mediven(n/a) - Big Butler, for Larger Sizes, MDV90000

Needs to be wider. I wear a size 6xl compression stocking and no manufacture makes a stocking donner that big. The Big Butler is the largest stocking donner that I have been able to find and it's not big enough for my calf to fit inside. I have tried other manufactures "large" stocking donners and they are not as wide as the Big Butler. To solve my problem, I very so gently, so as not to damage the enamel coating, spread the opening at the top of the donner until it will accept my calf, about 1/2 inch. This is not the easiest thing to do as the unit is build using heavy gauge material. The donner will now accept my leg width wise, but the now depth is not deep enough to allow the stocking to slide up my leg easily. This solution, although not the best, is the only one available to me until some manufacture makes a bigger one. I find it odd that you can purchase 6xl compression stockings, but no tool is available to help you put on anything larger than a size 4xl.Had it been just a little wider at the top, I would have given it a "5".

I have been using compression knee highs just since Oct 2014. When my doc prescribed them, he made it clear that their benefit would be realized only by consistent daily use. And therein lies the rub: these suckers are extremely difficult to put on! It would be difficult enough for someone of a more lithe svelte shape; factor in some excess poundage, with mobility issues due to osteoarthritis, and this is going to be a task nearly impossible to accomplish.Enter contraptions like this one -- intended to help get the tight-fitting socks on. There are a number of different manufacturer models out there; I opted for this one due primarily to the reviews here. I've had it for a couple of months, so I think I can finally write coherently about its use.The good news:It DOES help get the socks on in the morning. What was at least a 20-minute ordeal that left me out of breath and tired is now a 5- to 10-minute ordeal that leaves me out of breath and less tired. Once I get the sock loaded onto the Butler, getting it up my leg goes more smoothly than without it. So it was worth the purchase just for that alone.The bad news:There is a small pamphlet included that contains about 8 pictures that purport to illustrate how to use this. Don't bother -- it won't help. NO WHERE does it tell you how far to push the sock down, etc. I ended up searching Youtube and found several videos that helped quite a lot. They're not perfect, either -- the "actors" demonstrating the device in the "professional" videos are young and slim, and the socks are clearly NOT compression stockings. But at least you'll have a clue as to how to get the socks onto the device.I ordered the "Big Butler" after carefully measuring my leg (actually, my stocking supplier had measured my leg when I ordered my socks -- I used those measurements). My largest calf measured about 1.5" smaller than the max for this unit, so I figured it would be big enough. Maybe it would be - if my calf was perfectly round. But it's more "oval" shaped, so this doesn't exactly fit all that well. I have to "fidget" with it a bit to get the socks up my legs, and even then they tend to get caught on the way due to the shape difference. So there's that.Still, it does help -- so much easier than trying to get the socks on without it.A few lessons learned:1) When you "load" the sock onto the Butler, wear rubberized gloves. I got a cheap pair of garden gloves with rubber coating on palms and fingers to help with loading and also to help "fidget" the socks as they're going on. This really makes a difference.2) Load the sock so that almost the entire foot is pushed onto the rounded holder. If you leave too much of the foot "free," you end up with a huge "flabby" piece at your toes. I keep pushing the sock onto the holder under there is barely an indentation left for the toes. This allows the sock to "flow" onto the foot as well as the leg. Worked much better when I figured that out.3) If your legs are shaped like mine (more oval than round), you WILL have to do some wiggling and "smoothing" with the gloves to get them on smoothly. Some days are better than others for me, and it can take more effort sometimes to get it to work. But keep at it, and you should be able to get them on.I was torn between a 3-star and 4-star rating on this. Given the problems, a 3-star might be in order. But because it really does make the morning ritual of donning the compression socks SO much easier/smoother, even with the problems, I'm opting for 4 stars.

I use this device everyday to help me put on my compression/circulation garments. I debated giving this time saving device four stars because it came without instructions, but it works marvelously. I’m fortunate that my physical medicine therapist recommended the Medi Big Butler and practiced with me to learn the proper way to use it. If he had not, I am certain I never would have figured it out.That being said, the Medi Big Butler is a fantastic time saving, anxiety reducing tool. It really is easy to use, once you practice a few times.The Medi Big Butler is well constructed, and holds up nicely to the tugging and pulling that goes along with the putting on of compression garments. If you wear compression hose/socks, you know exactly what I’m talking about. The frame has not lost its shape after weeks of use. I expect it will never weaken— the one I practiced on in the phys med department is years old, and it looks as new as mine.The handle length is more than adequate for me; I am 5’9”. I am happy I have the Medi Big Butler. My morning routine is much less stressful and fifteen minutes shorter thanks to this assistive device.

Makes putting on compression socks easy. I am in a wheelchair. I sit the Donner on the table and put sock on the Donner. Then l can sit in the wheelchair and get the sock on. Just a few minutes versus several minutes.

Update after TWO YEARS: he still uses this every single day. It becomes easier eith routine, but doesn't everything? This is one of the best products we have ever bought. It has held up very well to daily use and makes it so easy to get dressed. As far as instructions, sure it didn't come with any and we watched the you tube videos to learn, but two years later what I can say is, even with the instructions, find a way that makes it work best for you! It is so helpful!So, my husband struggles with putting on his own regular socks, no less the compression socks! It was a daily struggle with me helping him each morning (half asleep since I didn't have to be up for another 2 hours). Additionally, what if I were out of town for a week? Does that mean he can't wear his socks? We really have no one else who can help him. I figured if nothing else, this product would help him on those rare occasions I wasn't able to help.Without instructions it was difficult to figure out...until we went to you tube. Then, once we figured it out it was simpler. However, the video says to roll the sock down to the heel. When he did that, his toes always ended up at the heel and it still took both of us to get them up. So, we tried rolling the socks in to mid-foot. (He has open toed socks). This works beautifully. Now he can get them on all by himself every morning!!! He simply puts the socks on the device, pulls it up, then puts on the donning gloves and smoothest them up just a bit, getting the toes positioned correctly and smoothing out any wrinkles.It truly is better than I expected. This is no longer the "back-up" that I intended. This product has given him his independence back. While I love to help him when I need to, I love that he can maintain his dignity and independence by doing this on his own.The only reason I have given 4 stars rather then 5 is that it doesn't come with instructions (or even something with a link to the video) and the video is a bit unrealistic...the socks they are putting on are very obviously not compression socks. But overall, great product!