If you suffer from edema and/or lymphedema, summer heat and humidity are not your friends.  We recently came across this very useful article,  Swelling & Summer in the South, about the effects of summer heat and humidity on the lymphatic system.   Written by Dr. Madeline Chatlain, CDT-LANA, OTR/L, owner of Hilton Head Occupational Therapy, Myofascial Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Services in Hilton Head, SC, it has some very useful suggestions to help control summer swelling.

An interesting note from the article we weren’t aware of, DEET the active ingredient in many insect repellents can severely damage compression stockings.

This is the second season that BrightLife Direct has partnered with SOLE Orthotics to bring you the Rolls Royce of Flip-Flops!  Checkout the new SOLE Sport Flips for Men and SOLE Sport Flips for Women.  If you are not familiar with SOLE, this is what you need to know:

SOLE Sandals mold to your feet

Recognizing that flip-flops are a popular choice of footwear for many individuals, yet notoriously bad for you, SOLE set about creating a new design of flip-flop that incorporated the advanced Custom Footbed
technology and created the Platinum Sport Flip.  Supporting the foot in a neutral position, the SOLE Sport Flip top layer moulds to give each foot a perfect, custom fit, thus encouraging neutral alignment and balance to promote the wearer’s natural gait and shock absorbing ability.

SOLE wins best footwear award at the first ever OTS Novel Innovations Awards

The Sole Platinum Sport Flip has won the Novel Innovations Award for Footwear at the Outdoor Trade Show. The OTS Novel Innovations Awards recognize outstanding product innovation and technology and are judged
by some of the most recognized journalists, retailers and outdoor personalities in the industry. Judging criteria included: innovation, functionality, workmanship, ergonomics, choice of materials, utility value, environmental friendliness and safety.

SOLE Platinum Sandals reviewed in the NY Times

“This sandal bears the American Podiatric Medical Association seal of acceptance, meaning that the shoe was put through a series of tests to verify its manufacturers’ claims, and it passed. “The footbed molds to the foot, and the sandal is much more supportive than a typical flip-flop,” Dr. Christina said. “In fact, it was the most supportive sandal in the test.” He noted that while he doesn’t like thong-style sandals, he didn’t find the toe strap of this one “overly irritating.” The placement of the strap toward the rear of the footbed also means the sandals don’t slap when you walk.”

The shipping address for hair, fur, and nylons is changing so quickly that we will not be posting anymore updated addresses.

For instructions and the current shipping address, sign-up for the Excess Access donor base.  It’s free, fast, and easy.

You can also make much needed donations to Matter of Trust.

Thanks again to all our customers who have donated to this effort.

Excess Access, an environmental assistance organization specializing in oil spill clean-up, is in desperate need of your old hosiery and stockings.  Along with donations of hair and fur, (which they are receiving from beauty parlors and dog groomers around the country), they can quickly produce booms and hair mats to soak up the oil before it reaches shore.  Who knew!  Hair bound in nylon is extraordinarily absorbent to oils. BrightLife Direct, Inc worked with Excess Access during Hurricane Katrina and we were very impressed by their organizational skills and the impressive amount of help they provided out of what we would usually consider just waste!  But we need your help. Quickly!

The hosiery you donate can be either cleaned, used, even nylons with small holes and runners. Excess Access volunteers will double, cut and stuff each nylon with hair to make booms that “surround and contain” as well as “soak up oil spills”.

As the area of the spill changes course so will the mailing addresses for the string of warehouses they have set up along the gulf coast.  Here are the mailing addressed for shipments sent May 4, 5 and 6.  Check back for mailing locations for later dates.

Mailing May 4 or 5 from US Middle to West Coast:

Jes Latin

680 Koko Court

Diamondback, MS 39525

Mailing May 4 or 5 from Middle to East Coast:

Ingrid Setzer

1827 SW 1^st Street

Cape Coral, FL 33991

If Mailing May 5 or 6 from anywhere:

Sanibel Beauty Salon

2330 Palm Ridge Rd

Sanibel, FL 33957

On behalf of BrightLife Direct, Inc. we’d like to encourage our members to participate.  As an incentive, if you need to order new hosiery,  enter coupon code “202489” at checkout for an additional 5% off your total.  This is meant only for our customers who donate and must be used by June 1 unless extended.

You can join or get more information about Excess Access through our colleagues at Matter of Trust.

The new Medi For Men compression stocking brings you the latest in fiber and fit technology.  It is the only compression sock on the market with an anatomically-correct left and right foot.  The toe box is angled, like the angle of your toes.  An easily visible “L” and “R” are conveniently stitched on the top of each foot.  Plus, a generous comfi-foot makes this the most comfortable support sock you’ll ever wear.

100%  natural lanolin is woven into the fibers to condition your skin and keep your legs and feet soft and fresh.

The bio-textile fibers also provide extra ease in donning.  Soft, smooth, stylish, and durable, the sock provides the medical benefits and all-day wearing comfort all men desire.  Available in all compression ranges between 8-15mmHg and 30-40mmHg.

SIGVARIS has become the exclusive supplier of graduated compression socks and stockings to LPGA’s Brittany Lincicome.  SIGVARIS and Brittany will collaborate on educating the golf community (golf professionals and recreational golfers) on all the benefits of graduated compression socks, both on and off the golf course. SIGVARIS offers both medical compression socks and stockings as well as life-style compression socks like their Athletic Recovery Sock for sports, travel and professions requiring prolonged sitting or standing.

“I was unaware of the differences that a graduated compression sock could make in my performance, but my recovery is quicker from my workouts and that allows me to focus on my golf game. SIGVARIS graduated compression socks work wonderfully and make my legs feel energized and lighter,” says Brittany Lincicome.

SIGVARIS recently wrapped up a golf trial involving graduated compression socks and their effect on golfers when used during an 18-hole golf round. An impressive 94% of the test-golfers (n=36) said they would recommend the SIGVARIS Compression Golf Socks to their fellow golfers and colleagues.

Wearing compression during and after strenuous exercise or competition may help flush out lactic acid and also provide symptomatic relief of delayed onset leg muscle soreness. Graduated compression socks can also be worn to help support, by stimulating blood circulation, recovery from sports injuries. Graduated compression stockings should always be worn for longer air-travel to prevent blood stasis, and if cleared by a physician, during pregnancy to relieve swollen ankles and leg edema.

If you already know about Orthaheel you’ll be delighted to learn that we just received 7 new Spring/Summer styles in 16 new colors.  If you are not familiar with Orthaheel, read on.

Orthaheel is the footwear solution for people who ordinarily cannot wear flip-flops or sandals because they require extra support around the foot and ankle.  Orthaheels have a built-in orthotic and are recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association.  They are clinically proven to reduce pronation and relieve associated heel and ankle pain.  Because of the support provided by unique biomechanical orthotic technology in the footbed, Orthaheel footwear helps improve natural foot function and provides well-being with every step.  By restoring the foot’s natural alignment, the feet, ankles and legs are able to function dynamically as they were intended.

Orthaheel shoes and sandals always receive very high marks from our customer reviews.  Particularly from people who normally suffer from plantar fasciitis, knee, heel and lower back pain.

Orthaheel products are backed by BrightLife Direct’s 30-day ”Walk Pain Free” guarantee.

One reason that many people wear compression hosiery is to aid in the prevention or treatment of blood clots (thrombosis).  Since March is Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) month we thought we would share some very basic information about blood clots that we received from the National Alliance of Thrombosis and Thrombophilia.

Thrombosis is the medical term used to describe a blood clot.  Generally, this term is used to refer to blood clots that occur in the veins of the body (DVT or PE described below).

Thrombophilia is a medical term used to describe a predisposition to developing blood clots.

Q. What is a Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)?

A.  A DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a blood clot that forms in the leg veins, typically beginning in the calf  veins.

Q. What is a Pulmonary Embolism (PE)?

A.  A PE (Pulmonary Embolism) is caused by a blood clot, typically in the leg, groin, or pelvic veins (and occasionally in the upper extremity veins) which breaks free and travels to the lung arteries.

Q. What is the relationship between a DVT and a PE?

A.  A DVT is often the source of a clot that travels to the lung arteries and becomes a PE.

Q. What fraction of people with a DVT get a PE?

A. The risk varies depending on the location of the clot. The risk for a PE increases the higher up in the leg the DVT occurs. For example, a calf DVT has a lower risk of breaking off and becoming a PE than a clot behind the knee or one in the groin or pelvic veins. Essentially, the larger the vein with the clot, the greater the risk of  developing a PE.

Q .What fraction of people with a PE have an identifiable DVT?

A. One-third to two-thirds.

Q. What is the frequency of clots among men and women?

A. About equal.

Q. What is the rate of death in people who have a PE?

A. This depends upon age, health, and underlying medical conditions, as well as the cause of the PE.

Sigvaris EverSheer just keeps getting better.

Sigvaris has just added navy and mocha to their EverSheer line of support knee highs, thigh highs, and pantyhose.  EverSheer is now available in natural, suntan, black, navy and mocha.

In addition, support knee highs and thigh highs in natural and suntan now have an open toe option.  Sandals and flip flops now welcome.

If you’re used to thigh highs slipping down, or worse thigh bulge, try the EverSheer thigh high.  The patented Sensinov silicone band is imported from France.  It provides superior holding power and eliminates thigh bulge, with less irritation than silicone bands or dots.

The compression hosiery business has changed markedly with the advent of internet shopping, and there is no doubt these changes have benefited you, the patient.

In the old days you might get a prescription from your Doctor, take it to a local medical supply house or pharmacy where you would be sized, and the pharmacist would put you into a pair of stockings.  Probably they came from a dusty box, and had a certain “matronly” look about them.  Your color choice was probably beige. In some cases stockings would need to be ordered and it might have taken three to four weeks before you received them.

Worse yet, many patients were put into “custom-fit” compression stockings even though a “ready-to-wear” garment in your size would provide the same efficacy for half the price.  According to our Jobst rep, only about 5% of the general population have conditions that require “custom-fit” stockings, most frequently due to extreme obesity.  Measuring oneself is quite easy for most people and hosiery manufacturers are offering a wider variety of ready-to-wear sizes.  With just your measurements and a credit card, you can go online and discover the huge variety in fabric, color and price range that is offered in compression hosiery today.

Compression stockings are a medical device and they need to be worn properly to ensure maximum benefit.  BrightLife Direct does not leave our customers to fend for themselves after their purchase.  We have a fully trained, certified staff that is on call to respectfully answer your questions and offer advice.  In fact, we encourage “newbies” who are buying their first pair to call us for some hand-holding.  We also understand that sizing charts and color chips are never 100% perfect.  If you receive a stocking that is not right for you, it can be returned within 30 days for a full refund.

The only problem with internet shopping for your stockings is that there may be too many choices!  There is no other place where you can find so many brands, sizes, colors and options available to purchase immediately. Without spending a penny on gas!

Because of the large number of people now shopping on the internet, (as well as using it as a source of information), companies like BrightLife Direct now have a large enough customer base that we can afford to focus specifically on compression therapy.  This allows us to know the products very well.  Our prices are lower than “brick and mortar” stores because we cut out the distribution middlemen and limit the cost of advertising by reaching out to only a specific group of patients.

Remember when every neighborhood had a butcher, a baker and maybe even a candlestick maker?  Because the internet neighborhood is large enough to support “boutique” stores you can now get professional service at Walmart prices.  (By the way, Walmart prices online are more expensive that ours!) BrightlifeDirect.com is one of a handful of online companies that specialize in compression hosiery.  (You can do a Google search under “compression stockings” or the name of your favorite brand like, “Sigvaris“, for an entire list).  There is enough competition to keep our pricing where we want it to be — as low as possible!

As a consumer, you are lucky to have a variety of competent and honest companies dedicated to the sale of compression garments.  Naturally, some are better than the others. BrightLife Direct has been helping patients for ten years and has always enjoyed a very positive reputation.  We have over 25,000 pair of compression stockings in our warehouse, allowing us to immediately offer all compression levels, sizes including extra small or plus sizes, and hard-to- find colors.  In most cases, an order placed by 2PM, ET will ship the same day.  BrightLife Direct supports every purchase with a satisfaction guarantee, returns and exchanges form and telephone support.

Perhaps not all of the changes that come with modern living have made you happy, but compression stockings on the internet is a revolution you can get into!