to even bother asking my doc if i can have a painful varicose vein dealt with

[InTheWhiteRoom]

I am really embarrassed asking about this

I am only 35 :( but I never get my legs out anymore as since my last pregnancy (dc3 and sixth pregnancy) one of my legs has quite a few varicose veins

they HURT nearly all the time esp as my job involves standing most of the time. so after work they hurt even more. they also sometimes really itch and its so hard not to scratch as that makes them hurt more

and they look fooking horrible, I have quite nice legs, long and slim and good skin otherwise so it pisses me off that in summer I am stuck in jeans and leggings all the while

I have a gp appt in a few days but worried he will laugh me out the surgery. and there is no way I can afford private treatment as cost thousands I think. has anyone ever managed to get treatment on the nhs? or is it not even worth asking?

Hello I operate on varicose veins. As someone else said it very much depends on local commissioning decisions as they are considered a low priority condition . Tell your GP how bad the discomfort and itching is . in our county we are only allowed to operate if the patient has skin changes (dry skin and brown discolouration) which can lead to ulcers, they have knocked the veins and they have bled or the veins have become hard and inflamed which is called thrombophlebitis . If they meet these criteria then we can offer a minimally invasive local anaesthetic such as VNUS ablation or open surgery if your veins are not the right size and shape for vnus. We cannot offer Surgery for cosmetic reasons or simply pain alone unless the patient has worn a prescription compression stocking for 6 months and still has pain. It is essentially a postcode lottery but definitely worth talking to your GP about and not underplaying your discomfort.

I got my first varicose vein at 17 when I weighed 7 stone so weight has little to do with it if you are predisposed. I have very low blood pressure and this leads to vein issues so I have VV, and also thread veins round both ankles and still only weigh 8 stone ish! Pregnancy didn't make them worse but I got them in other more intimate places.....
Luckily mine do not hurt but that does mean I have no chance of NHS help. And so I never get my legs out in summer except at a pool.... At least I am in no danger of high blood pressure!

Am in the same boat as Happypiglet above. I spend 8 hours a day on my feet at work, and have to wear long flexi bandages under my trousers to help with my VV. I can't wear skirts anymore because my veins bulge out without being bound (even through tights).

Yes, its a postcode lottery, and 'tough luck' in my area, the NHS won't help at all, but as my mum had hers stripped years ago, only to have them return, i'm just soldiering on atm, have no choice anyway..

Worth a shot though OP, and in the meantime you have my sympathy, especially with Summer on its way!

I just wanted to add that people should try not to feel too self conscious about how varicose veins look - I know they aren't pretty but if I see someone has varicose veins I just think oh dear that person has varicose veins. I don't think they need to be covered up. iyswim

My dh has had his done! If I recall correctly it wasn't a hugely long wait, and we are in London. Get yourself to your GP and get on that waiting list. You are perfectly entitled to this op.

Go and ask but it's dependent on where you live as others have said.

Round here = no chance AFAIK unfortunately.

can I ask the people who say its not available in their area roughly where they are?

thanks for all the replies everyone btw

Check your local hospitals policy online. They should have a referral guideline for GPs saying what is funded.

Good luck OP, no harm in asking at all. In my area (part of east midlands), they are reluctant to do anything about them on the NHS if they don't cause any symptoms like recurrent thrombophlebitis. Always worth asking though.

oh crap I am midlands ilovemargaret :(

still gonna ask but that's shit am gutted :(

will also check that lyndie thank you but think mine won't by looks of it

Do ask though, I think it varies all across the different health authouritys in the same area. Best of luck to you!

thank you x

will report back tomorrow after I've been. eek.

i have been

he didn't say anything about getting it removed :(

he has prescribed: a sock

a FUCKING COMPRESSION SOCK

am mortified

he just said come back if it doesn't improve. oh I will be back alright. I am fucked if I am wearing some kind of support garment for the rest of my days

OMG

InTheWhiteRoom Ugh I feel for you, that was my Dr's suggestion after my first pregnancy and I had had VV in one lower leg for years before I got pregnant and hadn't had anything done to it because I knew I wanted kids, and I couldn't/can't believe how the pregnancy made it 100x worse. Fast forward to now about I'm pregnant with DS3 and both legs are just a ridiculous, painful, itchy, mess. I haven't had bare calves (let alone thighs) since 2010 when I was out of the country for 9 months pre-pregs.

oh god doctorboo that sounds awful

you should ask to get something done :(

if the stocking (UGH) doesn't help, then I will go back and push for treatment I will cry in there and exaggerate the pain

and if they still say no I will get private treatment and put it on credit

and shedding yes the socks are knee high that they have prescribed. but my vein comes higher, I cant see it helping. my doctor even examined me so he knows that

Sorry you're not happy OP... but bear in mind what olympic said earlier- 'We cannot offer Surgery for cosmetic reasons or simply pain alone unless the patient has worn a prescription compression stocking for 6 months and still has pain.'

In 6 months, if things haven't improved, you may be eligible for further treatment. Good luck x

I hope so

I'm just mortified at having to wear a stocking. I went to the chemist and they said I had to be measured for it but it had to be in the morning, so to come back. But I'm so embarrassed. It's just made me feel so ugly. And I don't want dh to know