Varicose veins and the NHS

[HellKitty]

I have a patch of broken/varicose veins just under my knee to the side of my leg. About 3" diameter. They hurt. They throb at night , worse during the summer and I have to wear tube bandages on it to get to sleep. Looks like a bruise and hurts like hell if banged so feels like a bruise too.

Ten years ago a GP was shocked at them and sent me to a consultant who dismissed them as 'cosmetic'.

Last year I spoke to a GP in my new area who told me that he's seen worse and they wouldn't fund me, he gave me moisturiser cream for the incessant itching that does cock all.

What can I do now? They do look lumpy after a hot bath or first thing in the morning. It's not vanity, I couldn't care less if the scarring is worse than they look now. I'm not even sure I can afford private surgery, my ex boss got hers done no problem!

The NICE guidelines say that those with symptomatic varicose veins should be referred to a vascular specialist.

Go back to your GP. Stress how painful they are and ask for a referral.

Thanks so much Annie! We've literally had a windfall this morning so hopefully private will be ok!

I'm getting mine done today on the NHS. They sound quite like yours.

You will probably need to be a bit persistent- I had to see a partner GP for the original referral. They are no longer supposed to conservatively manage them, but in practice are a bit twitchy about the funding. Make sure you emphasise how much the pain is bothering you. The whole referral has only taken a couple of months.

Thanks Beanpole!
It's ridiculous that IMO getting them done now is better for the NHs than me getting them done 5/10+ years down the line when the operation will be harder. Best of luck for yours and could you let me know what's involved and how it went? Thanks