compression hose

I just use really tight knee high socks to prevent fainting in the OR from blood pooling in my legs. I also drink a bottle of gatorade a day. IMO, no need for compression stockings unless you have a diagnosis of venous insufficiency, varicose veins, etc.

 

You can buy light compression knee-high stockings at Walgreens/CVS/whatever your local pharmacy is for like $15-20. Found it most helpful intern year while my body was trying to adjust to all the standing/walking on a long 30+ hour call or in the later years on a busy rotation/long OR cases.

 

See, I've thought about it, but my crotch-at-knees-yet-still-high-water scrubs are embarrassing enough without adding granny stockings peeking out underneath them.

 

They were a life saver for me during surgery. I have issues with venous return and will faint quick from standing for extended periods. Put me on a tilt table and I'm out in less than 5 min. Technically I can get a script for the pricy ones (they often go for $80-100) but I just buy the cheapies and they work fine. I bought a few pairs online for about $20-25 each. The place I used was Discount Surgical Stockings, but there are a million other ones as well.

I wore them for IM and OB as well and a day of rounding really was a lot less exhausting and my legs were definitely less tired as a result!