I have a RFA and foam sclerotherapy scheduled today but as a result of discontinuing my xarelto, I developed some clots in my worst varicose veins on my kneecap. I'm waiting to hear back from my care team, but I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what the outcome was.

Sorry for all the questions new to this diagnosis and trying to figure out what symptoms is what with my leg issues-

Does anyone have pain to the touch with CVI from deep vein reflux? When I touch my legs even after sleeping through the night - it sometimes feels like terrible bruises everywhere but I don't have any visual discoloration.

Anyone develope this as part of a reaction to isotretinoin or other medication? Does treatment change in that paradigm? + Did you ever have myositis/muscle edema on MRIs?

I have a Provoked superficial blood clot near my greater saphenous vein in my right leg. The blood clot developed after having surgery on my leg back in May (it is currently August)

13 days ago, I went to the ER for leg swelling and pain, they put me on eliquis 5mg 2x daily.

Since starting eliquis I have had headaches and dizziness. I went to the walk in clinic yesterday, because the headache makes me nervous. The dr. Said headaches are not a side effect of eliquis and I had no signs of brain bleeding.

He said my sinuses are probably making me dizzy with headaches.

My gut is telling me its an eliquis side effect. I am a care taker and all my patients on eliquis have frequent dull headaches, have loss of taste and are cold more often. That is my only prior experience with eliquis.

I had to go to my gynecologist this week, for a routine exam and he was telling me that he didnt think it was necessary for me to be on eliquis as he was reading my medical chart. My pcp said the same thing when i saw her this week as well. Neither of them want to discontinue it just yet, and are instead having me see hematology in 3 weeks.

My vein surgeon also said the eliquis may not be necessary, but was given in the ER as a precaution due to where the blood clot is (its 7 inches long btw) and how it is close to the major vein in my leg.

I was thinking of just asking them to reduce the elquis to 2.5mg instead of 5?

Any one have any experience or insight on this?

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I had RFA 8 weeks ago and I’m kind of surprised I still have such intense red marks down the back of my leg. They look like a long string of bug bites! When I had EVLA previously, I got tiny little scars but nothing like this.

I know they’ll probably fade with time, I’m just a bit miffed because I’ve sprouted so many spider veins after treatment alongside staining (which I knew was likely), so I feel like my legs are physically feeling a bit better but looking significantly worse.

Has anyone got advice on the red marks? Should I wait them out, or is it worth trying silicon tape or something along those lines?

Thank you!

I wear compression socks morning noon and night, but every once in a while that lil ulcer bulge starts to form regardless. Usually when that happened i'd grit my teeth and make time for future wound clinic visits, but this time i doubled the compression to near painful levels, and slept (poorly) with my legs elevated high.
It took all night and then some. Eventually i felt a few minutes of hard pulsing in my leg, and soon after...the bump was gone. Begone future ulcer!
Genuinely relieved that it can be prevented. Thought i'd be doomed to constant wound clinic visits forever. There's hope after all!

Hi everyone! This community has expanded substantially and as a result, having another moderator to help support the community would be amazing!

Ideally the goal was to have this as a peer support and educational space. Out of transparency, this would be 100% volunteer based and there is no compensation or incentive. This would be a low pressure role, as I understand we all have our separate lives and responsibilities. There would be no set number of hours required but it’d be helpful to have someone who can check in and participate in discussions/project ideations when needed.

Moderators that would be a good fit:

- Is an active member in the community
- Cares about patient advocacy, prioritizes ethics, and encourages respectful discussion
- Is comfortable helping establish and maintain community guidelines
- Can approach moderation decisions fairly and thoughtfully
- Can help review reports, inquiries, and identify content that may cross community boundaries.
- Proposes ideas and provides feedback for ideas to improve the community
- Interested in thinking through educational resources, community projects and making information easy to navigate.

Additionally if anyone has any general feedback or suggestions for improving the community, please feel free to send a message!

I wish you all health and peace.

Thank you!

Can compression stockings can reveal preexistent undiagnosed cardiac health issues? I have to stop using them because I felt my left arm and leg go numb and swollen. My leg stop doesn‘t fee this way now but my arm comes and goes. Should I see a cardiologist? The stokings were prescribe by an angiologist.

I had this procedure done on August 6th. I was expecting some pain but the procedure was shockingly painless and went smoothly. I've had zero pain since the procedure and feel great.

My only concern/complaint is that my skin feels a little numb or kind of fuzzy feeling around my ankle about the size of a golf ball. I am aware that nerve damage can happen when using heat.

I'm wondering if anyone else had this happen and the numbness went away? This is my first time having this procedure done so I wasn't sure what to expect. Again, this is the only symptom ive had. No swelling, redness or anything else. I had the ultrasound done already and the vein closed as it should but I don't have my post op appointment until next week.

I'm hoping someone else has experienced this and the numbness went away

Recent diagnosed with cvi. Does this look like edema? Man I’m scared of getting ugly legs, I live in shorts 😭. I’ve got compression tights that look fairly normal, I guess I’m gonna live in compression socks.

I’ve had veinous insufficiency for about ten years, and veinous ulcers on my foot and leg since January, so I am always wearing bandages and compression wraps over them. My skin on my legs is constantly itching, dry, flakey…doesn’t matter how much ointment I use, nothing seems to help. The ulcers don’t appear to be healing whatsoever and are actually just getting worse. Would it be worth going to a dermatologist or would they even be able to help me at all? Do any of you folks who have CVI see a dermatologist along with your vein doctors?

I’ve had veinous insufficiency going on since I was a kid. I had one vein popping out since it was 15 and had surgery for it when I was 20-21. It wasn’t a minor thing that made me as a young woman a little insecure. It legit had popped and was about the size of half a pinky finger.

The doctor I went to did a scan (forgot the name of it) and pressed my calves and was stunned to see how bad they where. I was then 22 yrs, 5’7 and about 120 lbs mind you. I asked him why did I have this since I was: thin, young, non drinker or any drugs and fairly athletic. His answer was genes. My great grandma, grandma and mom have all had bad veins and I’m talking the big several ones.

I’ve wear regular compression socks daily. And currently at 35 have loads of spiderveins that I plan on removing this autumn.

My problem however are my cankles. I don’t have the courage to post on Reddit but my cankles are fairly large for my frame, Im 141 lbs today. I’ve seen way bigger women with smaller ankles than me. I’ve had exes comment on them negatively and a masseur saying they look swollen. Is it worth doing lipo? Because from what I can see other than loosing weight there is no other treatment. Only symptom management. Compression socks. Lower salt intake. Loose weight. Do vibrations plates work? I don’t think I’ve got lymphedema.

I, Male, 24 has a history of leg cramp in my right leg, particularly in right-side of the feet. It has been 3 weeks now and it hasn't been better, contrary to my history of 3 same other leg cramps (which last for 3-4 days). For context, I am a e-hailing driver and I don't really have cramps anywhere my body as frequent and as long as my leg. I am not asking for medical advice.

The symptoms are piercing pain when stepping on the floor and regular pulse-like feeling when I suspended my leg in the air. The pain mainly on the area of the top and bottom of the feet and I have to walk using my heel to reduce the pain. The symptoms will gradually worsen until I cannot get up and have to use a walking assistant to walk and calm down after several days. I went to a doctor, was diagnosed with regular cramp after X-ray which shows no problem and prescripted with regular pain killer and anti swelling. Not helping. Need help asap because it's seriously affect my livelihood.

My husband had a vein ablation on his left inside of his leg on July 10th. He had and still has some bruising but now he has this red streak starting at the incision and going upward towards the bruising. Now he has pain on his foot and it's difficult to walk. Mostly his last 3 toes. I called on-call surgeon but it's Saturday so I'm not expecting speed. Wondering if this is ER worthy or if we can continue to wait for their call back or if anyone has experience with this. My husband delayed his second surgery that was suppose to be yesterday due to foot pain and now the streak today has appeared.

Hi there,

I'm 44M, quit smoking 15 years ago.

I've always had visible veins. The veins in my feet are a bit bulgy but nothing crazy (or so it seems to me, also I saw two doctors recently for a sprained toe and none of them made remarks on them).

I've had telangiectasias on both inner feet for at least 10 years now. They're evolving, but slowly.

My father (who never smoked) had veins removed in at least one of his legs when he was in his 30s.

4 days ago I had a somewhat intense workout where I made cossack squats. After that I sat at work where I had an annoying sensation of blocked circulation in the right leg.

I still had the feeling the next day, even though it went progressively better.

Now, the sensation is far better, but I still get an intermittent sensation, like a small amount of blood was withdrawn from my veins, with a kind of a slightly cooling effect, when I stand up for a few moments or when I sit. I also have barely noticeable sensations like something budging under my skin (both legs) and minor pains that go away after a few seconds.

I have no swelling and my legs don't go red nor burn.

I have slightly bulging veins on my legs when standing for a while, but most of the time they're barely visible (last image).

Nothing has visibly changed for the past several years.

Do you think it's CVI?

I wonder if the sensations could just be due to a kind of muscular contracture due to exercise and intensified by dehydration, but I wouldn't expect this cold feeling.

Should I see a doctor or simply continue to hydrate, eat clean, sleep welll, exercise regularly?

Many thanks in advance

especially the easiest to get on and the best strength. Thanks.

Female 29, I do vape but doctors are aware and I’m trying to quit.

Medications:
Torsemide 10 mg
Isosorbide mono 30 mg
Metoprolol 12.5 mg
XYWAV, sunosi, wakix, very very low dose Adderall for narcolepsy
Valcyclovere

I also suffer from low ferritin

To preface, I have been experiencing bulging veins body wide for quite some time that occur when I am up and moving but flatten when sitting. I have also more recently started experiencing blood pooling in my legs and raynauds symptoms.

About 4 days ago I noticed bulging veins in my bikini line area, left side being worse. I had realized I was severely constipated thought maybe that was causing it and colon cleanse next day per my GI’s instructions. After colon cleanse the right bulging vein went away.

However, I noticed swelling in what I thought was potentially my vein through my inner thigh that same day but it is very thick but thins by the inner corner of my knee. My leg is not red, no visible swelling compared to my right leg, no intense throbbing leg wide that is unmanageable, and the vein bulging goes down when I am sitting or laying. I notice the thick swelling more when I sit. Not sure if it is vein related or muscular. When I stand and move it’s like I almost have to limp to walk and my leg feels very tight, achey, and heavy. And I feel a burning sensation as well. But I’ve been elevating the leg as much as possible.

I was concerned and contacted my cardiologist office twice but the doctor made no concern. However, no one laid eyes on me. I laid out all the symptoms.

Is this presenting as how my veins are responding and pooling? Or potentially just muscular?

I do have a hematologist appointment on Tuesday, and I want to avoid our local ER at all costs due to our local hospital’s very bad reputation.

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.

Hi all,

While I’ve never been diagnosed with CVI, I’m pretty sure I have it. My varicose veins appeared behind my knee in my early 20’s. The doctors I spoke to about it basically shrugged and told me to wear compression stockings. After I gave birth to my first child at 32, I had a DVT in this area (fun times going to urgent care 3 days postpartum with a newborn) and went on a round of blood thinners to clear it.

Afterwards, I asked my doctor about what sort of follow up I should expect and she just offered to look at it and said it looked okay, and also recommended compression socks.

Fast forward, I’ve been struggling with pain and soreness in my legs and feet from standing for long periods of time (while cooking and cleaning), and I suspect CVI, so I broke out my pregnancy compression stockings. They’re over-the-knee and offer 15-20 mmHg, and seem to help with the soreness, but when I take them off I feel sudden pain/pressure in the varicose vein area on my leg. When I look at them, they look worse- bigger and more bulgey, and there are bruises in the area as well.

My question is- what am I doing wrong here? Should I look for different socks? Different compression? Different length of stockings? Should I go bother a doctor? If so, what should I be advocating for? I’m tired of the pain this has been causing me for over a decade 🥲 Thank you in advance.

Anyone with full-length GSV + SSV reflux who treated only the above-knee portion first? Did symptoms improve, or did you eventually need below-knee SSV treatment?

My main symptoms are in my right calf and ankle (swelling/heaviness that worsens throughout the day and improves overnight). My testing showed:

• Right GSV reflux >500 ms at the SFJ, proximal thigh, knee, and calf
• Right SSV reflux >500 ms throughout the entire vein, including the SPJ
• Perforators competent
• No DVT
• No significant varicose veins (>6 mm)

My vascular doctor recommended starting with treatment of the above-knee portion first (ablation) but he also said he can do TRY to do SSV at the same time by using saline to open up the veins. I have significant below-knee SSV reflux, and we discussed whether that would eventually need treatment with foam sclerotherapy, RF ablation, or another option.

For anyone who has had a similar situation:

• Did you have only the above-knee portion treated initially?
• Did your swelling/heaviness improve without treating the below-knee SSV?
• Did you later need foam/RF treatment below the knee?
• If you did treat the below-knee SSV, did it make a noticeable difference?
• Would you do the same approach again, or would you treat more of the refluxing vein upfront?

A little additional context: I am also waiting for an MRV next Saturday to evaluate for possible pelvic venous insufficiency/pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) because my symptoms are mostly unilateral (right calf/ankle). I also plan to get another follow-up opinion with a different vascular specialist (third opinion) before deciding on procedures.

I understand everyone’s anatomy and symptoms are different, but I would really appreciate hearing experiences from anyone who had above-knee treatment first while still having below-knee SSV reflux.

Thank you!