|
My GP confirmed they were varicose veins, but said no treatment was available on the NHS.
While researching private treatment on the internet, I discovered laser surgery, where they use heat from a laser to shrink and close off the faulty vein.
In some cases it can be very painful, which did worry me, but I decided to go for it anyway because the long-term results were excellent. In August I saw Dr Jocelyn Brookes. He explained that a couple of veins in my thigh had swollen because their valves, which are supposed to take blood away from the vein and back to the heart, were not working properly.
Instead, some of the blood was draining back down and pooling in certain veins, causing them to expand. The knock-on effect of this pressure had also caused the varicose veins on the back of my calf.
Dr Brookes said there was a new technique which makes removing the veins virtually painless. After some of the the horror stories I'd read on the internet, this was a relief.
It also has a much quicker recovery time than traditional laser treatment which can cause bruising for up to a fortnight afterwards.
Just before the operation, I was given a mild sedative. I felt a nick being made in my knee and some tugging in my leg, but no pain. In fact, I was so relaxed I spent most of the time chatting about holidays.
After an hour, my leg was covered in a bandage and I was wheeled into a recovery room. There, I was shown how to put on pressure stockings which I had to wear for two weeks.
I could see several tiny cuts along my thigh and lower leg. It felt slightly sore and I was quite wobbly when I first stood up, but two hours later I felt so well that I went for a walk with my mother, albeit slowly, and later walked another mile to the train station.
The next day I felt stiff and sore, but I went to work as normal. It was amazing - I didn't even need painkillers. I only had a tiny bit of bruising and my leg hurt only if I accidentally knocked it. Now, my leg looks fantastic. Gone are the unsightly veins, and the only legacy of the operation is a slight lump under the skin at the top of my thigh, where one of the incisions was made.
It's wonderful to be able to play golf and go running again without being self-conscious or worrying about my legs aching.
CONTINUED >>>>>>
|
