My Secret (Shhhh) to Getting My Energy Back

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Wanna know a secret?

Ok. I’ll letcha in on it, but it’s just between you and me, ya hear?

Seriously, I’m not promoting an MLM. Just trying to help. 

I noticed, as I gained weight and got older, that my energy (seemingly suddenly, but probably happened over time) was almost gone. I’d have to do whatever I had planned as soon as I got up, or early in the day because, by late afternoon, I could barely walk.

Does this happen to you or someone you know?

There’s hope!

Here’s how things went down for me

I went to the dr, needed a routine sort of surgery, but due to age, they made me get an EKG. It came out abnormal, so I was sent to a cardiologist.

He ran some tests, told me I could get the surgery, but also said, “have you considered wearing compression stockings?”

WHAAAAAT?

I’M NOT OLD! AREN’T THOSE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD BLOOD CLOTS, OR FOR OLDER PEOPLE??? (And he was older than me. His silver hair proved it. 😉 )

He told me, “there’s no shame – I wear them! They will help you.”

Mmmhmm. Help me what?

I looked at him. He was skinny as a rail. He didn’t tell me any of the benefits, except he said my legs would get bigger if I just let the fluid drain to them all day while I worked.

Nice intro, buddy. Might want to work on your pitch if you’re trying to help people.

Fast-forward, several years later, and my energy and ability to walk getting worse. I even would send my son into the store for me with my debit card to get a few groceries or use one of those handicap motorized carts (and feel ashamed – I wasn’t handicapped, why did I feel like I needed this? But I could barely walk.) I decided to ask my regular doc about the compression stockings again – just to try them. She had no idea what compression or how to order them, but she wrote me a prescription.

I took it to Hangar, who fitted me and ordered them.

I tried them out – it was hard to get used to putting them on and getting it right, at first. I had to go back and, thinking I was returning them for a new size, the girl showed me how to do it right.

I wanted another pair since you’re supposed to wash them nightly. (Who has that kind of time?) I had no refills. (Refills??!?!? This works like drugs?)

Annoyed, I Googled the stockings to see if I could get them online – SUCCESS!!!

BUT – the first online company I ordered from had a bad return policy, and I wasted my $$, as the compression in the stockings I got was almost nothing for the exact same compression strength (there are different levels). So, I ordered the next compression up, from a different company.

Since neither doc told me how to wear them, I wear them for 2 days on, 1 day stocking-free.

Ok, lady, can we cut to the chase? What’s the point here?

After I started wearing them, do you know what happened?

(THIS IS IT, DON’T MISS IT – my secret!)

By the end of the day, I could still walk around the store, and almost had a huge spring in my step! It was unbelievable. At first, my legs tingled as I wore them. They somehow magically promote fluid to go back up, and not settle by gravity down to your calves. It helps my legs not feel achy and tired.

Wearing them extended my energy to last throughout the day!

Takeaways:

1. I am not a doctor. Check with YOUR provider, as always, first, before doing anything medically new for your body. And ask them how many days a week to wear them, and for how long each day.
2. Your insurance MAY pay partially or fully for them – get a prescription with REFILLS and/or multiple pairs at once.
3. They come in some cute patterns and colors sometimes.
4. They come in regular sock/stocking-like, and ones with the toes cut off.
5. Nurses and other medical personnel who stand a lot for their shifts wear them. Even some people use them to do their gym workouts or for running.
6. To order them on Amazon or other online retailers, my experience has shown me that the lowest compression does not match the similar compression level ordered from Hangar – I have had to order one compression strength up using online retailers.
7. Some online retailers have compression charts for what you need/want to use them for.
8. Make sure you read or are taught how to put them on. You don’t want them to stay wrinkled anywhere on your calf. You want them smoothed and to be giving even pressure all around your calf.

These are affiliate links, NOT ads – click the pictures and it will take you directly to the right page. 

(they come in regular- and wide-calf!)

I’ll stop bending your ear for now. I hope this information helps you.

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Have you tried or do you use compression stockings?

Let me hear your story in the comments!