2 weeks pre-op - TED stockings: what compression factor?

[Guest guest]

YO, Hippies!

Having realized that I'm just slightly over two weeks pre-op (and

having planned a little pre-op vacation in Italy before putting my

left hip into De Smet's hands) today I went shopping for a few

articles that I will need after August 10.

In addition to buying a pair of elbow-crutches (a nice kind with

a " special " handle which, they say, makes them usable even for a

long time without any kind of cramps in your hands) and a toilet

raiser, I also wanted to buy a second pair of TED stockings, knowing

that I'll be given just 1 pair by the Gent Hospital.

Well, when I asked for TED stockings at the Ortho Shop here in

Brussels, they politely asked me: " And what compression factor do

you need your stockings to be, Sir? "

Doh.... I did not know what to answer...

I didnt even know that TED stocking with different degrees of

compression existed!

So, for now, I just didn't buy any stockings.

Well, does any of you already resurfaced hippies (especially the

Belgian ones) happen to know what compression factor TED stockings

were used on them??

I will also email De Smet and ask him this, but I thought maybe

someone in here might know.

Thanks for your help (might be worthwile to know this also for other

future hippies)

Regards from .....HOT BRUSSELS!

(REALLY feels like Summer here today: FINALLY!

Al

[Guest guest]

Al, the TEDS that you will get post-op are relatively low in

compression factor, maybe a 15-20 mmHg if I am remembering

correctly. If you explained the situation to the gentleman he

should have been able to aim you in the correct direction. People

with venous disease such as varicosities or a history of DVT use

compression stockings with higher factors, 35 mmHg or higher.

Just an FYI about why the stockings: The veins have an incredible

ability to hold almost 2/3 of the body's blood since the walls are

not as muscular as the arteries and they can expand. Once they

expand and the calf pump is not activated (i.e. when you are

immobilized in bed hopped up on pain meds) the blood is relying on

respiratory changes to get the blood back up to the heart.(And

sometimes your respiration is slow when you are hopped up on those

pain meds). This sets your body up for venous stasis or slow blood

flow which allows the blood time to clot. This is bad, very bad.

So the nice docs put those lovely leg squeezers on our legs for the

first couple days post op and we get those lovely compression

stockings. The stockings exert pressure on the leg and they do not

allow the veins to expand and hold more blood than they normally

would. Don't think that a highter compression factor would be a

good way to go because what you gain prophylactically you will lose

dreadfully in trying to get yourself into one, especially a thigh

stocking. In venous disease patients these have the lowest

compliance because they are so difficult to get into, and those

patients have not had a hip resurfaced or replaced.

You should have someone who checks in on you and reviews your risk

factors with you to see if you need something stronger than asprin

as an anti-coagulant. At Sinai in Baltimore they sent a lovely

gentleman, my first full day post op, who spent maybe 7.5 minutes

with me but still charged me something absurd like $180 to assess my

situation! You may want to do this with someone pre-op and see if

you can avoid padding anyone else's pocket.

Not sure if any of my info helped but it was something that I have

had experience with so I finally found a comfort level to jump in,

after being a voyeur on and off for the past year!

Good luck, Peggy

C+ 7/7/03 Mont

> YO, Hippies!

>

> Having realized that I'm just slightly over two weeks pre-op (and

> having planned a little pre-op vacation in Italy before putting my

> left hip into De Smet's hands) today I went shopping for a few

> articles that I will need after August 10.

>

> In addition to buying a pair of elbow-crutches (a nice kind with

> a " special " handle which, they say, makes them usable even for a

> long time without any kind of cramps in your hands) and a toilet

> raiser, I also wanted to buy a second pair of TED stockings,

knowing

> that I'll be given just 1 pair by the Gent Hospital.

>

> Well, when I asked for TED stockings at the Ortho Shop here in

> Brussels, they politely asked me: " And what compression factor do

> you need your stockings to be, Sir? "

> Doh.... I did not know what to answer...

> I didnt even know that TED stocking with different degrees of

> compression existed!

> So, for now, I just didn't buy any stockings.

>

> Well, does any of you already resurfaced hippies (especially the

> Belgian ones) happen to know what compression factor TED stockings

> were used on them??

>

> I will also email De Smet and ask him this, but I thought maybe

> someone in here might know.

>

> Thanks for your help (might be worthwile to know this also for

other

> future hippies)

>

> Regards from .....HOT BRUSSELS!

> (REALLY feels like Summer here today: FINALLY!

>

> Al

[Guest guest]

Al, the TEDS that you will get post-op are relatively low in

compression factor, maybe a 15-20 mmHg if I am remembering

correctly. If you explained the situation to the gentleman he

should have been able to aim you in the correct direction. People

with venous disease such as varicosities or a history of DVT use

compression stockings with higher factors, 35 mmHg or higher.

Just an FYI about why the stockings: The veins have an incredible

ability to hold almost 2/3 of the body's blood since the walls are

not as muscular as the arteries and they can expand. Once they

expand and the calf pump is not activated (i.e. when you are

immobilized in bed hopped up on pain meds) the blood is relying on

respiratory changes to get the blood back up to the heart.(And

sometimes your respiration is slow when you are hopped up on those

pain meds). This sets your body up for venous stasis or slow blood

flow which allows the blood time to clot. This is bad, very bad.

So the nice docs put those lovely leg squeezers on our legs for the

first couple days post op and we get those lovely compression

stockings. The stockings exert pressure on the leg and they do not

allow the veins to expand and hold more blood than they normally

would. Don't think that a highter compression factor would be a

good way to go because what you gain prophylactically you will lose

dreadfully in trying to get yourself into one, especially a thigh

stocking. In venous disease patients these have the lowest

compliance because they are so difficult to get into, and those

patients have not had a hip resurfaced or replaced.

You should have someone who checks in on you and reviews your risk

factors with you to see if you need something stronger than asprin

as an anti-coagulant. At Sinai in Baltimore they sent a lovely

gentleman, my first full day post op, who spent maybe 7.5 minutes

with me but still charged me something absurd like $180 to assess my

situation! You may want to do this with someone pre-op and see if

you can avoid padding anyone else's pocket.

Not sure if any of my info helped but it was something that I have

had experience with so I finally found a comfort level to jump in,

after being a voyeur on and off for the past year!

Good luck, Peggy

C+ 7/7/03 Mont

> YO, Hippies!

>

> Having realized that I'm just slightly over two weeks pre-op (and

> having planned a little pre-op vacation in Italy before putting my

> left hip into De Smet's hands) today I went shopping for a few

> articles that I will need after August 10.

>

> In addition to buying a pair of elbow-crutches (a nice kind with

> a " special " handle which, they say, makes them usable even for a

> long time without any kind of cramps in your hands) and a toilet

> raiser, I also wanted to buy a second pair of TED stockings,

knowing

> that I'll be given just 1 pair by the Gent Hospital.

>

> Well, when I asked for TED stockings at the Ortho Shop here in

> Brussels, they politely asked me: " And what compression factor do

> you need your stockings to be, Sir? "

> Doh.... I did not know what to answer...

> I didnt even know that TED stocking with different degrees of

> compression existed!

> So, for now, I just didn't buy any stockings.

>

> Well, does any of you already resurfaced hippies (especially the

> Belgian ones) happen to know what compression factor TED stockings

> were used on them??

>

> I will also email De Smet and ask him this, but I thought maybe

> someone in here might know.

>

> Thanks for your help (might be worthwile to know this also for

other

> future hippies)

>

> Regards from .....HOT BRUSSELS!

> (REALLY feels like Summer here today: FINALLY!

>

> Al

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Saw this post and just wanted to add a little something. TED hose

or compression stockings do not prevent DVT. They simply prevent

excessive swelling in the legs. The risk of DVT in the supreficial

veins (which are the only veins affected by TED hose and compression

stockings) is so low <1% that there is no clear indication to wear

TED hose or compression stockings after hip resurfacing -

particularly since almost everyone is weight bearing and walking

within the first several days after surgery. So in answer to your

question I am not sure you need hose or stockings of anykind after

this surgery.

Regards,

Dr. Mark 46 yo

R C2K 7/21/04 Dr. Gross

In surfacehippy , " qofe1 " wrote:

> Al, the TEDS that you will get post-op are relatively low in

> compression factor, maybe a 15-20 mmHg if I am remembering

> correctly. If you explained the situation to the gentleman he

> should have been able to aim you in the correct direction. People

> with venous disease such as varicosities or a history of DVT use

> compression stockings with higher factors, 35 mmHg or higher.

>

> Just an FYI about why the stockings: The veins have an incredible

> ability to hold almost 2/3 of the body's blood since the walls are

> not as muscular as the arteries and they can expand. Once they

> expand and the calf pump is not activated (i.e. when you are

> immobilized in bed hopped up on pain meds) the blood is relying on

> respiratory changes to get the blood back up to the heart.(And

> sometimes your respiration is slow when you are hopped up on those

> pain meds). This sets your body up for venous stasis or slow

blood

> flow which allows the blood time to clot. This is bad, very bad.

> So the nice docs put those lovely leg squeezers on our legs for

the

> first couple days post op and we get those lovely compression

> stockings. The stockings exert pressure on the leg and they do

not

> allow the veins to expand and hold more blood than they normally

> would. Don't think that a highter compression factor would be a

> good way to go because what you gain prophylactically you will

lose

> dreadfully in trying to get yourself into one, especially a thigh

> stocking. In venous disease patients these have the lowest

> compliance because they are so difficult to get into, and those

> patients have not had a hip resurfaced or replaced.

>

> You should have someone who checks in on you and reviews your risk

> factors with you to see if you need something stronger than asprin

> as an anti-coagulant. At Sinai in Baltimore they sent a lovely

> gentleman, my first full day post op, who spent maybe 7.5 minutes

> with me but still charged me something absurd like $180 to assess

my

> situation! You may want to do this with someone pre-op and see if

> you can avoid padding anyone else's pocket.

>

> Not sure if any of my info helped but it was something that I have

> had experience with so I finally found a comfort level to jump in,

> after being a voyeur on and off for the past year!

>

> Good luck, Peggy

> C+ 7/7/03 Mont

>

> > YO, Hippies!

> >

> > Having realized that I'm just slightly over two weeks pre-op

(and

> > having planned a little pre-op vacation in Italy before putting

my

> > left hip into De Smet's hands) today I went shopping for a few

> > articles that I will need after August 10.

> >

> > In addition to buying a pair of elbow-crutches (a nice kind with

> > a " special " handle which, they say, makes them usable even for a

> > long time without any kind of cramps in your hands) and a toilet

> > raiser, I also wanted to buy a second pair of TED stockings,

> knowing

> > that I'll be given just 1 pair by the Gent Hospital.

> >

> > Well, when I asked for TED stockings at the Ortho Shop here in

> > Brussels, they politely asked me: " And what compression factor

do

> > you need your stockings to be, Sir? "

> > Doh.... I did not know what to answer...

> > I didnt even know that TED stocking with different degrees of

> > compression existed!

> > So, for now, I just didn't buy any stockings.

> >

> > Well, does any of you already resurfaced hippies (especially the

> > Belgian ones) happen to know what compression factor TED

stockings

> > were used on them??

> >

> > I will also email De Smet and ask him this, but I thought maybe

> > someone in here might know.

> >

> > Thanks for your help (might be worthwile to know this also for

> other

> > future hippies)

> >

> > Regards from .....HOT BRUSSELS!

> > (REALLY feels like Summer here today: FINALLY!

> >

> > Al

[Guest guest]

Hello,

Saw this post and just wanted to add a little something. TED hose

or compression stockings do not prevent DVT. They simply prevent

excessive swelling in the legs. The risk of DVT in the supreficial

veins (which are the only veins affected by TED hose and compression

stockings) is so low <1% that there is no clear indication to wear

TED hose or compression stockings after hip resurfacing -

particularly since almost everyone is weight bearing and walking

within the first several days after surgery. So in answer to your

question I am not sure you need hose or stockings of anykind after

this surgery.

Regards,

Dr. Mark 46 yo

R C2K 7/21/04 Dr. Gross

In surfacehippy , " qofe1 " wrote:

> Al, the TEDS that you will get post-op are relatively low in

> compression factor, maybe a 15-20 mmHg if I am remembering

> correctly. If you explained the situation to the gentleman he

> should have been able to aim you in the correct direction. People

> with venous disease such as varicosities or a history of DVT use

> compression stockings with higher factors, 35 mmHg or higher.

>

> Just an FYI about why the stockings: The veins have an incredible

> ability to hold almost 2/3 of the body's blood since the walls are

> not as muscular as the arteries and they can expand. Once they

> expand and the calf pump is not activated (i.e. when you are

> immobilized in bed hopped up on pain meds) the blood is relying on

> respiratory changes to get the blood back up to the heart.(And

> sometimes your respiration is slow when you are hopped up on those

> pain meds). This sets your body up for venous stasis or slow

blood

> flow which allows the blood time to clot. This is bad, very bad.

> So the nice docs put those lovely leg squeezers on our legs for

the

> first couple days post op and we get those lovely compression

> stockings. The stockings exert pressure on the leg and they do

not

> allow the veins to expand and hold more blood than they normally

> would. Don't think that a highter compression factor would be a

> good way to go because what you gain prophylactically you will

lose

> dreadfully in trying to get yourself into one, especially a thigh

> stocking. In venous disease patients these have the lowest

> compliance because they are so difficult to get into, and those

> patients have not had a hip resurfaced or replaced.

>

> You should have someone who checks in on you and reviews your risk

> factors with you to see if you need something stronger than asprin

> as an anti-coagulant. At Sinai in Baltimore they sent a lovely

> gentleman, my first full day post op, who spent maybe 7.5 minutes

> with me but still charged me something absurd like $180 to assess

my

> situation! You may want to do this with someone pre-op and see if

> you can avoid padding anyone else's pocket.

>

> Not sure if any of my info helped but it was something that I have

> had experience with so I finally found a comfort level to jump in,

> after being a voyeur on and off for the past year!

>

> Good luck, Peggy

> C+ 7/7/03 Mont

>

> > YO, Hippies!

> >

> > Having realized that I'm just slightly over two weeks pre-op

(and

> > having planned a little pre-op vacation in Italy before putting

my

> > left hip into De Smet's hands) today I went shopping for a few

> > articles that I will need after August 10.

> >

> > In addition to buying a pair of elbow-crutches (a nice kind with

> > a " special " handle which, they say, makes them usable even for a

> > long time without any kind of cramps in your hands) and a toilet

> > raiser, I also wanted to buy a second pair of TED stockings,

> knowing

> > that I'll be given just 1 pair by the Gent Hospital.

> >

> > Well, when I asked for TED stockings at the Ortho Shop here in

> > Brussels, they politely asked me: " And what compression factor

do

> > you need your stockings to be, Sir? "

> > Doh.... I did not know what to answer...

> > I didnt even know that TED stocking with different degrees of

> > compression existed!

> > So, for now, I just didn't buy any stockings.

> >

> > Well, does any of you already resurfaced hippies (especially the

> > Belgian ones) happen to know what compression factor TED

stockings

> > were used on them??

> >

> > I will also email De Smet and ask him this, but I thought maybe

> > someone in here might know.

> >

> > Thanks for your help (might be worthwile to know this also for

> other

> > future hippies)

> >

> > Regards from .....HOT BRUSSELS!

> > (REALLY feels like Summer here today: FINALLY!

> >

> > Al