
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back


I have learned the importance of compression for my autonomic issues, and just wanted to share in case anyone else can benefit from my experience. I’d been wearing compression socks at the direction of my primary care physician. I saw a neurologist specializing in dysautonomia and autonomic function, and was a instructed to also wear abdominal compression. I did, and to my shock, I saw improvement within 15 minutes. A few weeks later, I had an appointment with my primary, and told him about it, and he suggested compression tights or leggings to compress the vagus nerve from ribs to toes. I got some compression leggings and, even though I knew compression had helped so much I didn’t expect anything, really, since only my knees to mid thigh had been without compression. Boy, was I wrong.
I still spend a lot of the day in bed and rest a LOT, but I’m able to at least participate in life with my husband and children again. The issue with compression garments is their cost. Even with insurance, it’s nearly impossible to figure out how or where to order items that insurance will cover. I have spent so much time on the phone with insurance and with the neurologist’s office. I still have zero answers.
Since the leggings are working so well, I decided to get more so that when I can wash them without having to go without wearing some. I love the $12 pair from above, but wish they were about two inches higher in the waist . So, I went on the hunt just to see if I could find anything promising in the same price range. I found these DKNY Compression tights, and the reviews look very promising. They haven’t arrived, yet, but I will update when they do. At $15 (sale price, so I don’t know if the price will increase soon), knowing at the worst they’re not quite as high as I’d like, it was worth ordering for me. I’m also just including the compression socks that I most prefer at a price point I can do. I have admittedly not purchased the expensive ones, as I have found these to be great for my needs. **Update: I love the compression tights. They are incredibly comfortable, and they’re the right height, too. They don’t have quite as much compression as the leggings, but going down a size would likely remedy that. They look toddler sized, but I promise they stretch. Because they’re so comfortable, I’ve abandoned the leggings. I really do like them, but they’re just not quite high enough in the waist for what I need, so they cut in on my abdomen a bit, making the tights the winner for me.