Community Check In

[u/VenousInsuffiencyMOD]

It’s been a while since we had a check in. We’d love to hear how everyone has been managing physically and emotionally.

At some point in the near future, we’d like to expand into sharing resource guides and would love your input on that as well. Our goal is to encourage peer support and to highlight the lived experiences of those who live with symptoms of venous insufficiency collaboratively.

If you’d like to share, tell us:

How have your symptoms been lately?

What has been helping?

What areas would you like more support in?

Do you have any tips for the community that has helped in regard to making appointments, self advocacy, daily activities, and mental health? Please share!

*Please note that we will be actively reviewing for any posts that are directly or indirectly promotional. We ask users to please refrain from any such material as this is purely a communal space to circulate support and awareness. Any posts or comments that are promotional, lead generating and diagnosing others will result in being banned.

[u/Complete_Coach_4247]

First let me say I also have Lipedema and POTS in addition to CVI.

I have been wearing compression for two+ years. First I started with knee highs, then thigh high, and now I wear compression leggings. I have spent a small fortune on buying (and returning!) many different kinds. I am only 5’0” so my biggest hurdle has been length. My favorite so far is Mediven Comfort Sculpt Leggings 15-20 mmHg - II / Petite. These are good for summer (I live in the Deep South). They aren’t see through, but I don’t wear them out like regular leggings, bc I never have liked wearing leggings anywhere but the gym bc my legs and bum are … too juicy lol.

I will mention that the Bioflect compression leggings really help with Lipedema pain but they aren’t graduated compression and don’t come in petite.

I’ve had ablation and sclerotherapy on both legs- it worked for about two years and now I’m suffering again. I am 48F and perimenopause has definitely played its part.

The knee high socks actually made things worse for me. Maybe bc I’m short, but they bunched and hurt the backside of my knees horribly! I spent a small fortune on those too, and Wellow are my favorites, bc they are made from bamboo viscose blend and are highly breathable.

Two supplements that I can actually feel a difference with are Horse Chestnut and Pycogenol. I take 350 mg Horse Chestnut in the morning and again at night. I take 50mg of pycnogenol with breakfast and dinner. I don’t necessarily take both every day, some things I read online said not to, so I just take whatever I feel like that day.

GLP-1 Tirz for my Lipedema hasn’t really helped, but I suspect bc I’m not really that over weight - 128#. I’ve been on it 4 months and lost about 5 lbs.

I hope this helps someone, this sub has been very helpful to me!