Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Varicose Veins

Much to my dislike, as I'm thinning up, I'm finding my left leg has one long 'spider vein' all the way from the mid top leg to the bottom calf. It is kind of unsightly. I guess it was there a while and when I've lost weight now I can see it.

Has anyone had a similar issue? I've read up on it, and it seems 'generally' it isn't a problem, but 'could' become one. My insurance won't cooperate if it is just cosmetic, and I'm not rich, so. . ..

Just curious about stories and perspectives here as well as anything I might ask/do next doctor's visit, etc.

claim you are in pain. who knows your insurance may pay for the surgery

My snakes rock especially with shaved legs, massive coiling monsters.........

Don't yank em, I think they use them these days if needed in other areas of your body.

Much to my dislike, as I'm thinning up, I'm finding my left leg has one long 'spider vein' all the way from the mid top leg to the bottom calf. It is kind of unsightly. I guess it was there a while and when I've lost weight now I can see it.

Has anyone had a similar issue? I've read up on it, and it seems 'generally' it isn't a problem, but 'could' become one. My insurance won't cooperate if it is just cosmetic, and I'm not rich, so. . ..

Just curious about stories and perspectives here as well as anything I might ask/do next doctor's visit, etc.

If you ride a lot you'll develop some serious veins on the back of your leg,especially below the knee. It develops because your muscles need more blood to operate efficiently. If its more of a snake than a spider that may be what your seeing. I have a major set of veins serving my calfs, it becomes more pernounced the more inshape I get. But to me it doesn't look like a varicose vein.

http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/wysiwyg/image/lancelegs2.jpg

This is what George Hincapie's legs look like. Is what your seeing looking similar to this? If so, it may be from riding a lot. Mine are maybe 10% of this level as I don't ride 200k a day at 25-30 mph from my job.

Yeah, I've got VVs on the inside of one of my thighs. There are consequences for being morbidly obese for 20 years, but unsightly veins or flabby skin are minor annoyances compared to what I'd be dealing with had I not lost weight.

There are vein places that can do scans and tell you if it's cosmetic or a medical concern. The place I went to did a free consult including the scan. I started looking because my foot turned purple when I was standing.

Based on that, they got insurance authorization and I got mine zapped with a laser. I had to wear thigh high compression stockings for a week, but I was back in business after that. They did some kind of chemical injection on the smaller veins a few weeks later. Re-ran the test and everything checked out.

It's worth checking with your doctor to see if you have any place like that in town. I found mine on a bulletin board.

Natbla, nah it isn't like that - I wish though :)

Compression socks help the pain and compress the calf to where you can't see the vein (for me). As an elementary school teacher teacher I'm on my feet most of the day. When I wear the socks, there is no pain and the vein compresses to where I don't see it. If I forget the socks, pain starts almost immediately in the morning because the vein swells.

I have a genetic propensity for VVs - I had a few prominent ones before I was even 20 - and I was very active and even fit then :eek:.

Because I saw the other generations of women in my family had them - and they were not overweight, (in fact my grandmother and her mother were both very fit), I just kind of accepted them and I saw them as a symbol of strength.

The fat that I've gained over the years has definitely covered many more I know exist and I am actually looking forward to how they will look when I reach my fitness goal.

I've never really had any pain with them though... I imagine that would be a whole different dilemma.