TED Stockings

[Catwoman]

Hi

I had my operation 5 weeks ago and have been wearing TED stockings which come to below my knee. The area above the top of the stockings on the operated leg gets quite puffy by the end of the day and the stockings are uncomfortable now we're having some hot days. Does anyone have any idea how long these are usually worn for? I'll be taking aspirin until next Tuesday.

Cat

 

[mvo]

Hi Cat,
Six weeks for me - I am glad that it was not summer when I had to wear them.

My sister didn't have to wear them at all after her two hip replacements. When I walked with her through the hospital last year after her last surgery I pointed them out on the other patients. She was horrified - she thought those patients had their legs wrapped in bandages!

Monica

 

[Andy-LTHR]

Hi Cat

I was also told 6 weeks for the stockings. However I was taking different blood thinning medication, which finished after 5 weeks. I checked with my physio yesterday and he said I was OK to stop wearing them (I am now at 5 and a half weeks though!) as my swelling has lessened considerably and I am now walking and exercising a lot more.
I would check with your OS or your physio just to be safe, as the stockings are part of the blood clot prevention regime and I guess each case may be different. I am sure they would advise you if you gave them a quick call.:thmb:

I admit they are not the most pleasant things to wear (especially with my hairy legs - lol )
If I was having a real bad day with them I would take them off whilst I had my feet elevated, get some ice on to cool my legs down, and then put them back on before getting back on my feet. :hehe::thmb:

Hope this helps and that you get sorted out
Regards
Andy

 

[Catwoman]

Hi Monica and Andy,

I'm going for my next physio appointment on Friday so will keep them on until then and ask if they can come off yet. I'm doing more around the house and am getting out for my daily walk when it isn't raining.

Believe me you're not the only one with hairy legs Andy lol.

Cat

 

[Josephine]

I'm probably setting a very bad example here, but I only wore mine for the week I was in hospital!

I have very large calfs and found that with the additional swelling, the tops of the stockings were so tight they started acting like little tourniquets. So not only did I have deep creases develop but there were also blue/purple bruise marks showing in those creases as well. And they hurt!

In the end, one of the senior nurses agreed with me that they were probably more of a hazard than being without them so off they came, never to go back on! Of course I stepped up the ankle pumps and all but was prepared to take the risk. Considering the restriction, I really felt I was safer without them though.

But that was my choice and I knew I'd have no-one to blame but myself if things went awry. A lot of prayer was also involved! :pray: :hehe:

 

[aussie]

I was the same after both my hip and knee, they just don't stay up on my legs and roll down causing more of a problem than they were attempting to prevent, both times I only had them on for one day and the OS said to take them off. I had to keep moving my legs though which wasn't hard for me as I am one of those annoying people that jiggle their legs all the time.

If I could wear them successfully I would but I can't.

 

[Scott]

Only during my hospital stay. 2 nights. Whew, I was glad to get those things off.

 

[Texas]

Six weeks here as well, I couldnt stand those itchy, hot things...

 

[prairienut]

I didn't use TED stockings at all. Just took a regular aspirin twice a day for 4 weeks. As Jo often points out, each OS has his or her own protocol for clot prevention.
Gail

 

[julie43THR]

I took Coumadin for 2 weeks now baby aspirin for 4 more weeks. Ditched socks at 2 weeks. Orders said 6 weeks but dr oked at 6. Be sure to ASK as many of my orders have changed from original standard orders

 

[Judles]

Phew! No TEDS for me either! I hear they work great in the garage (????).

 

[Jamie]

Yeah...once they are washed up nicely, they make a great place to store onions and taters....

 

[marennorge]

My OS said wear them for the first 6 weeks during the day only, I could take them off to sleep at night. I was glad for that.

 

[leosmom]

I only had mine in the hospital too. My last night there, the night RN removed them for me to give me a break and I never saw them again. Hmmmm wonder who took off with them? :sct:

 

[Judles]

Security!! Haha!!!

 

[UTdave]

TEDs. . . worst thing about the entire process IMHO. . .

4 wks for me. A long 4 wks. . . Mine came to the upper thigh, though. Felt a little deviant wearing them, actually!

 

[loggon]

Hated the Teds also. My knee was so swollen that they kept cutting into my leg. I got to take my off at 4 weeks though I must admit I did take them off some days to just let my lets rest and my knee.
I iced a lot those days and kept my knee elevated.

UTDAVE did you go to Texas? You sound like a really good, concerned doctor. As I posted before I have always had the best doctors. Love them all they have saved my life several times even when I was pronouced dead. I fooled them.

 

[JudyS]

I never had to wear them. Lucky me
judy

 

[Aussie Bev]

I agree with the consensus.... the stockings are horribly uncomfortable!!!

I was thrilled when I went for my 4 week check with the OS and he said I could scrap wearing them! By 4 weeks I was moving around on two crutches quite a bit. I was advised to keep taking the daily asprin, but for a few weeks I had continually felt very nauseous and after juggling other meds became convinced that the asprin was the culprit - so took myself off that too just at the start of week 5. At 51/2 weeks now I am feeling good - no longer nauseous, no itchy legs and have started applying loads of cream to the very dry skin on my legs!

 

[Catwoman]

I went out for my walk today without my teds because I was finding that my feet felt numb when I walked with them on. They were better without. I'll see what the physiotherapist says tomorrow.