Question for Mom about surgery and LE

Crystal, I absolutely love this donning devise:

http://www.doffanddonner.com/newsite/

Under the video, click on "skip intro" and it'll show you a set of videos you can watch to see how easy it is. My fitter and I played with this a couple of months ago when I was in for a fitting, and it was easy and (shall I admit it?!) fun! I have no idea how much they cost, but they work like a dream for leg garments with the toe. Doesn't work if it's not a closed garment (like an arm sleeve).

Another fairly easy donner is the Ezy-As:

http://www.ezyasabc.com/

This one works for arms and legs both (different sizes), and there's an extension that you can use if you can't bend over. It takes a bit of strength to put the stocking over the donner, so not sure how good that would be for doing it herself, but it would be something you could do for her and then she could pull it on herself.

Not believing in LE seems to be a problem all over. What is so hard to believe about a fat limb?!

<sigh!>
Binney

Kicks, depending on the compression class, leg garments are way harder to put on than our arm sleeves. I use a very low compression (15-20mm/Hg) on my lower right leg, and some mornings its all I can do to get them over my heel. I dread the thought of having to go up to even a 20-30 (though if I do I'm getting a "Doff'n'Donner" for sure!), but for many people with leg LE the standard compression is even higher than that (the point being that with legs, gravity is a huge factor in making the process of pumping lymph fluid back up to the core really difficult!) If I were trying to put a compression stocking on someone else, my arm and chest LE would definitely object. 

I think the hard plastic donner you're talking about is the Ezy-As that I linked above. Once the stocking is on the hard plastic donner it's fairly easy to put on, but someone who has just had delicate eye procedures and is not supposed to strain is not going to be able to get in onto the donner herself. So if Crystal can get there every day to help that's an option, but if she can't, the Doff'n'Donner's a better choice.

Crystal, for sick days I wrap--it's a pain when I'm not feeling well, but it works so well and it's so adjustable that I'm way more comfortable. If it gets to feeling too tight or too loose I remove only the top layer and re-wrap, which is much less effort than doing the whole thing. Not ideal, but the best I can do.

Be well!
Binney

Crystal--Living with my 90 yr old mother I know how hard it is to have to help her with things with my LE.  Is there not a neighbor who can help?  Maybe wrapping her instead of stocking daily for a few weeks would be easier.  Just getting on compression stockings for travel makes my trunk ache.  And mine are very low compression!  I agree with Binney that getting it over the heel is a bear.  I do hope somehow it all works out for you.  We have a caretaker (for her mother-in-law) at our support group meetings who has offered to help anyone locally when needed.  Even had a card made. She is a saint!  We need more of those.

Since you're familiar with all this, Crystal, it should be fairly easy to learn to wrap her leg. It would keep her from straining, but it will still not be easy for you, as you'll have to support the leg and there's a lot of leaning over involved. So be sure to have the therapist not only show you, but watch you do it so she can give you some tips about managing the weight of the leg. Since it's layered, you can rest between layers and do some slow, gentle arm exercises before applying the next layer.

My, the learning curves we face with LE! Do keep us posted and let us know how it goes. Greetings to your mom, too!
Binney

I agree on the restraint you've shown. It's not very encouraging when you ask for help, and responses include those who would deny you have a problem.

This is such a dilemma, Crystal. In our perfect world, you could ask for some home-care assistance, but I know for sure that the nurse who came to help me after my bmx/recon would not have known a thing about LE care and donning garments.  I suspect that's the rule and not the exception.  Are there young people in the family who might come by, taking turns daily, to help with the tug-and-pull of the garment donning?  My family organized a wound-care team for my mother in law at one point...my father in law just could not change some post-surgical dressings well, so we all came over during a home-nurse visit to learn the procedure, and then took turns.

Crystal, Biacare has something similar, too, and their product may be lower cost than some others. I hope you find something that works for your mom.



Oh, and for the record, 57 is very, very young (58 too, I should know)!

Crystal, Aren't these girls wonderful in problem solving. What would we do without our experts.  Stick with them for life!

Just for the record: My vain sweet 87 year old mom would never let me near her groin even though I would be strong enough to rassle the Leg garment on! She won't even let me cut her toe nails! 

You are a wonderful caring daughter and you mom is so fortunate to have you.  A BIG SLOPPY KISS FOR YOU! And a round of chocolate covered peanuts for all!

"Do not see how leg compression garments can be that much harder based on what I have seen."

Kicks

Just as an FYI, I had to wear compression stockings when I was in my 40's due to low BP and poor circulation.  They really can be quite a struggle----even for somebody who had no  significant impairment at that time. A big PITA they were, I can tell you that much.

Oh, Crystal, that's great news! She must be so pleased to be taken seriously. Does she know how rare that is?

Also great about the reduction she's gotten from therapy. That must seriously impact her ability to get around, and clearly that's progress you can't afford to lose. Thanks so much for keeping us posted,
Binney