Many thanks to the various folks here who have offered advice and guidance. I thought you might be pleased to hear that, one month on from starting to wear the stocking I'm finding it all a lot easier. Trial and error (and your good advice) have taught me how to avoid the Nora Batty look - I simply wasn't pulling the stocking up high enough to begin with; once I realised that it holds up much better.
Best of all, at my appointment today that was meant to be for a fitting of the stocking, as I'd managed to figure out how to wear it and so have been wearing it for a month now, the specialist nurse measured me up again. My leg has reduced from 60% larger than the other to 49% larger.
Am continuing with my 100 day exercise programme. Haven't lost any weight at all, but I'm definitely feeling fitter (38 days into it).
Am definitely feeling more optimistic than I was two months ago!