Varicose vein stripping. Anyone had it done?

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

DH was at the GP a couple of days ago, she noticed the very big VV he has on the back of his leg and referred him to a surgeon.
DH has not yet sent the letter (different country, different procedures) because he is concerned about how much pain he will have and what the recovery period will be and how he will manage on his own.
I've said that I think they are just stripped out and you have a couple of little stitches. Because there is no nerve or muscle cut pain is minimal.
Me and DD would go over and look after him if necesary.

It's usually a day case. Sometimes a small groin incision, usually lots of little punctures down the leg, sometimes sutured, sometimes just sterri-strips. Leg bandaged and compression stocking for several days. Most people fine with regular paracetamol & ibuprofen for a few days - some people don't need anything, some will need more. Walking or sitting with legs elevated post-op. No standing still, but walking around encouraged.
HTH

You dont get many patients still having it in the uk, I'm a podiatrist and we deal with the elderly a lot.

When I first started nearly 12 years ago it was quite common to have it done, but would find you now had lots of little spider veins instead. Patients did used to complain it hadnt worked how they had hoped.

I've not had a patient whos had it done recently for YEARS.

Thanks both. He is in Belgium and his vein is massive and achy.

No personal experience but I know someone who had it done and he had great legs

I had one stripped about 10 years ago,from ankle to groin. I have a series of little white puncture marks down the inside of my calf, which I think would be quite noticeable if I got a tan (wrong kind of skin for that). I also have a 3 inch incision in my groin, which has healed well, and is almost invisible.

It was sore afterwards, but not agony. I had to wear a surgical stocking for 2 weeks without ever taking it off, which was horrible.

I had a large clump done about 12 months ago. There was a cut at the groin, one just behind the knee, and half a dozen little ones around the area.
Was sore to walk on for a couple of days and had to wear the TED stocking for a week and was instructed not to do too much walking or standing for a while. All in all not too bad. I can't imagine it will affect his day to day stuff massively and there's not alot of pain all in all. I went in at lunch was out for early evening.

DH had one leg done two years ago and the other done last year (although the doctor wanted him to have them done closer together). Like Fo0ffy he was in the clinic from afternoon to evening, then I drove him home and he conked out big time. He used painkillers for a few days after the first op but not the second one. The doctor has told him he still has to wear the stockings though, which is obviously easier in winter (says they keep his legs warm!). He'll probably need the op done again in ten years, unfortunately, because the veins fill up again slowly.

We're not in the UK, so no hassle with waiting lists or referrals or whatever. In fact, the doctor told him off for having left it so long!

To answer your question, he'll manage fine alone after the OP - in fact you are positively encouraged to move around afterwards so there's no need to stay in bed. Nevertheless, DH was written off sick for two weeks. And he'll definitely need to to take a taxi home (or perhaps Belgium has an ambulance service that could take him back).

My dh had this done a couple of years ago. He is the biggest baby ever - but was absolutely fine. He did have a GA, not sure that its always necessary for veins? The biggest annoyance to him was getting the elasticated stockings on an off - that was a 10 minute job in itself.

I had one done in 2007. I have a fairly long scar in my groin (approx 2 inches) and several small scars down my leg. It wasn't too painful - ibuprofen/paracetamol was enough to stop the post-surgery ache and I had the dressings changed 5 days post-op.

For me the biggest downside is that I now have, in exactly the same place, another huge ropey twisted varicose vein. This is in spite of following all the advice/exercises, etc. It's been back for around 18 months and now I find that they no longer treat them in this area unless they are ulcerated...

Interesting. He's had them since I've known him (>25 years) but they have got much worse in the last four years or so.
Me and DD will got out to help him, his house has four floors.

Im in the UK and had mine stripped last year. Cut to groin with sutures and rest were puncture marks that were steri stripped. I took paracetamol, diclofenac and codeine. Was quite sore and bruised for a few weeks. 3rd day post op was worst. Think I had a total of 4-6 weeks off work...heavy job on feet for long periods.
Had to return to ward week later as had a peice of spaghetti sticking out of one of the punctures....turned out to be vein
My legs look and feel brilliant

I stand corrected, everyones having it done! Maybe my patients are too old to qualify these days.

Shit, he would faint if he saw one of his own veins.
He's a teacher, so does much standing around doing nothing imparting knowledge.
He is planning to get it done durning the holidays just in case anyone is worried about him having more time off work

Teachers actually get quite bad feet sometimes, people thinks its a sit down job but they do suffer.