DVT deep vein thrombosis forum |
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compression stocking
Started by Ben |
Posted: January 12, 2008 at 19:01 | |
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Hi all- I have a DVT in my right leg w/ factor 5. Thing is...I feel no pain, at least notlike some of the stories on this forum. Maybe I'm lucky? heh . Anyway, do you all wear the compression stockings? My doctor hasn't mentioned it yet, but I am wondering if he forgot or something. This is all very new to me, as i was just diagnosed about 3 weeks ago. I do have swelling in my leg, ad its worse after working all day.(I'm a construction worker) I'm on 5-7.5 mg of warfarin. nice to meet you all. I'm 37 and a non smoker. Thanks. 3530
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #1 by Diane |
Posted: January 12, 2008 at 20:01 | |
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Hi Ben and welcome to this forum. From what I understand most people do wear compressions hose after a DVT. I've read that some people are ordered by their docs to wear them for a full 2 year period after recovery. I am still wearing mine 3+ years later and have no intention of stopping as I like how my legs feel. My docs stated firmly that they are an excellent idea, do no harm, so why not wear them as a little extra insurance against future trouble. I buy mine online and they look good and feel great. They are black knee highs and you could wear them under your construction socks. Write back if you want the website to order them. They're $45.00 and my insurance pays for mine even though they're bought online. I do send the insurance my doc's prescription along with the receipt from the online company. Let me know if you need more info re: ordering. 3535
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #2 by Justin |
Posted: January 12, 2008 at 20:37 | |
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Ben, I am a 31 year old construction worker with dvt. I started wearing compression stockings a few weeks after I was diagnosed. They really do help. I only wear it on the leg that had the clot, and I wear it everyday. 3537
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #3 by Lisa E |
Posted: January 12, 2008 at 21:40 | |
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Ben I have to wear a compression stocking on the leg that I have my DVT, however I was measured by a DVT nurse to ensure correct size of stocking. I was told that you should be measured and fitted with these so may be worth asking your doctor, it may be that they haven't yet recommended due to the swelling. I didn't get mine until 2 weeks after diagnosis. To be honest you don't even notice you are wearing them some days 3539
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #4 by Diane |
Posted: January 13, 2008 at 04:39 | |
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If you can find an excellent "custom order" supplier who can fit them professionally to your legs, then you are well on your way to success. However....when I went to the supplier recommended by my doc in Seattle it was a disaster. Store had a trainee on duty who didn't have a clue and then I learned it would take 6 weeks to have them delivered. I needed them that day, not 6 weeks later. I practically stomped out of the store I was so angry with the poor customer service. I lodged a complaint with the owner later and I think that trainee had been let go by then. No matter I wasn't returning. At that time I was still wearing the white hospital-issue thigh-high stockings that had a tendency to slip down. That's when I went on line to search and found the company I like so well. They had an easy to read chart and I nailed my size on the first try. The hose was delivered to me within about 5 business days and they fit like a dream. I get 20-30 compression in black knee highs and wear them all the time. They feel good and my legs never swell even if I walk, sit, or stand for long periods. This method has worked for me so if anyone else is having trouble with the custom order people, let me know and I'll post the website I use. 3544
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #5 by Ben |
Posted: January 13, 2008 at 14:58 | |
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Thanks for all the replies. Diane, i would like the web address to order them, thank you. First I'll check with my doctor about it, but it seems as though I'll be needing them for sure. Glad to hear they come in black ;). Thanks again. 3550
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #6 by Maria |
Posted: January 13, 2008 at 16:24 | |
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Hi Ben... and a question for those who wear the stockings.... I was also diagnosed with a DVT with Factor 5 in my right leg about 3 weeks ago and don't have much pain... now. After reading the posts about the stockings I was also wondering why my general MD hadn't mentioned them. I brought it up with the hematologist. He said I only needed to wear them to help with circulation, on long drives and airplane trips. Now, after reading the posts and finding that a lot of people get benefit from them, I'm not sure if I should buy them or not. Well, if I don't ask you all these stupid questions I'll never know the real deal! Questions for those who wear them: Are they just for pain? swelling? or? How exactly do they help you? When do you wear them? When do you definitely not wear them (bed) ? Thanks for your help! 3554
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #7 by Diane |
Posted: January 13, 2008 at 17:12 | |
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Ben, here is the website I've been talking about. If you need them shipped out of the U.S. I would suggest calling their customer service to see how that works and what the shipping costs will be. Could be too high to be feasible. I see they have a sale on men's stockings right now...kind of nice. http://www.my-healthandsafety.com/my-supportstockings/index.htm Maria, I hate to say this, but sometimes General MD's (GP's) don't know enough about DVT to give an opinion on wearing compression hose. The Hematologist should write you a prescription if you ask for one. Make sure they write it for 2 pair. My vascular doc wears them all the time at work, and I took that as good advice since he is an expert on blood vessel function. He says they are good for our legs so if that is true for a normal person I take it to be good advice for people who have had problems. DVT is about as a big a circulatory problem as one could experience. Three years after my DVT I wear mine 14 hours/day, 7 days/week and my legs have never felt better. Better than they felt as a 30 year old pre-DVT. 3555
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #8 by Bob |
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 02:50 | |
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Ben, Wear the stocking. I have DVT and long family history with this. No open ankel support hose allowed but open to is fine. Below the ankle seems to be the most likely place to develop venus ulcers. Best I can tell it's part of what they call post thrombosis syndrome. Short version is you get a hole in your foot that will not heal. Do a search on compression stockings and many sites will come up. JOBST and Mediven are popular brands you can search on that as well. They have size charts to order from. There's an article out of U of Washington Med school that says DVT patients should be using 30-40 mm Hg stockings and are rarely told to do so. 3562
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #9 by Diane |
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 02:58 | |
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Bob, Very interesting your sharing about the article out of UW. I was treated for my DVT in the Seattle area (UW land) and my vascular surgeon is a top specialist in that area. He wrote my prescriptions for 20-30 strength stockings. The site I contributed above sells the JOBST, but they are unattractive and my doc thinks patients won't wear ugly ones so he supports the concept of wearing decent looking knee highs in 20 - 30 strength. Of course this advice would not be given until the situation had been stabilized and that is very individual. 3564
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #10 by Sharon |
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 06:02 | |
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Maria- There are no stupid questions. You don't know what you don't know until you find out that you didn't know it, but by then you do know something about it and usually found out w/ the 'stupid question'--so it's really not ever--stupid I mean! So, to address all of your questions directly: Are they just for pain? Yes. swelling? Yes. or? --Both, and as Bob said, to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). After DVT, our valves in our veins can become incompetent for a few reasons. (We have the same kinds of valve flaps as we have in our hearts to keep the blood flowing up from our feet and back to the heart--basic back-wash prevention!)First, the valves become embedded in the clots and when our bodies dissolve the clot, they dissolve the valvles as well. Secondly, as happened in my case, they become damaged from procedures: thrombolysis catheters in and out of the length of the vein shooting Tpa into the clot and/or angioplasty (balloons inserted past the clot, inflated and pulled out to pull out clot, etc. Finally, as also happened in my leg, valves in veins that never clotted may become incompetent bcs they expand to accomodate additional flow, and the valves no longer meet in the middle. SO--the little valve lesson was to help you see that they are very important and when any of these things happen, we have PTS--meaning our valves are gone, we get back-wash and pooling of blood that causes both swelling and pain in people to various degrees, not to mention the leg ulcers from lack of circulation to leg tissues. How exactly do they help you? In a long term study of those who wore them for one year or more, half as many people who wore them got PTS. That is significant, bcs 60-70% of DVT patients get PTS. They help by causing the squeezing action that our muscles normally do to assist in pushing the blood back up our legs. They keep the blood from pooling in the lower leg, and generally make your legs feel better--if they are the right fit. Like Diane, I had some bozo fit me wrong and $108 plus tax later, have some gathering behind my knees on one pair of Jobst panty support stockings--that could enhance clotting rather than inhibit it. Fit is very important! When do you wear them? As much as you can stand them, but definitely when you will be up on your feet a lot and unable to elevate your leg(s). When do you definitely not wear them (bed) ? The only definitely's are probably in the shower and during sex. However, I suppose if you don't want to go to the trouble of taking them off and back on, you could bath in them like skin instead of washing and cut holes in strategic places, or just don't get the panty-hose style and sex won't be a problem either unless your spouse is picky about those kinds of things! Now for a different point of view after all this great info about stocking benefits. Personally--I hate them w/ a passion! (Tell us how you really feel Sharon--okay, I will.) I never had much swelling and since I already have PTS--I don't wear them unless I have to teach a class and stand a lot. They burn my toes, I get clostrophobic in them, I have hot flashes bcs they took my estrogen away and the hose make me feel like I will loose my ever-living mind and composure and I live in Texas for pity's sake! Not to mention they gave me a bad back from struggling to get them on. All that to say--I hate them and they can't do much for me anymore besides stop leg fatigue. That's not worth it for all the down side. Now if Bob can tell me I might face leg ulcers for some reason I don't understand if I don't wear them--I could be pursuaded to rethink this matter! But otherwise I will sell my hose to any bidder! 3570
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #11 by Diane |
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 15:16 | |
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Sharon, Thanks for all the useful information on why we need to wear our compression hose, but your last paragraph takes us back to what I have been saying all along. If you are not going to wear your compression hose for all of the reasons you quoted in your last few sentences, then get some that are comfortable that you will wear day in and day out. This is exactly the advice that my vascular doc gave me. Get hose you WILL wear. There are very decent 20-30 compression knee highs available online for $45.00. They fit perfectly and they are comfortable and attractive...I wear black, but that is my preference as they are relatively sheer and attractive with most outfits I wear. With the exception of the hottest part of the Texas summer, I guarantee that you will be able to pull these hose on every morning with minimal effort and will wear them for at least 12 hours/day. That is really all you need to do to keep your legs feeling good and you should have no swelling with these knee highs as getting the blood back above the knees with ease is the main goal. I've posted the link for the online company in a post above, and NO I do not own stock in this company :) I promote them because they have served me so well. 3580
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #12 by Maria |
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 16:44 | |
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Thanks to all for the great information... and venting! We all need to do that sometime! Diane, Thanks for the website. I checked it out. Do you know if knee highs are adequate if your DVT is from your thigh to your calf? Perhaps I should get thigh highs. 3585
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #13 by Diane |
Posted: January 15, 2008 at 03:34 | |
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Maria, I can't speak for your particular situation, but my clots started as superficial in the lower calf and ended up pooling into a massive life-threatening DVT in my groin. My vascular doc wrote me a prescription for knee highs and he stressed that it is the wearing of them consistently that matters. If you're going to dump your thigh-highs because they don't feel good, then you're better off with knee-highs than with nothing. My knee highs do everything I want them to do...no leg swelling or tiredness when I wear them. If you are seeing a vascular surgeon and/or hematologist ask their opinion on what type to get and get a prescription from those docs so you can submit the bill to insurance. I would not necessary take the word of a GP because few of them are well-versed in post-DVT follow up unfortunately. 3590
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #14 by Sharon |
Posted: January 15, 2008 at 07:57 | |
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Diane-- For all my griping, I did order some of the knee highs you recommend awhile back. They are easier, but my back is so sensitive, that I still pull it out putting these knee highs on as well. I also have arthritis in both thumbs, which doesn't help. I'm just about to turn 50 and feel 80 some days! Thanks for the link tho, I was grateful for something not so hot since I'm having my own personal summers all year round! 3592
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #15 by Mick C |
Posted: January 15, 2008 at 18:40 | |
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I have finally understood why my GP was reluctant to renew my prescription for stockings. He wanted to get my ABPI level tested before prescribing stockings. This was tested and my level is 1.22 which means that I can safely wear stockings. The test involved measuring my blood pressure in my arm and then measuring the pressure above my ankle. 3608
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #16 by Ben |
Posted: January 15, 2008 at 21:10 | |
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well, I'm thankful for all these replies. I spoke to my Hemotologist(sp) and he prescribed a them for me. When I asked my GP about them, all he said was"just take the coumadin, thats whats important". Geez could he be more vague? You should of seen the look on his face when I asked him about post thrombosis syndrome! Anyway, thanks for all the info everybody. I appreciate it. 3613
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #17 by Diane |
Posted: January 16, 2008 at 05:12 | |
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Sharon, I totally relate about pulling on the compression hose, even the knee highs that we both own. When I was still somewhat weak following my DVT (for at least 6 months or more) I found it more difficult than I do now. It gets better with time as you find the most comfortable position to pull them on. My thumbs don't have arthritis exactly, but I do get pain in my hands as I pull in the socks. And I have been known to break out in a sweat as I accomplish the task. I find that putting my leg up on my bed and taking a sideways approach to each leg is the best for me. I've just turned 60, and sometimes I wonder how on earth I will do this at age 80, but that's the least of my worries if I live that long. All I know is that wearing these hose for at least 12 hours per day keeps my legs looking good and feeling great. Glad that website worked for you, Sharon. By the way we haven't ever discussed laundering support hose, but I wash mine in Woolite and hang them to dry. I find that washed this way a will last me at least a year or longer. Now I have about 10 pair (bought over time, all with prescriptions and paid by insurance). Some of the oldest pairs are now going on 3 years old and are still functional. Hope this helps everyone wondering about support hose...they don't have to be ugly. 3622
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #18 by Sharon |
Posted: January 16, 2008 at 06:12 | |
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Quite honestly, I think I have to admit that my aversion to the stockings is really how I focus my feelings about DVT--they are a visible target for it and annoying enough to be deserving in their own right! I have a tendency to handle tremendous stressors by depending on God for my strength, but then being caught off guard by what are small annoyances bcs my defenses are down and I am not leaning on my source of comfort and peace. 3624
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Re: compression stocking
Reply #19 by Diane |
Posted: January 16, 2008 at 16:06 | |
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Sharon, you are still early in the recovery process since it is less than a year since you had your DVT. Unlike you, during my healing period I had the worry of not being able to walk (my knee needing replacement after it was put into crisis mode following hospitalization for DVT). Anyhow the knee became such a concern, the compression hose were truly the lowest priority to worry over. I'm not sure I'll ever like having to wear them, but 3+ years later they are simply part of my life and I don't think about it much...just do it. After reading your complete story on our other forum I can see that it will take you a full year or longer to heal emotionally from your ordeal. We tend to overlook emotional healing, but it is on its own timetable that does not necessarily correspond with our body's healing schedule. We have all been through a lot, but you will feel much much better by the time you reach the one-year anniversary of your ordeal. If you gain strength from prayer that will be a great comfort to you, but everyone is different and has to find their strength wherever they can. 3640
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