Not PMR, sorry, but would appreciate your answers!

[sennetta]

Can anyone here recommend a brand/source of compression tights which do the job and, as added bonuses......

1) Don't require the agility of an olympic athlete to get them up where they should be and then............

2) Actually stay up there where they are supposed to be for longer than 30 minutes, avoiding the effect of having to walk like a penguin.

Just wondering - I took out a mortgage on two pairs this week, buying online only to find that they are no better than much cheaper ones available on the high street.

[SnazzyD]

Hello. In the U.K. the compression hosiery you can buy is rated as the lowest compression, class 1. Above that you should be having a Doppler test of the lower legs to make sure your arterial supply is up to it. Class 1 is the same as flight socks and are the easiest to apply. Open toed ones are easiest to apply because you can put a plastic bag over your foot and lower leg, slip the stocking more easily over it and then you pull the bag back through via the toe hole. You can buy these applicators that come with a nice loop at the bottom to grab hold of.

The ones you bought, what was wrong with them?

[Blearyeyed in reply to SnazzyD]

Wow thanks for that , never thought of using a plastic bag !

[Soraya_PMR]

You should have a Doppler prior to using compression hosiery.

My MIL had some, via GP/Nurse that had a kind of plastic bag applicator ACTIGLIDE, see video here lohmann-rauscher.co.uk/comp...

[sennetta in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Thanks for your replies Snazzy and Soraya. Putting dopplers aside which have been done, I have a post surgical dvt and have been advised to wear compression hosiary.Apart from varicose veins in the legs my vascular health is good. The knee high socks don't go far enough up the leg and stockings are not an option for me, which leaves tights. Measurements plus height and weight have been recorded and the appropriate size ordered from the reputable supplier. Despite the fact that I am pain free, fit and reasonably flexible for my age (63), it is a pfaff putting the tights on. However they do fit and start off it the correct place before commencing an irritably rapid descent once I start moving around on my feet. They telescope in towards the knees from both ends and my toes become constricted aswell which is irritating and increasingly uncomfortable. Toeless ones don't seem to work for me either - the opening for the toes ends up rolled around my very high insteps which is very uncomfortable.

I was hoping for better from something more expensive! Thoughts?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

OH manages his stockings using this sort of thing

livingmadeeasy.org.uk/cloth...

There is a wide range of other types on the site (varying rather in price!! Liked the thought of the gun... livingmadeeasy.org.uk/cloth... )

He also uses adhesive

mediuk.co.uk/shop/medi-it-s...

There are a lot of different brands, including one designed to keep Irish dancers socks up - must be good!

And also makes me make him garters as he is so skinny it is difficult to get anyhting to stay up! I put a link up for suspenders the other day ...

[linda49]

I did a reply before noticing that my iPad had low battery- needless to say it died and I lost the post!! So here’s a shortened version………

I have had DVTs and pulmonary embolisms and have to wear compression hosiery now for life. I have heart problems as well as PMR. As Snazzy recommends , I had the Doppler tests to check on my vascular health before starting to wear them.

After trying the NHS made to measure version which wouldn’t stay up, I now use a U.K. company called Pebble.Com based in Cambridgeshire. Sorry I don’t know how to post a link from the iPad. I hope you can find it using a search engine. They offer tights, thigh highs and knee high socks in 3 different grades. I like their medium grade knee highs with wide calf as they don’t roll down on me. I dont need glue. I also bought some tights from them to attend my nieces wedding last year. Stayed put but just had to allow more time in the loo to get them down and back up again!!

The knee highs cost about £18 a pair - not cheap, but I’ve managed with 4 pairs this winter, washing them in a lingerie bag at 30 degrees in the washing machine with other clothes and hanging to dry. They also offer toeless tights and socks. I couldn’t get on with the Donner frame that PMRpro’s OH uses, but these seem reasonably easy to put on once you get used to the method. They supply a diagram to help.

The staff at Pebble are very helpful on the phone too if you need guidance with a particular size or fit problem.