Has anything helped your varicose veins? Photo too

[elsaandanna]

I'm a childminder so I'm on my feet a lot.
I am a few stones overweight. Diet ongoing as of 1st January
My mother had varicose veins too.

Any creams?Vitamin Supplements? Painkillers for the aches? I want to the GP before Covid and was told the NHS doesn't help.

Id welcome any suggestions

OP how many stones are you overweight?

no creams etc

lose weight and then get them lasered

sorry not lasered

youll need to get them pulled out! friend did but worth it

but lose weight first!!

You can buy compression stocking from the pharmacy. Or indeed online, but it should be properly measured first. I wear one most days, they do help. Ibuprofen is the best painkiller, as it also reduces the inflammation. You can use the gel or pills, I've had conflicting advice about which is better.
If I ever have the money I'll be looking into private treatment options. Commiserations Op, it's grim. I was so upset when mine became painful.

Following. I've had varicose veins since my second pregnancy. I'm not overweight. I'm very self conscious in the summer and can only wear ankle length skirts or trousers. Obviously they're very visible on the beach or in the pool.
My mum had them too and had several operations to remove them (on the NHS) but I know that's no longer available. They always came back after her surgery.
For me it's just an aesthetic thing.

@withthischoice 4 stone overweight.

The NHS won't treat them and I can't go private not only due to the cost of the operation but as I'm self employed as a childminder I'd lose too much income and more important let all my families down.

@SallyWD As I'm 56 I'm long past caring how they look but they do ache

@OctoblocksAssemble is there a brand you recommend?

I've got flight socks but they stop at the knee and my worst vein in the photo goes over the side of my knee and I didn't want to stop the compression at my knee. ( if that makes sense)

I'm just throwing this out there as someone who had a similar vein issue on my left leg. I'm not saying to DO this, just giving my experience. My vascular consultant is sceptical, he sees the difference, but cannot confirm that my experience is due to this....

Anyway, two years ago I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillatiion which is a heart rhythm issue. Part of the treatment is blood thinners to prevent stroke. After a couple of months taking the blood thinners, the varicose veins have largely disappeared. Yes they are still visible to an extent, but they no longer resemble twisted ropes! I wonder if it is due to the blood thinners, and circulation. No one on the medical side is prepared to confirm this, but they have acknowledged the vast improvement.

I was considering laser treatment, but won't now.

@elsaandanna the ones I use are called Activa, they are more squeezy than flight socks (hence needing to be measured for the correct size). I use the knee ones, but I believe they do make full leg ones. I got some support tights just off the rack in boots too. They don't work as well, but are better than nothing when I want to wear a skirt. They are also opaque, so hide the unsightly vein as a bonus.

I had a couple of painful varicose veins at the back of both my knees. Over the last 3 years I've lost 7 stone in weigh and they've both completely disappeared! So losing weight may be the solution.

I stand on my feet all day at work (healthcare). I wear compression stockings. You can get them in the form of tights, over knee stockings or made to measure so they are longer in length. I wear mine whilst at work and on long journeys in the car or on flights. They were a godsend when we were at Disney. I spoke to my Gp about them and they did a doppler test first and then did measurements. I got one pair on the nhs and then have bought them online afterwards but mine are a standard size.

I've also lost some weight (long way to go) and the appearance has improved massively.

I got mine lasered (EVLT) about 11 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Mine used to itch terribly, and is scratch to the point of breaking the skin.

I went to see a pharmacist today. She would not sell me ibuprofen gel, but she did recommend a cream called Hirudoid. It's out of stock but she is ordering it for me.

Meanwhile I'm back on the diet

do you need a prescription for the ibuprofen gel?

oh ignore my question

That seems awfully… stringent of her. I’d see an alternative

and going on the diet won’t just help with the veins. So much that have just become used to i suspect.

I had a large one removed on the NHS in 2015, I was 26 at the time. I just kept going back to the GP about the itching and aching, eventually they offerred me the op. The recovery time was only a few days - you have to wear a giant bandage for 10 days, but you can walk straight after. I only had a few days off work - you might not have to have lots of time off and disappoint your families x

You can buy ibuprofen gel and Voltarol off the shelf in places lije Savers.

I've also had trouble with VV. despite always being slim and had VV removal when I was 21 (I'm 40 now).

I don't know how exactly but I've been doing a lot of Pilates and strength training this year and haven't had any problems with my legs at all since then. It might be a coincidence though!

I've had veins stripped the old fashioned way at 30 and 38 and then lasered at 59.
The Consultant I saw most recently (six years ago) wasn't rude but just factual. He said the one thing that would help would be to lose some weight.
I lost 10 kg and they were much better... (70kg -60kg)
I got them lasered two years ago because I had a very angry vein at the back of the knee.
Lasering both legs was just under £4k, so a very hefty investment but for me it was very beneficial.
I've put 7.5kg back on so I am back losing weight , OP,
We both cand do it!
Ibuprofen gel - I get mine at Sainsburys.