How Vein Closure Surgery Solved My Varicose Veins Problem

If you had seen me in shorts three years ago, no doubt you would have wondered, "Good heavens! What's wrong with her legs!"

My varicose and spider veins were so pronounced that it looked like my lower legs were terribly bruised. Even though I was only 45, my legs looked like they belonged to a much older woman.

Not only did my legs look awful, they itched constantly and felt "heavy." Although I exercised and was in good shape, I felt tired all the time. I found out later that I had severe venous insufficiency - blood was pooling in my leg veins and not getting back to my heart the way it was supposed to.

I'm not alone. Varicose veins are the most common vascular problem in the United States, affecting more than 60 million people. They are an exceedingly common problem for women. Most American women, especially those older than 40, have bulging, painful leg veins, often due to pregnancy or weight gain. Genetics are also a factor: Both my parents suffer from varicose veins, so it would have been hard for me to escape the same fate.

Veins are called "varicose" when they enlarge and can't return blood properly. Normally, a series of one-way valves inside the veins help blood get back up from the legs to the heart. But when the valves become damaged or diseased, the blood can't move out, and the veins expand. This is also called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Varicose veins aren't just a cosmetic concern. They can pose a health risk - possible complications include skin ulcers, phlebitis, and blood clots. I wasn't yet experiencing any of these serious conditions, but one or more were certainly in my future if I didn't take action.

Of course, I didn't like the way my legs looked, either.

To my dismay, I started noticing the twisted, bulging veins on my lower legs when I was only 28. After two pregnancies, they were much worse. So two years ago, I decided it was time to get rid of them. I began researching the posssibilities.

Luckily, new procedures have made it much quicker and easier to eliminate this problem.