Varicose Veins

[Heather_Neilson]

Does anyone have issues VV? NHS will not operate until my daughter develops a thrombosis !! she is 32 and has done all she can to reduce the veins getting worse. But they are so bed she now can't wear shorts or dresses, they even show through trousers. I feel for her as this is now impacting on her life as a mum too.

[PMRpro]

Unfortunately the funding crisis in the NHS has resulted in varicose vein surgery for anything other than medical reasons being stopped - has been the case for several years now. However - if there are good reasons it will be done. Who in the NHS has said "no surgery"? The GP? I wouldn't always take their view for gospel!

I assume she wears support stockings? Not just the sort you buy from an ordinary shop - prescribed and correctly measured for stocking are essential.

You may find this article helpful.

nhs.uk/conditions/Varicose-...

[Claire133]

I've had a vein problem since the age of 20, I totally feel for you daughter.

I went to a free Varicose Vein information evening at my local Spire Hospital and learnt some really interesting things, it might be worth asking the nearest Spire Hospital if they are doing one of these evenings near you. I like their page on facebook and got some posts afterwards so that's how I found out about it.

I'm lucky as i have private medical insurance to cover Spire Hospitals so when the times right I will have my veins fixed (when I find child care 😞) with my insurance but I know its a nightmare to try and get it through the NHS as they fob people off with 'its cosmetic', when its not.

There are a whole host of symptoms that go with this condition and some are incredibly serious such as leg ulcers, but the NHS want to wait until people develop the very serious conditions (very very unfair and wrong) and even then I've learned that they will leave people suffering with severely painful open ulcers which get infected, and give patients a skin viability nurse, instead of doing the surgery because they don't want to fund the operations.

Have a read on the Spire website on Varicose Veins and try to build a case with your daughter, to take to the NHS to request laser ablation of the internal varicose veins that are causing the problems, as well as the visible ones. Often this is the problem and the vascular surgeons that I saw told us that the problem would never ever be rectified without the main interior vein that was varicose, until this was treated.

You must tell NHS ALL the symptoms and if do it in writing, list everything she is suffering including any pain, itching, heaviness, numbness, fatigue, embarrassment, stress & discomfort from wearing covering clothes on hot days and sweating whilst sleeping and definitely the leg and feet swelling if this is present as this is worrying. Build a case, put it in writing, request a vascular surgeon with the isotope scans and MRIs then if they won't do what your daughter needs, put a written complaint in to PALS at the Hospital, then put a written complaint, list of symptoms, and what you need to happen, into NHS England and see what they can do to resolve this neglect by the hospital.

Hope this helps and best of luck, Claire

[webar4780]

I also feel for your daughter.

I have had vv one foot/leg for years. Every month the vv would swell, throb, and more.. I never did ask for treatment, probably because I had a family to care for, and was working.

Those days, vv procedures, were a popular procedure, because many were done in the summer, for young girls, embarrassed wearing shorts/skirts. For a time, I was a community nurse so I treated the post operatively wound, within the patients home. Today, I only regret that I did not request my own vv procedure.

2.5 years ago I became very unwell. I won't go into detail here. However, my ankle vein swelled, throbbed, but now, itched intensely. I visited my GP numerous times and was prescribed many topical creams. None worked. I requested a referral saying that I would pay to see the consultant and get my veins sorted. My GP refused. She rubbed her thumb over the vein, and said, in her opinion, it did not need doing. Of course, each month, try as I would, I could not stop scratching the intense itch.

Eventually, a wound around the vv site grew, and swelled, until it exploded with exudate. I developed a full body rash and was prescribed antibiotics at a minor injury unit, where we were on holiday. (Dr and nurses there could not believe how I had been suffering).

Since that first time, of visiting my GP with vv, I have been seen by quite a few doctors. Now diagnosed a second autoimmune disease, sjogrens (had hypothyroidism 27 years, managed well), and significant allergies, plus ?lupus.

Every time I have a flare up of autoimmune illness, It always begins with swollen vv (intense itching). My GP will not budge. Frustration isn't the word!!

I know GPs are gatekeepers to other service providers. But, really!!! Nowadays, NHS provision is a postcode lottery.

I want to thank you for sharing this topic as I will certainly be following some of the advice given to you by other members here.

I need my vv doing. I will pay for referral. But how do we get past gatekeepers?

I wish your daughter well and hope she gets sorted soon.

[Wendy39]

Yes, I have them. I've had them since I was 17/18. I haven't worn shorts or a short skirt in this country since I was about 20. I have had 3 children and my VV are quite horrendous and unsightly now.

Here's the link to my own post about my varicose veins.

healthunlocked.com/lupusuk/...

Unfortunately with one thing or another, I still haven't got advice from my GP on this.

I hope your daughter finds someone who will help her get the outcome she wants.

Best wishes

Wendy