Worried about this symptom

[Campaspe]

Seeing GP later on today.

For last 6 months approx I've had a patch of skin discolouration just above my inner ankle bone. It started off as a patch of red skin and has now turned brown. It's about the size of a 50p. Over the last couple of weeks, another patch has started to appear higher up my calf. No other symptoms, no pain, no itching, no trouble at all. I'm in good health generally, early 40s, non smoker, about 2 stone overweight and not very active. Hardly ever see dr.

Perhaps stupidly, I've googled "skin discolouration on lower legs" and OMG, it seems it's a really serious symptom of something called "venous insufficiency", which is indicative of deep varicose veins, DVTs, arterial problems etc.

I'm now really bricking it. What is the dr likely to say to me? I feel embarrassed as I guess it's being overweight that's caused it. Has anyone ever had this symptom before? Can you tell me about your experience with varicose veins? Will I have to wear those stockings?

Quite upset by all of this so please be gentle.

[Preminstreltension]

I have a patch like this - same place. It is caused in my case by varicose veins which I've had since I was twelve and which I inherited from my dad. Honestly it's not a big deal and anyway there's not a great deal you can do. I had one bad vein lasered out 4 years ago and it's back just as bad as before.

I've never heard of it being really serious. The NHS won't even treat varicose veins any more - that's how serious they think it is.