Or should I call an out of hours about my varicose vein?

[Catsize]

I have had bad varicose veins which started age 18. I'm now 40. I was supposed to have them operated on but haven't yet.
This morning, got out of bed. Sharp stabbing pain to quite a bad one on front shin.
The skin in that area now feels like very small bumps, rather than the smooth and bulging varicose vein it normally is (sorry, tmi I know).
Been lying down for twenty mins or so and no pain.
Got up to test it again and the stabbing pain happened again and I feel I can't walk (but probably could if the house was on fire iyswim). I am lying down again now.
Supposed to be going away today. 🙈
Has anyone had this? Will it just disappear in a couple of hours, or so I need to be more proactive?

I would call out of hours. It's probably nothing but worth checking out. If nothing else it might move you up the list for surgery. What if you go away and it happens again? Are you flying?

No flights. Staying in the UK. I'll be working but everyone else having a nice time. I had surgery booked, but my dad passed was critically ill. Cancelled. The next one was the day of his funeral and so I cancelled that. Because of the two cancellations, I have to start the process again, but I am a big wimp about the whole thing so have been in no rush.

Have you taken any painkillers? I’d try that before out of hours. They wouldn’t be able to do much for a varicose vein in any case; if there was a concern over the arterial supply to the leg that would be different.

Any DVT symptoms?

pain, swelling and tenderness in one of your legs (usually your calf)
a heavy ache in the affected area
warm skin in the area of the clot
red skin, particularly at the back of your leg below the knee

How long will your journey be?

Could it be this?

www.medicinenet.com/phlebitis_and_thrombophlebitis/article.htm#how_is_phlebitis_treated

Thank you for the replies. It could be thrombophlebitis, but I've had that before and the symptoms were different. It is the tiny bobbly swellings under the skin that are a bit bizarre, coupled with the sudden pain. Feels like a child's sensory ball!

I'm supposed to be towing a caravan for three hours or so later.

Will do something relaxing, like my VAT return (!) and see how things are.
Managed to hobble to the bath and the pain wasn't as bad afterwards.

I made the call to 111 as the pain had got worse. Still can't walk. Feel sick. Waiting for someone to call back. I know this ain't very exciting but just wanted to give an update out of courtesy.

I think you're right to check it out. Any unusual swellings could be blood clots and potentially serious. You were silly to cancel the first operation. I understand why you did, but the operation is nothing to worry about and is life changing. I had it last year. You're anaesthetised of course and home the same day. Bandaged and hobbling for a while, but pain easily managed.

Thanks Gloomy.

My father was in critical care, 1.5hrs from home. That's why I cancelled the first operation. Not sure that's such a silly reason. 🤔

"but I am a big wimp about the whole thing so have been in no rush."

Apologies if my comment upset you. It was poorly worded. I suppose I meant, in response to the above, that you were silly not to be more proactive because it is really nothing to worry about.

And now you are worried, in pain, delaying a holiday and - if you have a blood clot - in a potentially serious situation with at least one overnight stay in hospital.

I was clumsily trying to reassure you, having been through it. I hope NHS Direct reassure you too and that you get a new date soon.

Ouch hopefully you can get in your way today at some point.

Sorry Gloomy. I see what you mean now. Not so much silly for cancelling but silly for not picking up the phone to try to sort it again. I agree.

The 111 service finally rang back about half an hour ago, seemed a bit bothered, and I am now waiting in A&E. 🙈

Hope you get seen soon and you're feeling better.

Hope it's nothing to worry about x

What did they say?

Well, I was seen by triage who could not have been less interested. Didn't even look at the vein. Just took BP and oxygen levels and said if it was a clot then it would be in the calf, not the front of the leg.

She said I could have an OOH GP appointment at 5pm but I said if it wasn't really necessary then to give it to someone else. Will keep an eye on things. Thank you for your kind posts.

I had a lot of pain in the front of my thigh over the summer which turned out to have been varicose veins there that were irritated. I was quite stressed as I have had DVTs! Anyway, the GP prescribed a high dose of Voltarol gel rubbed in where it hurt and it settled in a week or so x

Triage told me I was making a mountain out of a molehill when actually the x-ray showed up two fractures on my funny bone!

I hear you Fluffy. Things got worse, I had to be put in a wheelchair yesterday, went to a different hospital and was diagnosed with severe superficial thrombophlebitis with a number of clots in the lower left leg. 🙄 🙈

Good luck! I had superficial phlebitis then diagnosed with a clot in my knee in May. Any medical staff who said it would have to be in the calf needs their license stripped they are fucking idiots!

Thanks older. Has been an interesting few days. Still in a heck of a lot of pain but using crutches less now.