summer clothes and varicose veins

[trouserqueen]

Hi there

Reading the thread on leggings and summer dresses inspired me to start this thread.

I have really bad varicose veins on my one leg which means I am really limited to what I can wear on a hot day. The veins are below the knee so that only trousers or totally full lenght dresses would cover.

I think the comment from a poster who said that leggings with a dress hints that someone is ashamed of their legs, well yes I am!

I have a good figure and am slim but there is no way I could ever ever reveal my legs in public. Holiday abroad is fine as I have no choice and no one knows me, but walking around the shops streets at home no way!

I have had surgery twice which has improved them slightly as in they don't stick out but are stilll very visible.

I wear dresses and tights and that's is fine(thick ones) and occasionally leggings and shorter dresses but never bare legged.

To make matters worse my one foot has millions of broken veins so even shorter trousers are not an option!

Is there anyone else afflicted like me? If not, what do you think seeing a woman in trousers during a heatwave? I feel like a granny.

ESp I feel very shallow after your post.

Well done to you for being so brave!

I agree nights out and dressing up are different as its when you want to look your best, attractive etc.

Think with me, because I have an option of covering up I do. It makes me feel better. If I had something more visible- say arms or face, then I would have no choice but to be out and proud so to speak!

Hi OP - I'm veiny too - have had three lots of surgery and one lot of foam sclerotherapy but the varries just come back. But I get my legs out all the time (and have even been complimented on them) because they're very toned (lots of cycling) and I keep them a) smooth (thank you Silk Epil) and b) tanned and c) well moisturised so the skin is in good nick - I like Nuxe huile prodigieuse for a nice sheen. Good clothes, good pedicure, good shoes - honestly, no one will notice your veins, and once you've got them out you'll never ever want to cover up again. Go for it.

Blimey, no need to feel shallow at all! We just a different type of problem but I really do understand your desire for a lovely knee-length summer dress. I have avoided them since the accident but may have to have a couple as a reward :))

Mind you, I love winter and long boots!

Milady, I do all those things you do. My legs are slim smooth(in places!) Tanned, toe nails always painted. I agree it improves the situation! Can't see me getting em out til I am at least 50 and I can pretend they have just appeared due to age. People would stare and stare and I'd be uncomfortable.
On holiday I grin and bear it because I have to wear a bikini to sunbathe go in pool etc, but here I can aviod.

Esp, I love the summer biut in a way its a relief to get my long boots out too!

Its hard to explain but if I just had a bulgy knotted vein I wouldn't care. I see lots of people with one or two veins and the rest of the leg is normal. Its hard to describe but mine aren't so much knotty but more a mass of veins under the surface, along with discolouration and thread veins. It lools so odd next to my 'normal' leg.

I defintely need to keep slim as that is my only saving grace ! If they get flabby and celulilte as well, I'm doomed!

Phew I am glad I am not the only one!! My legs are awful. Terrible varicose veins on both legs-one very bulgy,huge one just at my knee.I hate them(used to have great legs-slim,toned etc).They really are old granny legs. I just usually stick to jeans and tops in summer or maxi skirts. Bought 2 maxi dresses last week-tbh dont think they are that flattering but at least it gets me out of trousers!.
Also tried on some 3/4 trousers but sadly have a horrible vein right at ankle(looks like gangrene!) and loads of broken veins too so they were a no no!!. Does anyone know if the special make-up you get for scars would work to cover them up?.

Glad to hear I am not alone, I also have bumpy veins on both calves and 1 foot is now affected too. I find shoes a pain too as feel I cant wear dainty sandals as they dont cover up the part of my foot I want hidden so tend to stick to birkenstocks, thank god for maxis being fashionable for the last few years though, dont know what I would do without them in the summer!

Not just me then! Thought I was the only veiny one around. I'm 30 but they started aged 18. My legs are foul- large knots behind and in front if my knees and all the way down one leg. Got thread veins on my ankle too. Sometimes they get inflammed which really hurts. My dh is supportive and he doesn't really mind- he says that once we've done having children I'll get my magic legs like Captain Dan (Forest Gump)

I live in maxi dresses/ maxi skirts/ linen trousers in the summer and love leggings- they are a life saver. Would never get them out as I'm self conscious about them thinking everyone is staring etc but when I'm at the pool or beach then I honestly don't care.

Me too! Having recently lost the best part of three stone, thanks to WW, I have been excited about buying dresses for the first time in about ten years! I was wearing knee length dresses with opaque tights and feeling ok about my skender pins until the sun shone and I was faced with the vein issue. Mine are on my thighs, which is ok, and to about half way down my lower legs, which is not. I can wear cropped trousers with nice sandals but I really want to wear dresses to work. Splashed out £20 today on some wolford tights but I HATE the look of them and they are horrible with strappy sandals. Also, they are quite dense but still don't cover the blue veins. mine are not bulgy but very blue.
Is ther a make up to try? Have heard of Sally Hansen leg stuff-anyone tried it? Also, can a mature lady in her fifties work the leggings/dress combo? I do not want to look ridiculous!

I'm in the process of getting surgery for mine! They started at age 16, am 31 now. I have sticky out, blue veins behind both knees to about half way down my calves. Had asked to be referred to get them fixed before, but they weren't enough of a 'problem' yet (even though they ached, had to wear uber-sexy granny coloured support stockings, had shooting pains, tired legs etc). But as of a few weeks ago I now have an inflamed vein behind one knee with a blood clot in it! Nice So I've been referred to the hospital, have had one appointment with a consultant, been for an ultrasound scan (which was quite interesting really) and am waiting for another appointment with the consultant to decide what kind of operation I get.

Do the rest of you who get achy legs wear support stockings daily? I asked my GP years ago if by not wearing them I was making my veins worse and she said no, it was just a comfort thing. Then the other week the consultant asked why I didn't wear them all the time as by wearing them they would have got worse more slowly!

My veins stick out so much you can see them through leggings, let along opaque tights. So I have to wear my support stockings (which I do really anyway, for comfort). Even if I wear trousers I can't wear sandals unless I want sore legs, or know that I'll hardly be standing during the day! It sucks, it really does. I'm looking forward to (hopefully) having better functioning, less painful and prettier legs post-op Fingers crossed!

I wear longer skirts in the summer or dresses and have done for the last few years I too have awful Veins that are so painful at times. Your in not alone how you feel about them.

Thanks everyone!just wish you were all my real life friends so we could all bare together on a summers day:) sick of being surrounded by people with normal legs even if they aren't perfect to them.

I feel pissed off that I am now, also, having to avoid nice flip flops, shoes with my granny foot. Its ok with extra long trousers but if I wear tight jeans I got to be careful what shoes I wear.

I feel irritated that my wardrobe is dictated by my legs and not theweather or the occasion. I am a size 8 but I may as well be A size 28.

Have a wedding in the summer to attend and while my friends will be wearing pretty pastel dresses I will have to get either a maxi- but have to be sure it coversmy feet or some trouser combo(again).

My don't hurt so don't wear support tights though I have occasionally to try and prevent further damage. My dr said I was literally born with my problem so it hasn't been lifestyle etc or pregnancy, though they did(temporarily) look worse during pregnacy. The tights/stockings need to be well fitting or they could make them worse.

Anyway its freezing here today so I'm fine!

I'm finding this thread quite upsetting actually. Varicose veins are really common and they are nothing to be ashamed of - it's a bit like grey hair: a few people dodge it but most of us get it. You can spend a fortune on covering it up, or you can accept it and make the best of it, and I know which is more dignified. I'd rather get my veiny old legs out and wear comfortable, cool, stylish clothes that give me pleasure than suffer in the heat beneath daggy old leggings and closed in shoes. I think I might start a revolution and start applying blue eye-shadow to my varries to accentuate them even more. Let's face it - half the world (seemingly) is covered with tattoos and people would burn you at the stake these days if you dared to utter the opinion that they are unseemly and disfiguring. I'm gonna fight for vein-acceptance!

Ladies-would anyone be brave enough to post a pic of their legs so I could compare and maybe decide if mine are really as bad as I think they are?. Would do it myself but am a techno-numpty and cant even do links!!. Also those of you who have had them fixed-was it on the nhs?. Mine are really really painful now but mil said I would have to pay to get it done.

Hello.

Another VV sufferer here, and can totally understand what you are all saying. I have has mine since I started nursing, had them stripped and high ties done in both legs a few years ago. They are back with vengeance since having DS. Lots of throbbing and aching here too.

I do wear support tights at work, I am lucky in that I have to wear black tights with my uniform all the time. However, I do have a cover up product for days when I am bared legged that is great. I won't be home until tonight, but will post the details of it later.

I have started to have veins and spider veins, the big ones are beginning to pop up and go zigzaggy, a few years ago they were still "flat".

It's a lot worse on my left leg.

I do wear skirts (knee length) as I like to feel the air on my skin, and also think: So what, I am not perfect, I am not a model. I am grateful for my (mostly) healthy body. Most days.

I do have "down days" where I feel veiny, fat and frumpy. But most days I just go for it.

Anyway, I have a theory that people like you more if you flaunt some cellulite, veins or grey hairs. It makes you human.

I wear trousers if I'm likely to be 'seen'. I have seen LOADS of people wearing ankle length dresses over the past 2 weeks, so I might try being fashionable this year .

i've got one coming on the inside of my lower thigh and some spider veins on my shin. gp says they don't do anything on nhs any more.

I do agree that it is normal and common but I think this could be my major vanity point. Anyone gone private?

I was veiny in just the one leg, on my calf unfortunately, had it lasered on private health insurance, it hurt quite a bit though, (am a wuss) so although worked really well, and my veins are coming back now (a few years later as consultant said they would, you have to have it done every few years) i won't have it done again I don't think, unless it gets really bad!

Its not bad enough for me to have to cover it up yet, but when it was before like you went for linen trousers/maxi dress.

Sorry fishie only just seen your question! It was on private health insurance, can't remember how much it cost! But it just took couple of hours, you're not meant to drive for couple of days, and you have to wear support stockings for a week i think, but thats about it. Its very non-invasive, like key-hole type thing.

No staying in overnight, its a very new procedure and much better than stripping the veins by sounds of it. You can't see my scar at all now, and it was only ever tiny.

Pink4ever - You can get them fixed on the NHS, but I think different NHS trusts might have different criteria? I'm in Edinburgh and when they were just achy/sore and ugly I couldn't be referred, but as soon as you have ulceration and bleeding (I'm so glad I haven't had that!) or thrombo phlebitis (an inflamed vein, with or without blood clot) then you get referred. It might be worth going and having a chat with your GP. I went to my GP in March and already have seen a consultant and had a scan.

YusMilady - I can't completely see your point, but mine are really so ugly..... I think it's partly an age thing too. I can see why slightly older ladies can be out and proud with grey hair, as it's part of the ageing process. Likewise I can understand why someone who's gone grey in their 20s would cover it up. Maybe when I'm older and veiny I will be out and proud with them, but at 31 they really shouldn't be this bad . Bizarrely I will happily have bare legs with small scars on them once I've had them stripped, that doesn't bother me nearly so much.

Anyone have a view on lasers vs stripping? I'm inclined to go for the stripping myself. The idea of small scars doesn't bother me, and it seems to have a better long term result than lasering? I'm not keen to have the procedure repeated if I can help it (and on the NHS that would mean waiting for them to become problematical again and the thrombo phlebitis was really quite painful ).

Thanks Pootles. From my tiny amount of research I'd go for lasering over stripping. I run a lot and really what is the point if can't get ones legs out. Mine not bad enough to cover yet, but is it a good idea to get preventative work done, or will it just hasten the day when they come back again?

My consultant said lasering is much better, and that you can only do lasering on them before they get too bad, if you leave them they will get worse, then you will have to get them stripped and you will have to stay overnight in hospital.

Having said that he is obviously biased!

Mine weren't hurting at all, just a bit itchy, so there's no way NHS would have done anything about them at all.

amelia I was younger than you when I had both my legs stripped for the first time, and I've had three lots of surgery since - and it's a mug's game, as my doctor eventually conceded. They just come back and you eventually think, you know what? I'm damned if I'm going to dress like I'm ashamed of my body. Age isn't a factor - I'm (only!) 45 and if I went into linen trousers and M&S comfy-shoes and started hiding my body I'd look loads older, just like if I dyed my hair. Knee length silk-mix skirts and dresses all summer long, that's the way to go, veins be damned.

Yus, I LOVE silk mix knee length skirts, where do you buy them?