Varicose Vein Diaries - Part 1

I have been embarrassed to wear shorts or a skirt for a very long time.

The same legs that thrust me into my first boss’s office to demand a raise, soaked up the sun at the beaches of California, and propelled me into the air on-stage in New York, are now the biggest source of my personal insecurity. The same legs that once emboldened me with confidence and style, have now been hidden away from the fear of someone seeing me in a bathing suit.

Roughly 5 years ago, I began to develop very prominent varicose veins and spider veins on my lower legs. It didn’t happen overnight, but over a period of time, the discoloration and ropey veins protruding from my skin made it almost impossible to ignore.

My dismissive attitude which stemmed from a sense of denial and disbelief blinded me from how quickly my condition worsened. I figured the first signs were only temporary. I was working long hours at the time in a high-stress environment of starting my own business. Throw in a couple kids and a husband with a hectic travel schedule, and you have a recipe for neglect. Little cosmetic things like this just fell under the radar to bigger issues like our mortgage and paying for college tuition.

Looking back, the pain I started to experience also masked the vein disease that was slowly affecting my legs. I was a 43 year old woman, and owned a printing business that involved on-your-feet movement throughout the entire day. On some days I wouldn’t have a seat, let alone eat a meal, for an entire work day. So, when my legs really started to hurt (and look like someone hit them repeatedly with a baking pin), I figured it was from the normal wear and tear of my new company.

The first time I realized that I had a problem was at my daughter’s college orientation.

The overnight program was a 3-day event that involved the incoming students and their parents. We were invited to stay at the university dorms, tour the campus, and participate in fun extracurricular activities with the volunteer undergraduates who were there to promote bonding with the incoming freshman. On the final day, there was a pool party where all of the parents were encouraged to participate in a synchronized swimming competition with the students.

It would be an understatement to say that I panicked as I was changing in my daughter’s dorm room prior to the event. I couldn’t believe how horrible my legs looked, and I raced to find any excuse to avoid wearing that bathing suit. In the end, I sat off to the side of the pool faking a stomach cramp, as I watched the fun that all the parents had in the competition.

That is when I finally accepted my situation and began my research online.

My education began a number of different locations, including varicose vein research at Medline (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/varicoseveins.html) and more information regarding spider veins from http://www.veinclinics.com . All in all, I learned more about what caused the condition, how it is typically treated, additional side effects, and anything else I could learn about the disease.

By becoming very familiar with the latest research and treatments, I was able to understand my options more clearly, and take the appropriate steps to seek treatment.

Stay tuned. In my next entry, I will talk about my first consultation, and how my doctor gave me all the answers and advice I was looking for.

Truly yours,
Katherine

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