Varicose veins

[heda123]

Hi all. Recently after noticing swelling on my left foot and calf for about months I wtold the GP. They called me in and said it seems likes varicos veins i also attended the osteopath who did a bit of work on it. The GP also told me to wear compression socks and so did rheumy without even knowing what was wrong but only that I had swelling. Anyway after i started wearing the socks my legs have felt very weird. Pokey painful feeling. I've always had a lot of pain in my legs anyway but its just doubled. Anybody else have varicose veins. Mines are not too visible but when you feel you can feel it. Help please.

[whatsit]

hi Heda

I have them it’s finding the socks that are comfortable you can spend a fortune finding the right one , I had a varicose vain in the calf , I paid for injection , quite a few years ago ,that caused a knot of veins on the inside of my foot which are blue , I wouldn’t advise anyone to go down that road , socks will stop them getting any worse , 💕

[heda123 in reply to whatsit]

Thanks for your reply. Thats even worse if I have to trial out different socks. They're not cheap either!

[MissusTee]

I have developed them on my right leg. I ended up with a thrombophlebitis at the start of the year and it caused pain and I'm still having problems. They don't seem to want to do anything about them, but I have scleroderma and am prone to ulcers so I'm not sure what to do.

[heda123 in reply to MissusTee]

Keep pestering them. I'm gonna call my gp again today.

[svfarmer]

I had varicose veins in both legs about 20 years ago , I had them stripped out by NHS but don’t think they do that anymore on NHS as they class as cosmetic- which is rubbish as anyone with varicose veins knows how painful they are - I haven’t had any problems since they were stripped out - hope you get a solution soon xx

[bookish]

Hi, just a thought that it might be worth checking how well you are metabolising and getting rid of oestrogen(s) as hormone imbalances (esp unbalanced oestrogen) can cause or worsen varicose veins. Part and parcel of autoimmune conditions I guess, as oestrogen seems to worsen the lot! Magnesium, vit C and natural vit E can all help balance oestrogen, but you may have liver/detox or even genetic oestrogen metabolism issues (like me!) so getting liver functioning well should help, hopefully. Best wishes

[heda123 in reply to bookish]

Wow so would you say that the fact that my period is due next week could be a reason for more pain this week?

[bookish in reply to heda123]

Yes I'm afraid I absolutely would.

I've been getting increased symptoms of whatever, any and every thing (be it minor or more major) that is wrong with me at the time, since puberty. Oestrogen affects your blood vessels making them more relaxed but inappropriately, and also increases likelihood of clotting. Oestrogen also increases degranulation (breakdown) of mast cells, releasing histamine, and there is a relationship between nerve cells and mast cells/histamine that means that each affects the other. Higher mast cell activity will tweak (sorry, not technical, just my best understanding!) your nerves, hence increased pain and general weirdness, like neurological issues, tingling, burning, hypersensitivity etc. Lots of links being made between Small Fibre Neuropathy, Fibro, Sjogren's, Mast Cells, Dysautonomia, Thyroiditis etc etc. Nowadays I get more pain and raised histamine reactions for more of the time but I'm perimenopause so not quite so predictable. I have noticed the very heavy and very long periods that I've struggled with for years (and years!) have at last got more regular, shorter and much less heavy - since I started dealing with the poor oestrogen breakdown and supporting function. I so wish I'd known sooner. Usually people get a peak at ovulation and then bad for about a week before and maybe the first day or two. The magnesium really helps, especially with joint pain and headaches. I started very gently just using a bit (Better You flakes in a footbath of not-too-hot water, for 20 mins in the evening, but only one or two times a week and not too strong a mix - but I am hyper sensitive to chemicals, foods, etc so take everything slow) then built up to more often when I was due so knew I needed it more. I also use their sensitive oil spray, less faff when you don't feel up to it, - a few sprays on my forearms at night and sometime dab a little on temples or forehead for headache (don't recommend spraying face!). There were so many signs that could have been picked up - fainting in puberty, migraines, bad reaction to the pill, 'period cold' (sniffles like I was coming down with a proper cold, but never did), Mum the same, now lots of autoimmunity and find genetic weaknesses plus actual poor function (tested both) so beginning to do something about it all. Getting food intolerances identified and out of diet helps a lot as then you are a bit less reactive overall. A clean, veg heavy, not (too) processed diet is well worth doing in my opinion, for what it's worth. Hope that helps. Cheers x

[heda123 in reply to bookish]

It sure does amd makes sense. I do get certain other symptoms eg flulike before period and flare ups. Maybe this is to add to the list now.

[bookish in reply to heda123]

Sounds like it would be worth some more investigation then. As well as the genetic testing (which was a bit more expensive and only shows you a predisposition, not an actual effect on your health) I did something called a Hepatic Detox test (easy, urine sample, postal) which shows how well your liver is managing phase 1 and phase 2 detoxification, then got some advice on how to treat the poor function. Here is a link to Micki Rose's site with her page about oestrogen dominance (the test I did was through her and is mentioned on this page, but there are others that might suit you better. She will help guide you if you are stuck, so ask.) purehealthclinic.co.uk/heal... Best of luck x

[Hidden]

It is a much simpler process now for varicose veins. No more stripping and back on your feet right away. They laser or fill them to close them off. Here in the US most insurance makes us wait for three months, wearing the compression socks for those three months to see if that helps with swelling and weakness.

[heda123 in reply to Hidden]

i wish it was here. Doc daid they can do nothing. Might have to look into private.

[Wendy39 in reply to Hidden]

I don't think they operate on varicose veins in the NHS in the UK any more. They are one of the operations stopped to save money. You have to pay privately. NHS have registered them as a cosmetic procedure. I have no idea how much they would charge to have it done privately. Plus, if yours have only just started, I'm not sure they would be so keen to operate so early on. Like everything, they seem to develop at different speeds for different people. They might remain mild for you for years.

[Cathyan]

Hi heda123. I have below knee support stockings on prescription. If you say you’re worried about your circulation being cut off, especially in view of the Lupus and could you see a vascular/varicose veins nurse for them to Doppler your ankle arteries then you can ask the nurse to arrange for the surgery to prescribe them once she’s assessed you. I find one leg goes numb after a while and kicks my raynaud’s off so I only wear a stocking on that leg for a few hours at a time when I’m sitting/standing a long time. The other leg is the problem one and that seems to cope.

[Wendy39 in reply to Cathyan]

Very good point. My Raynaud's has been linked to my varicose veins. However, Raynaud's is also lupus linked. Veins in my legs, effecting my feet I can understand, but I get it in my hands too? But my varicose veins are not linked to my lupus. So difficult untying the complex web of symptoms that we can get.

The Doppler test is a good shout too. I saw a Chiropodist privately recently and she did the Doppler test on my feet, bizarrely despite very ugly bulging varicose veins, the circulation to my feet was fine apparently?!?

[heda123 in reply to Cathyan]

Hi Cathyan,

Thank you for the reply.

I will have to discuss this with the rheumy on my next appointment which I don't even know when it is due to the covid 19. He told me he'll speak to me in 4 months but I've had no letter through the door as yet. I have these footless flight socks which I used to wear and they used to feel fine but this last week it all just went a bit weird. The osteopath did massage my legs and do some treatment and I'm wandering if that triggered things off more than the socks. Anyway let's see what happens in the next few weeks.

[Wendy39]

Hello heda123

I have had varicose veins from the age of 17/18. During 6th form in school I was already very self conscious of my legs, wearing shorter skirts but with thick black tights in the winter and then in summer, long maxi style skirts to hide them. They have got progressively worse. I have posted here with pictures.

They got extremely painful when I worked in a restaurant part time for 5 years during A-levels and degree, busy long hours on my feet were horrendous. I used to wear compression tights under my trousers (purchased from Boots) even in the summer, for support but at times went home and cried with the pain in my legs. Luckily, I then got a desk based job and they eased.

I am now 45 and so have had them 27 years. I've had 3 children which doesn't help. I haven't worn shorts or shown my legs in the UK all that time. I sometimes wear shorts when abroad. But I am now photo sensitive too with my lupus, so covering up top-to-toe is my standard and legs cannot be shown anyway.

Interestingly, when I have seen Drs now about my lupus, they have all commented on my varicose veins. I just thought that as my Mum and maternal Grandfather had them, it was just inherited. But actually a few Drs have said, having varicose veins at such a young age is very unusual, didn't anyone ever tell you that? No. They didn't. GPs just used to shrug, say wear compression tights and rest your feet up, above your heart level to keep the blood pumping and reduce swelling. They do not operate on varicose veins here anyway and to be honest my Mum has had 2 or 3 procedures during her lifetime, on the NHS, but each time they come back somewhere else.

I do get swellings on my feet and ankles, which I am always told is due to my veins and not my lupus. Like pockets of fluid. No idea how they can be so certain.

My veins have also been a lot less troublesome and painful since taking my lupus medication. Of course that might be a coincidence.

If this does develop with you, take care of the skin on your legs. I find mine can itch like my mad. I've always had dry skin too. I used to go through times of scratching at bed time, as they were so bad and I'd make them bleed. I now take an anti-histamine to help stop this - a drowsy one - taken before bed to help stop itching and get me off to sleep. I have to moisturise every day. It would not be good to gets sores that do not heal and could develop into ulcers.

So, unfortunately, no answers or links to lupus / auto-immunity that I know off and no miracle cures. You could discuss with GP again, I know at some point, they were prescribing surgical grade tights, that you had to be measured for. (But with my dry skin, taking them off they'd be full of dead skin and actually made my legs itchier than ever). Another thing they will tell you, is keep your weight under control. Being over weight puts more pressure on your veins.

Happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Best wishes

Wendy

[heda123 in reply to Wendy39]

Hi Wendy. Thanks so much for your reply. I'm so sorry that you've had them for so many years. I am just at the beginning stage. My veins are not so visible but they're inside and still causing me alot of discomfort including swelling. It's just another thing to add onto my list of ailments. I just have to learn how to manage it. They felt better when my husband massaged it with olive oil. So might have to do that daily.