Surgical Stockings

[Khartoum7]

Four weeks after my heart op and I'm still wearing my Mediven stockings as supplied by the hospital.(Yes I have taken them off and washed them a few times!)Does anyone know how long I should wear them for and also where I can buy another pair..and how much?

[MarmiteB]

Hey! So, I stopped wearing mine around 4-5weeks I think after my bypass. I spoke to the nurse and she said that I could stop wearing them when I was more active and mobile which at that point I was. As I’m sure you know, the stockings are there to protect you when your recovering and physically resting a lot.

In regards to buying more, you can get them on Amazon

[Khartoum7 in reply to MarmiteB]

Thanks for the prompt reply...I will check it out..

[Geoff51 Heart Star in reply to MarmiteB]

They are available on prescription if you ask your GP and like me have swollen feet and ankles all the time. i have been wearing them during the day for about 5 years and have an annual doppler test at the GP surgery. They are in a fetching shade of black! and also keep your feet warmer in winter with a pair of socks over the top of them. The only downside is they dont look good when wearing shorts or in the case of the ladies a skirt. one upside is they also help to prevent varicose veins.

[Pembrokeshirelass in reply to Geoff51]

Hi Geoff51I think if I was a man wearing black stockings in the summer, I might seriously think of swapping shorts for a kilt, and buying some of those fancy patterned-top socks (like some of the Royal males wear with their kilts) to put over the top of the stockings - might as well go the whole hog and make a style statement 😊😊!!

[Hidden]

Dear Khartoum7

Your heart nurse will tell you when best to stop using the dreaded compression stockings.

You should have been given two pairs on discharge from the hospital, if not you can buy them at any pharmacy, mine were about 9.50 pair but you could possibly get them on prescription.

I wore mine for 6weeks approx, but then I had water retention problems and had to wear them again {shorter ones thank God}

Take care, pleased to see that you are coming alone on your recovery

[Khartoum7 in reply to Hidden]

No I wasn't given anymore than the ones I was wearing on discharge. I'll check out the pharmacy today.We've communicated before...thanks for the advice again!

[Hidden in reply to Khartoum7]

Any help I can be just ask, its all a strange time, but you are getting there. And as for those bloody stockings, completely shocking things especially if you have gorilla legs like mine.Still had to wear them during winter and they helped keep me warm.

Always a plus point if your willing to look !

Take care, keep strong, time is moving on…………………………

[Hidden]

Hello

If I remember right I was told 6 weeks sometimes I would leave them of an hour or two when I felt they were irritating me but not saying I would tell anyone else to do that

You can get them from somewhere like Boots but if you do not know the size they gave you in Hospital then you need to be measured up , I am not sure if Boots will do that but I know your Doctors surgery should if you ask and can prescribe them

I hope you are recovering well x

[Khartoum7 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks....actually I don't mind them...I think I look quite fetching in them! I do sit around a lot so I'll give them another couple of weeks....best to be safe!

[Hidden in reply to Khartoum7]

Well what can I say to that one

I have to be honest I am now going into my 9th month after my Bypass op and with the warmer weather I am getting some swelling and my Doctor is going to come and measure me up for some again not to wear all the time but when I go through this phases of swelling

But I do not feel I will look as fetching in mine as you do in yours x

[gilreid1]

This was the advice I was given after my bypass procedure. Bought extra from Amazon and important you get the correct size

Information on TED stockings

[Khartoum7 in reply to gilreid1]

Great! many thanks for taking the time to reply...

[Nettekin in reply to gilreid1]

Great concise and informative reply!

[Alison_L in reply to gilreid1]

"If the stockings fall down, be sure to pull them up" - Nora Batty eat your heart out

[Bishop1]

Good morning. Hope you well today. After my bypass I wasn't given Fed stockings. I don't know why as one of my legs was very swollen. I had to inject anti clotting into my stomach for 2 weeks after coming home and move as much as possible. I was so pleased not to have those stockings. After I had a FOR I had to wear them for 6 weeks even I was having those anti clotting injections. Hope you make a good recovery as I am. Have a good day x

[Khartoum7 in reply to Bishop1]

Thanks for the reply...yes those tummy injections are not nice...I had to do them for a while too!

[Bishop1]

Total knee replacement not F OR. Take care x

[MountainGoat52]

Sorry, I can't provide any advice as I only wore them in hospital for 3 days after my bypass. I also only had a couple of injections into my stomach while I was in. Maybe this is all down to how they evaluate the individual. As a regular hill walker I was quite fit and was walking around the hospital to keep active. No problems with fluid retention.

[Khartoum7 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Yes it could be...I have to admit I do avoid hills like the plague!

[Khartoum7 in reply to MountainGoat52]

Yes you're probably right....I must admit I avoid hills like the plague!

[linnielizzie]

Morning - Six weeks - then had a ritual burning ceremony to send them to surgical stocking heaven..................

[Khartoum7 in reply to linnielizzie]

haha....I actually don't mind mine...might keep them after I stop using them...just in case!

[Becz123]

You should wear the stockings until your tops to stop especially whilst your less mobile. Ring the hospital and ask for another pair because they are measured for you so can’t just buy them over the counter unless you know what size to buy. They are good for at least 30 washes a pair and I think you can take them off a couple of hours per day.

[Khartoum7]

Thanks Becz...I will ring them after the BH

[Qualipop]

You can get the stockings from any chemist

[Khartoum7 in reply to Qualipop]

Actually I tried yesterday at one and they don't sell them.They say that you need your doctor to prescribe them and then apparently have to be measured for them! maybe they are just awkward up here?

[Qualipop in reply to Khartoum7]

MY local pharmacy doesn't stock them but will measure you and order them. Good luck

[Cruise1]

They are extremely useful for flying. I still wear mine for holiday flights as does my wife. Hers were from knee surgery.

[RailRover]

6 weeks I was told. They drove me round the twist.

[Khartoum7 in reply to RailRover]

Well it's been four weeks for me so far....I'll give them another two or three weeks.Luckily I don't really mind them!

[Cornishbeach]

HiDon't confuse anti embolism stockings with compression stockings.

Check with the Cardiac nurses. If you are more mobile you are at less risk of a blood clot. If you are still very sedentary then keep wearing them.

When you finally give them up it's heaven!