Any advice please; partner's severe varicose veins.. He's seen GP on advice from A&E, Tomorrow going to Ambulatory Dept in hospital...

[Poppy_the_cat]

In the middle of having a dreadful glare the likes of which I have not had in a decade.. my partner who can be quite insensitive and uninterested in my own "unwellness" with thyroid, gluten sensitivity etc, is now in a panic.

He has had a wake up call.

The varicose veins in his left leg are genuinely breathtaking bad with a capital B!! They are seriously bad.

During the week he woke at 5am with serious pain in his whole leg. He could 'ot put his foot down upon trying to get out of bed it was so bad.

Alarmed, he took himself to A&E having discovered several itchy red swellings in the thigh, behind the knee and the ankle.

A&E impressed upon him the need to see his GP as soon as possible. They diagnosed serious phlebitis needing a plan of action.

Having returned home on Friday, as he works away near Warwick during the week, we managed to get an emergency appointment with one of the doctors in the practice.

Although she was 'mechanically' good, though a little too 'matter of fact' for my liking, I instantly though as an aside, thank the Lord she is not my doctor, because she would not have the depth of subtly, knowledge and reflective approach that my brilliant GP does!!

She was quite heavy handed and caused my partner considerable pain prodding unnecessarily, when clearly she could assess without causing extra pain.

He has been prescribed 'modern' warfarin immediately to get him through...to Monday.

Given the fact that this present government has given the NHS the directive to cut out what are deemed unnessessary operations, varicose veins being one of them... How do we proceed?

On Monday they will be scanning him for any possible deep vein thrombosis issues.

All well and good, but having seen a good few examples of severe varicose veins, my partner's leg is seriously dangerous; his ankle looks like a bunch of grapes! And her has a big bulb in the groin!

A varicose vein procedure would not be cosmetic, it would be to improve his health and quality of life, as he cannot continue like this.

Having discussed strategy, O have advised him NOT to play it down, but the opposite, to lay it on thick and complain of the excruciating pain he has been in and NOT to diminish it..

Does anybody have any extra advice to offer from a tactical point of view please?

Many thanks,

Poppy

[cjrsquared]

If he is requiring anticogulation due to the clotting risk he will automatically be deemed in need of surgery as benefits outweigh risks. Please ensure he stays hydrated in the hot weather, moves around regularly even if only for short periods to prevent stasis of blood in the veins. I appreciate that you can only offer advice, good luck!

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to cjrsquared]

Thank-you for your advice. Reassuring and practical.

Many thanks

Poppy x

[shaws Administrator]

I am really sorry I cannot give any advice but it sounds severe and I am surprised A&E didn't prescribe something as nowadays an 'urgent' appointment to see GP seems to be weeks ahead.

Hopefully members who have had varicose problems will respond and hope there is some good advice.

I think many doctors have lost the 'knack' of passing on Confidence to the patients that you leave the surgery more worried than before.

I don't know if the following will be helpful but ACV is quite easily sourced.

glovesinabottle.com/blog/8-...

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to shaws]

Thank you, much appreciated.

We are in tomorrow, fingers crossed.

Many thanks,

Poppy ☺️

[soppysokes]

Hi Poppy only reducing the number of of v.vein ops for cosmetic reasons and for minor problems they can cause. From your description this situation is far from that and will be addressed. In the highly unlikely event of it not being so-persue strongly!

[Poppy_the_cat]

Thank you!

I shall most definitely push for affirmative action, warfarin is only a temporary measure, necessary of course but not a solution.

Many thanks.

Poppy x

[JAYKAY23]

Hi Poppy ,sorry to hear what your going through with your partner,as if you didn’t have enough to coup with !

I’m no expert but had phlebitis, many years ago,even in them days they weren’t keen to remove the vein, I was unable to walk on it for a few days the vein they sealed at a later date ,but problems have continued for years,leg is like grapes,.

His sounds worst to me with other swellings, hopefully the scan will tell the problem, a word of advice, if they say that its ok, he then needs to insist that he can’t stand on it and that the ache is unbearable. This I know is not how we like to behave, but if there’s no major problems they are unlightly to offer any help even if you suffering as veins are a not priority , but if your not careful you are left left with the problem ,as I know to my cost.

Hope all goes well tomorrow for him.

I know you are going through a rough patch at the moment yourself Keep your chin up an continue the good keffi work which we are all grateful for.

[Poppy_the_cat in reply to JAYKAY23]

You are a darling, thank-you.

I am sorry to hear of your own experience in this field. I shall heed your advice.

I have been prepping him all weekend. The hospital have just called and asked him just how bad is it really...in order to prioritise him. He has given them the full picture so they are galvanising themselves! And will call back in 20 minutes!

As they say in Catalan, "those that do not bleat, don't get fed"!!

Well at this end we are squawking in a high pitch!!

Will keep you updated.

Thank-you again for your advice.

Much appreciated.

Poppy x