Support stockings

[Annieosb]

Anyone else finding these things so difficult to put on? With breathing problems, tennis elbow and oxygen therapy.....add to that living alone..

[sassy59]

Ask your GP surgery for a device to help with that. They should be able to provide you with one. The support stockings are difficult I agree so hoping you can get the help you need. Good luck. Xxxx

[Annieosb in reply to sassy59]

Thank you, was there yesterday and never mentioned a device, despite having difficulties x

[sassy59 in reply to Annieosb]

That’s not great is it. You put the stocking over it, put your foot in stocking and use pulls either side to pull it up. They should be able to get you one. Xxxx

[coughee]

Morning, Are they are open at the toes? If so as a temporary measure until you get sorted you could try this. If you have a silk square like a hanky or scarf try putting that around your foot leave a “tab” longer than your toes for removal then putting the stocking over that, it should slide on easier and then remove the silk item and once you’ve caught your breath pull the rest up.

Hope this makes sense.

[Annscottie]

I found these stockings a nightmare to put on too. If you Google how to put on compression stockings and then click the video tab there are some You Tube videos that might help. Also there is one where they suggest using a plastic bag - a bit like coughee's suggestion of a silk scarf.

I spent £18 on an aid but it wasn't that great.

In the end my husband helped me to get them on but I have very tickly feet and that didn't make it any easier. After 45 years together we nearly divorced over compression stockings!

I wonder if one of the nurses at your surgery could give you a few tips?

Good luck Annie! I feel your pain and frustration!

[Blackbird9 in reply to Annscottie]

I know it's not funny but your comment made me giggle with ticklish feet and divorce ... I had a picture in my head from years ago when my husband had to wear them what a mess we got into with them ..

I was crying with laughter behind hospital bed curtains and a matronly nurse pulled the curtains back and gave us both into trouble...

a few years later we came face to face at an interview with each other ... I recognised her straight away ... Needless to say I became her boss as I was clinical lead in one of biggest teaching hospitals in the UK ...she had remembered me from that time and we became firm friends for many years till she passed away at much too young an age .... I do hope the poster gets sorted ... try to roll them up and slowly roll them over you feet don't rush doing but rolling is the way forward and take care of you 💜💜

[Annscottie in reply to Blackbird9]

Are you Scottish Blackbird.....haven't heard the phrase 'gave us both into trouble' since leaving Glasgow many years ago.

[Blackbird9 in reply to Annscottie]

I am a born and bred Glaswegian ... but lived in Hampshire since 1987 .. I'm from Govan originally then we moved to Cardonald to a big 5 apartment house after I was born as I was number 13 ... Where are you from Anne xx

[Annscottie in reply to Blackbird9]

Crikey number 13!!!

Yes I'm born and bred Glaswegian too but left Knightswood, Glasgow in 1965 to move to North East England. Now live in the Midlands Lots of relatives still in Scotland. Funny how a wee phrase can take you right back!

[Karenanne61]

When I had to wear these, very attractive, stockings in hospital the nurses did a very clever thing with plastic bags, as already mentioned. The stockings just slid on and the bag was pulled out through the toe hole. Good luck!

[sandraelizabeth]

unfortunately can’t give you any tips to get them in , but maybe a laugh.

I am in Athens on holiday and had to have emergency surgery last week .

Surgeon said compression stockings to wear for 2 weeks . The ones they gave me were thigh length and kept rolling down.

He said once back at the appartment I could buy knee length ones. We couldn’t find a pharmacy so I told my husband I will cut them down.

No scissors, so I used the bread knife and bread board to saw through them . It worked! Now mega hot in 35 degrees.

[Millyboo710]

I’ve been wearing them for 7 years, closed toe ones. I am on oxygen 24/7 and get very puffed putting them on. It’s harder if OH tries to help. Just accept it’s going to take a while to get them on, try to stay calm. Maybe increase your oxygen while getting dressed?

[B0xermad]

I had a cage contraption at first but hard work,then I was given a soft device that you put on with the support stockings which is lighter and easy to use ,chat to the gp nurses they may have one there

[LissacFrance]

In a word YES. I only wore them for one day and found what looked very much like burn marks around ankles. I`ve gone back to inexpensive ski socks from Aldi. Stockings were taken over by grandson for him to wear when out running. Perhaps the fact this he is built like a beanpole helps. He`s even more like a beanpole at present after 6 hour operation to remodel jaw. Top and bottom jaw wired together so only able to take liquids. Lost about 5kg in week after op. Jaw is now slighly movable so he is able to talk and has progressed to liquidies food. BTW op was a day surgery job. In att 7 am, out at 7 pm.

Have a good day everybody, wherever you are, Chris.

[helen1946]

Hi I managed to get device from amazon about 15 pounds I think there is a long handled one and a short.handled one I bought the long handled one .can be used alone or with another person to assist.has been a very good buy.search for device to assist with compression stocking or ask you Dr.good luck

[Ergendl]

I tried them once and just bulged out at the top

[Timberman]

There are lots of tools to help - search Google with 'support sock fitter' - this is a shortened so safe link to one shorturl.at/ekMWZ

[Collienut]

Hi, not sure which ones you have, but our practice changed to these last year (sorry don't know how to do the click thing) mediuk.co.uk/shop/duomed-so...

They are very soft and stretchy, and breathable, I found they work better than the ones that are so tight they roll down. I don't need my aid to put them on, and the nurse showed me how to put them on correctly.

I had problems originally and my GP surgery made me an appointment with the rep from the support stockings company. She brought samples for me to try and I was prescribed the ones that were the best fit for me, so might be worth asking about. x

[Annieosb in reply to Collienut]

Thank you for the link and advice.

[Alberta56]

Lots of sympathy. I was given by the nurse a soft, shiny device to fit inside the stocking (mine are open toed). This helps a bit, but I often have trouble getting the wretched things off. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Annieosb in reply to Alberta56]

Amazon do them with zips at the side! I hate them and wonder what else can be done. It is aggravating my tennis elbow!

[Alberta56]

I don't suppose my surgery would prescribe stockings with zips, if I wanted them. They have recently cut my ration down to one pair every 3 months instead of 2 pairs every 6 months.

[Annieosb in reply to Alberta56]

No, you would have to pay for them. Amazon £8.99

[Cruise1]

My wife had that problem after hip replacement surgery and found a 2 piece blue plastic device on eBay for about £7. You roll stocking on curved hollow device and then use the other part to manoeuvre. Much better than plastic thing with fabric straps which she had tried previously after knee replacement.

[Ern007]

I just had an op and have to wear these socks every time. They pass them to you, 5 days later you manage to get them on. Nightmare.

[Alberta56 in reply to Ern007]

They should help you put them on and off immediately after an op.☹☹

[Keem59]

Hi Annie.

I've got a great tip.. You slide a small plastic bag on your foot first, then slip the sock on. Hopefully it's an open toed sock, but I suppose you could easily rip the bag out. Hope this helps.

[grahame151]

Hi Annie - I was measured up for compression socks but a nurse at the surgery saw me and thought I'd never get them on and measured me up for wraps. Ankle to knee, layered but I couldnt do them on my own. Maybe worth asking about them; comfort wise they are a breeze.