Ahem, hideous question, but... does anyone know what varicose veins in your lady bits look like? (Warning TMI thread)

[neolara]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and have been feeling very uncomfortable down below - mixture of everything feeling very swollen and feeling as if my uterus is going to fall out between my legs. Have just had a little look and as well as lots of swelling have seen a small, hardish, white pea like lump. Does this sound like a varicose vein? And do you think I should get it checked out? (But bear in mind if anyone tells me I should see a GP I WILL cry. I've had enough medics fiddling around with my bits to last me a life-time.)

[neolara]

Bump

[unyummy]

Hello, thought i'd try and help you, i'm 24 weeks and currently have the misery of what seems to be vaginal varicose veins, i can't bear to look but apparently they are dark veins and a generally swollen area - see the link to a hilarious site that might or might not make you feel better

www.franklypregnant.com/askarchives69.html#VaginalSwelling

But also i have had a thing called a bartolin's cyst (google it) before, both when i was pregnant and not pregnant, The first time it went huge before i realised and had to have it drained - ugh - the second time i caught it when i was about 12 weeks pregnant and it was a small pea sized hard lump that was uncomfortable not painful, in the front/inside of my ladyparts. It might be this. In which case sorry but you do need to go to the GP and get antibiotics to stop it in its tracks.

[sparkle12mar08]

A hard white lump is not a varicose vein, sorry. You need to get it checked out. They look much like varicose veins anywhere else- exactly as unummy says - dark, prurplish swollen areas.

[neolara]

Thank you for replies and the link. Not sure the link did make me feel better! Definitely not varicose veins then and am not entirely convinced it is a bartholin's cyst either. Bummer. May have to see someone. Unless anyone else feels like having a go at diagnosing me over the web?