My legs are brown, my legs are slim(mer than they were) I want to wear dresses but...

[dividedself]

The varicose vein on my left calf makes me have to walk with my leg at angle in attempt to hide it. It's gross. I'm only 33 and my GP ried to refer me but it was turned down - Idon't meet the criteria.

As a very poor lone parent,what might my options be? It depresses me so much. And yes, I do mean depresses me, not just narks me off.

My calf is swollen, it aches and I wear dresses on brave days and sweat in trousers the rest of the time.

Sympathies - can't you say the vein is painful and as a lone parent you are on your feet all day which exacerbates the problem. If it's causing swelling I think you need referring tbh.

I avoid dresses for the same reason! Except I don't have brown legs, they are whiter than white and my veins give them a lovely 'transparent' appearance!

Go back to your GP and lay it on a bit thicker - good luck!

Do you think if I managed some histrionics in the GP's room Imight get somewhere. I tend to make less of things rather than more iyswim.

I have had phlebitis a number of times because of it.

I'm shocked that they turned you down for surgery!! I had one removed at 21, it wasn't really unsightly but it buzzed (IYSWIM) and ached a lot. For this summer why not get some dermablend and cover it?

I keep wondering about Dermablend. Boots said they could order it on for me so I didn't bother with the faff because I don't know how effective it will be.Did you try it?

Mine is VERY lumpy and protruding but if it covered the blueness then it would at least be an improvement.

It is like an umbilical cord stuck on my leg.Utterly gross. I see people lookign and sooo try and brazen it out but it makes me sad.

Yes - if need be!

I asked for a referral for mine when I was 27, they were killing me all the time (no phlebitis though) and due to the fact my job involves standing/walking all day he said that would be no problem.
However I delayed doing any more about it as I was getting married and have since had ds... They have been fine since pregnancy simply because I am no longer doing 12 hour shifts on my feet. Not looking forward to going back though!

Definitely worth a go - it won't get any better by itself (unless of course by a miracle you have some massive lifestyle change) Hope it goes ok for you.

Definitely go back to GP and weep/rant/whatever. Or possibly see a different GP at the same surgery?

A friend of mine applied piles cream (Germoloids I believe) to the varicose vein behind her knee and it did shrink them. I've no idea whether this was luck or not but it's cheap and might be worth a try.

Good luck.

(That's a yes to the histrionics bit btw!)

lie on your back with your bum touching the wall and your legs at a right angle leaning against the wall. do this for 5 mins in the morning and 5 mins in the evening. stand up afterwards slowly so you don't get a head rush. should improve (may take months rather than weeks) and will certainly stop them getting worse

I've used Dermablend on scars and it's really good and the little pot lasts ages!