to steve or linda Re: pants/TEDS

April 16, 2004

Dear Limpy,

California Crazee-Wear baggies are your usual waist size and about XXL

at the hips, making them perfect for post-op resurfers. Your hips will

be huge, but these will balloon right along with you. They're soft

poly cotton, very comfortable and can be worn all day and night

without difficulty. Find them online at www.crazeewear.com or by

calling 1-. They come in lots of patterns (all viewable

online) and you can also get them in shorts. I lived in them post-op

and regularly still do. Ask your nurse for a second pair of Teds when

you first get measured. They, along with elbow crutches and anything

else you can think of, are much less costly in Belgium. They'll go all

the way up your thigh. Travel light, bring only the socks and

underwear you get there in, bring along a few loose fitting pullover

shirts and a pair of comfortable slip-on shoes with non-slip soles.

Hope this helps. Feel free if you have any other questions.

Regards,

Steve Vince

> > Welcome back!

> > I tried to get a reply to you before you left but hopefully Hugo

> was

> > able to fix you up with a loaner pair of Crazee Wear pants?

> > How are you doing? How did everything go? Let me hear from you when

> > you get a minute.

> > In the meanwhile, take good care!

> > Steve Vince

> > Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2994

April 17, 2004

At 12:38 AM 4/17/2004 -0700, you wrote:

>any suggestions for getting teds on and off if you live by yourself.

>seems like you need to bend too far over to get them on and off

>thanks

Steve,

I didn't get TEDS in the hospital but had a horrible time with swelling so

my mom sent me hers. I used my sock helper to get them over my feet, then

the dressing stick to get them far enough up my leg so I could reach them.

Cindy

C+ 5/25/01 and 6/28/01

April 17, 2004

Hi Limpy,

I see Steve has already answered most of your questions. I didn't think

I had time for the California Crazee Baggies to be shipped and arrive before

I was leaving for Belgium, so I didn't order any. Instead, I took my son

shopping with me at Old Navy and let him pick out 2 pairs of baggy cargo

pants that I could then borrow from him for the trip. They had elastic

drawstrings at the bottom of each leg so that I could wear them without

tripping, and they would be long enough for him when I no longer needed

them. I was back in my regular jeans within a week of returning from

Belgium.

I took roomy fleece-lined, nylon running pants and jacket to wear on

the plane to and from Brussels and for exploring Ghent and Brugge after

surgery. It was in the 40's and rainy during the first week of March. In

the old cathedrals, there is no central heating, and the inside temperature

is about the same as outside. I usually wore several layers on

top...short-sleeved shirt, sweater or vest, then the water resistant jacket.

I forgot my umbrella, so I bought one in Ghent. When is your surgery

scheduled? You probably won't need the layers, but an umbrella might come

in handy. I think it rains a lot in Belgium!

The hospital iin Ghent provides you with one pair of thigh length TED

stockings. They take several leg measurements to determine your size, so

it's probably better to get both pairs from the hospital. I just asked one

of my nurses to have a second pair put on my hospital bill. It was easier

for me to have one pair on and one pair drying during the hotel stay and at

home.

Most of the Belgian surfacehippies will advise you to forget underwear.

You won't be able to wear your regular panties with your swollen hip. I

bought several pairs of very big men's boxers to wear, and they were very

comfortable. They were softer than my baggies and gentle on the incision,

and when my incision bled or wepted a little, they kept my baggies from

getting stained. I have several pairs of large panties that I wore at home

until my incision was fully healed.

In general, take a few comfortable clothes that you can mix and match,

including several light-weight, short-sleeved tops and a small bottle of

Woolite. I wore the same 3 pairs of pants (2 baggies and 1 pair of lined

nylon running pants) for the entire trip. I handwashed the tops and the

boxers with the TED hose. I packed a 2 piece dress with a full pleated

skirt and a pair of comfortable low heeled shoes in case we went to a fancy

restaurant, but I never wore them. Room service in the Holiday Inn is

cheaper than in the hotel restaurant so we frequently ordered in after a

long day of sightseeing.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you think of any more questions.

rBHR 3/3/04 De Smet

P.S. What name are you going to use when you come back from Belgium without

a limp?!!

to steve or linda Re: pants/TEDS

> What are Crazee Wear pants. I'm trying to figure out what clothes

> to bring, which is hard to do bec. I don't know how much I'll swell

> up, if my regular size will fit.

> also--could you get 2 pairs of TEDS stockings there, to alternate?

> Which kind does Dr. DeSmet use--up to the knee, thigh, groin? Maybe

> I could buy an extra pair here to bring so I can wear one and wash

> one.

> Thanks,

> Limpy

>