April H.

Just after I turned 16 I developed a condition called dysautonomia. One of my (many) symptoms was that of venous insufficiency - the blood would pool in my legs! I began wearing compression hose to help push the blood back up to where it should be. Back in those days I only knew of one style of hose: sheer. At first I was extremely embarrassed of them. After all, I was sixteen and wearing clothing I considered to be for older folk.

I've found a couple ways to make wearing them more comfortable and I can hide them pretty well now. If I'm wearing flats or sandals I put on toeless hose that I roll up to my ankle, hidden under my jeans or a maxi skirt. If I'm wearing tennis shoes or Converse I prefer wearing hose with the toes so that they can go smoothly into my shoes without bunching up. Also, I've learned (from experience) to apply clear nail polish before that little run turns into a massive hole! A big thing I have come to realize, however, is that I notice my hose more than anyone else! Nobody scrutinizes you the way you scrutinize yourself. I have been surprised to find that there are people who actually like the way my hose look. Once a nurse asked me if I work out because my legs looked so toned! (I felt pretty cool after that.)

I've been a hose wearer for three years now and they've become a part of my everyday life. It was only recently that I discovered the variety of cute styles compression hose can come in. That's pretty exciting! Ultimately, no matter how cute (or not) I look in my hose, I've found that they help me feel better and that's the important thing.