Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

My legs are horrific feeling very down :(

34 replies

IcedCoffeeQueen · 12/07/2013 14:02

Roughly 2 years ago the vein on my inner thigh started to bulge out within a few months the length of the vein increased and I can now see the whole vein running from knee up the inner thigh to my groin, also I can see under the skin not yet bulging blue veins branching off this vein up my knee and down my leg, the veins bulge around my ankles and my foot. On the other leg I have dark blue veins not bulging but dark circles behind my knee and extending up my thigh, today I came out the shower and just cried im so hot and stuck in jeans even in this heat wave. The dc's want to go swimming but I cant bear to take them, dh has offered to book a holiday to Spain for 2014 but how can I go abroad and not be able to wear skirts, dresses, shorts its really getting me down and im only in my mid 20's I feel like the only person in the world like this. To make matters worse the veins on my arms and hands bulge too at the slightest hint of warmth what is happening to me :(

OP posts:

gindrinker · 15/07/2013 12:41

Go swimming, you'll be in the pool 90% of the time.

I couldn't tell you anything about anyone I saw on the train this morning. I'm too wrapped up in my own little world to notice what people look like...what they're wearing, if they're tanned or have veins or have purple hair and are going to work in a bikini.

Honestly you're 1000 times more conscious of anything because you examine your body. I'm sure your DH hasn't noticed your veins, or if he has he won't have given them a second thought.

suntodayplease · 15/07/2013 12:42

Sorry to gate crash thread, has anyone had their veins treated by laser? I'm hoping to have this fine next year so would be grateful of any experiences.

Valium - 4k for both legs, is that a pretty standard cost or a specific cost for your DH?

OP I understand your misery, esp in this heat. I've been living in maxi dresses and skirts, and only shorter things in the privacy of my garden. I hope you find something that works for you.

badguider · 15/07/2013 12:47

look into having something done about them by all means but in the meantime go swimming and book the holiday - nobody will be looking at your legs at the pool (and particularly not your inner leg).. and for going out and about get some knee length or longer skirts and dresses and get out of your jeans - being overheated will make it look worse and make you feel FAR worse.

ShoeWhore · 15/07/2013 12:49

First off OP I'm so sorry to hear that your legs are getting you down so much. I agree with everyone else that it's worth a trip to the GP, as even if the NHS won't/can't do anything it sounds like you could do with getting this checked out for your own peace of mind.

I also agree with everyone else that other people simply won't pay much attention. But I also think you have other options to skinny jeans - there are loads maxi skirts and dresses in the shops atm, or at least skinny chinos are a bit lighter than denim! And despite the mn ban most women I know own at least one pair of linen trousers

Yesterday I was wearing a knee length tea dress - would that be an option? People really really don't look at other people's calves all that much and it feels much more covered up than shorts. I'm not a huge fan of getting my legs out either - they are deathly pale and not very toned either - but what the hell, it's hot! (I wore shorts on Sat, which are not a great look on me tbh but no one seemed to faint in horror )

spacegoat · 15/07/2013 13:14

I have really bad legs too. One slight dark vein, not to bad.... BUT awful thread veins everywhere. I've been to my GP who referred me to a Consultant, who explained no treatment on the NHS. So I went private. Got some patches lasered but lots of places are to large to do that. I was told that there is a treatment they can use but it will only be a temporary fix, and could make it worse. So I've been in tears and throughly fed up.

However, today I'm wearing a knee length tea dress, veins on show. Fuck it. My legs look better with a bit of a tan, I look less sweaty, and no one points and stares I promise you.

Yes my legs are annoyingly crap looking, yes I can get self conscious. But they work and for that I'm grateful. So please go swimming if you want (your legs will be in the water!). Wear what you want (maxi dresses are my best friend). And realise you're not alone! I bet loads of ladies are covering up veiny legs. Good luck.

valiumredhead · 15/07/2013 13:33

Good post!

ScrambledSmegs · 15/07/2013 13:52

My mum had varicose veins that she was very self-conscious about, although to be honest no-one else really noticed them besides her. However it clearly upset her so my dad did a load of research on treatments.

It ended up with her going to Spain to have this new kind of therapy (injections i think) which was non-invasive and took very little time. Her legs look great now, no obvious protuberant viens and she's very happy.

I just texted him to ask him the name of the treatment and the place it was done. It is private but afaik not extortionate. I recall mum flew easyjet there and back in one day, so hardly posh!

ScrambledSmegs · 15/07/2013 14:51

My Dad got back to me. Was not cheap - dammit. Apparently they had to save up for it. About £1750 per leg nearly a decade ago. Sorry. However it was very good and my mum's legs look v good still.

This is the doctor who pioneered the treatment, it's called Varisolve or PEM these days. Has EU approval.

Quote from dad - Mum is squeamish as you probably know but had no problems with the treatment. I actually watched as they carried out a series of small pricks of local anaesthetic around the leg area. Then they injected the PEM foam into the affected veins and you could see the blood being forced out of the vein with the vein appearing to close up afterwards. That was it. They insisted she wore all the time a pair of thickish surgical stockings for ten days afterwards and that was that. She visited Museums in Madrid in the afternoon and was not uncomfortable at all. She visited second time some five or six weeks later for some finishing treatment and that was that. The second time she flew back the same day. She was very happy with the treatment and and remains happy with the results.

suntodayplease · 15/07/2013 15:27

Thank you so much for the info Scrambled, glad to hear your mums leg are looking good 10yrs later! Gives me a lot of hope as my mum had hers stripped on the NHS circa 10yrs ago but sadly they have returned. I'm going to have to wait till next year I suspect (currently pg which is no doubt making mine worse) but its useful to start researching now into procedures and costs - worth saving up for imo. Thanks again

Flip

1 2