legs and literally make stockings custom to the exact fit of your own legs ... which as you can imagine, costs more).  

One of the many injustices I see for patients with dysautonomia is with EVERYTHING being "off label" for us, we're constantly doing little dances with insurers trying to get coverage for things that really should be no-brainers for our disorder.  I would LOVE to see something in healthcare reform to help out everyone with rare diseases.  A girl can dream, can't she?  :-D

[auntissie]

You can order all the brands including the futuro and sigvarius from "For Your Legs".  You can see the compression, colors etc.  That's where I get all my stuff from.  It is at a nice discount too.

[auntissie]

The highest compression Futureo comes in is 20-30.  But to me they feel stronger.  I have had the knee highs and the panty hose in this brand.  I like them both.
Sigvarius is my favorite though.  But they cost 3 times more.  I have the cotton ones that breathe very nice in the heat and the elegance line for dressy.  I have these in the thigh highs.  Love them.  I recommend either brand.