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evangeline84948
evangeline84948

I have developed blueish veins popping out just below my knee at the back of my legs. I am 39. I also used to stand and walk for longer hours. I first ignored it but it's starting to look ugly now. what can I do about this? Should I see a doctor?

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  • kate4you
    kate4you evangeline84948

    Posted

    Yes you should see a doctor just to confirm that these actually are varicose veins. It sounds like they are as I developed then in the same place as you several months ago back in December. I left it a month then had to wait another month before I could get a routine appointment. In that time they were often slightly painful and my legs felt heavy from the calf down to the ankle. I was advised to wear support tights which you can get from many pharmacies and since wearing them the achy heaviness has stopped so I wear them every day now even under jeans. They look just like normal tights so can be worn with skirts and they have a knack of concealing the veins and stop them popping out so nobody would notice if they didnt already know you had them. It sounds llike you need the firm support which is what I went for. Available in black and natural beige type colour with a soft sheen to them £5 from B**ts. The importance of wearing support tights is to not only ease any discomfort but to prevent further ones from developing. Advice I had also is to walk a mile every day when possible to keep the circulation going at optimum rate.

    Hope this helps as surgery is a bit too far down the line and my doctor said don't even consider it!

    Kate

    • evangeline84948
      evangeline84948 kate4you

      Posted

      Hey, thanks for the detailed reply. Really appreciate. Are there vein specialists that I can consult or is going for a general physician would help? I'd allso really prefer if a surgery is not needed. smile

      Even my legs feel heavy from the calf muscles now.

      For how long are you supposed to be wearing the support tights? Can you actually be wearing them the whole day? and how about during summer? Do you need a prescription to buy them? 

      I just want to wear shorts and my legs to look like I do not have varicose veins. Are these tights clearly visible when you're wearing them? 

      Thanks agaiin

    • kate4you
      kate4you evangeline84948

      Posted

      Hi Evangeline, thanks for responding to my reply - I guess reading between the lines that you are possibly based in USA - if so then I cannot comment on the guidlines for seeing your health service as I am based in UK and can only draw from that.

      If you are in the UK then it is definately advisable to see your GP and then get referred to a vein specialist if they think that it is warranted but I guess that unless severe they will not as the procedure for removing or 'stripping them' is quite an ordeal. If in USA then still see a general Doctor as they should put your mind at rest and advise what to do to help the condition. As said before it means serious walking but better with the tights on as they support the veins. As said before - they are just mesh tights - nothing ugly or thick - no more than 30denier with a soft sheen. Regarding the summer months - yes wear shorts but with the tights on as will look like hot pants ;-) I wear mine all day but take off in the evening when time to elevate my legs - perhaps support your lower legs on a coffee table or stool as it is important if not moving around to not just stand as the blood from the collapsed valves within the veins just pools and that causes the heavy feeling. It sounds a bit scary but I am sure your GP will put your mind at rest and advise and just to finalise - you should be able to buy the support tights in UK or USA.

      Hope this helps

      Regards

      Kate

       

    • ptolemy
      ptolemy evangeline84948

      Posted

      If you do go to your doctor and it is suggested you are eligible to have your veins removed on the NHS, you don't need to go for stripping any more as there are more modern methods using laser or radio waves (VNUS Closure). I had the VNUS Closure, it took around twenty minutes under local anaesthetic, I was swimming again within the week. I was going to drive home but a friend offered. I also had sclerotherapy to remove some wiggly veins (medical term used by the vascular surgeon!). I wore compression stockings for a few days. There was some bruising but compared to having stripping under a general anaesthetic this is a real break through.
    • evangeline84948
      evangeline84948 kate4you

      Posted

      Hi Kate, Thanks again for your detailed reply. Yes I am based in the US. And thanks for convincing me on support tights. Is there any brand that you would like to recommend? 
    • evangeline84948
      evangeline84948 ptolemy

      Posted

      Thanks a lot for your advice. I am actually based in the US. Could you tell me a bit more about the compression stockings you wore. They sound interesting to me. My main concern is to hide the veins and wear shorts. Do the stockings help your legs to look normal and healthy? 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy evangeline84948

      Posted

      I only wore the stockings after the operation for a few days, then stopped and carried on as normal as the veins had been removed, so no need for the stockings.  As I said I then went swimming within the week and so had stopped wearing them by then. I had to walk every day to help the healing. My veins were in my thighs, and caused the heavy leg feel with a strange achiness, it all disappeared after the op. The modern procedure possibilities are EVLA which is using laser or VNUS Closure which uses radio waves which I had, with sclerotherapy. I had the appointment at 3.30pm and was out by 5.30pm having filled in lots of forms, had the operation to remove the veins and had a cup of coffee. 
    • evangeline84948
      evangeline84948 ptolemy

      Posted

      Hey thanks for the reply. I consulted the doctor and he suggested that I wear compression socks for 4 weeks and see him again. I got a pair and started wearing and it's been 1 week now. I feel like the pain is lesser, but the appearance of the veins are still the same. 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy evangeline84948

      Posted

      I am not sure that the compression socks will make that much difference to the appearance of the veins, they may a bit. If you decide to get rid of the veins I would suggest you don't get them stripped under general anaesthetic which is painful and nasty, go for one of the new techniques done under local anaesthetic using laser or radio waves taking less than half an hour, much more pleasant. 
    • kate4you
      kate4you ptolemy

      Posted

      I agree that the socks or tights do not make a difference to the veins but what my doctor has told me is that they prevent further ones from collapsing and do help somewhat with the discomfort / pain. Along with walking of course!
    • silvia32187
      silvia32187 ptolemy

      Posted

      Hi, How does VNUS Closure and Sclerotherapy work I mean is it invasive? 
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy silvia32187

      Posted

      For the VNUS Closure the very narrow catheter is inserted into the greater saphenous vein around the knee area and pushed up to the groin area then radio frequency is used to seal off the vein. With the sclerotherapy a solution is injected into the vein to seal it off. I do not remember having any sort of plaster over the entrance to the saphenous vein afterwards, although I may have had one, the hole was tiny.
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