Apr 27, 2015
Medical procedures & ouch
About six years ago, I started getting treatments for my varicose veins. Fortunately our Canadian Medical system pays the majority of the fee. The treatment is three times per leg per year and my cost is $60.00 per treatment per leg which I also get to write off on income tax. Due to family circumstances, my hip replacement, and both my parents passing, I was long over due having missed 2 years. My legs have been looking bad and some veins were thickening up. Last Monday, April 20th, less than 96 hours after we arrived home, I had my first treatment. It is not exactly painless.
This particular vein treatment is called sclerotherapy. Each treatment requires 30 -50 injections per session, directly into the veins requiring attention.
I won’t lie, it hurts and most often stings. I am a wimp and require Colin be there so I can squezze his hands so tight that he can barely breathe. Then I have to wear toe to thigh high elastic stockings and immediately go for a 30 minute walk to stimulate the medication injected into my veins. After 3- 4 hours I can roll the stocking down and remove the cotton balls and tape. After the first treatment the stockings have to stay on 24 hours. The next night I can take them off but only to sleep. Not much fun but in the end all is well. But in all honestly this is a four week investment of my life.
Between front and back this was 52 injections and 2 more treatments to go.
The most difficult thing is keeping the stockings from falling down or wrinkling behind the knee or wrinkling somewhere down the leg and that really really hurts when I walk. After the treatment, you have to walk at least 30 minutes. My biggest challenge is to keep my elastic stockings from falling to my ankles. I have tried a skin glue which hurts more than helps. Today I went out and bought a garter belt 😳 However the teeny tiny silicone tipped garter does not work well with my thick siliconed ribbed stockings. Does anyone know where I can get an old fashioned pair of garters?
So I have been dealing with these treatments and pressure stockings all the while doing taxes and year end and just coping with a return to real life. Most frustrating 😥 At least I can say I am 50% completed with the needle process.
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Getting your tune ups all done, soon you be good as new.
Not as good as knew but possibly somewhat improved.
My daughter and I had that done a few years ago. We only had to do it once though. It was well worth the needle pricks – healed up great and never any further problems. We bought pantyhose compression stockings which worked out better than the thigh high ones. We bought ours at a medical store but I see Amazon has them now, too. Hang in there!!!
Thanks Connie, I will ask my Dr. about those tomorrow. Not sure if I could stand them though. Bad enough with open toe ones going mid thigh, I feel smothered. I will find out what pressure I am wearing.
Holy Pincushion!
I certainly felt like one 🙂
That certainly doesn’t look like any fun.
It isn’t especially when I know I have to do it again next year. I asked today and I do need to it annually. Sigh!
PS: Here’s the recipe for a rather huge amount of homemade weed and grass killer. I usually make a lot less and just eyeball the proportions to fit in a 1 liter spray bottle. Regular salt works pretty well too.
Homemade Weed Killer 1 GALLON VINEGAR 2 CUPS EPSON SALT 1/4 CUP DISH SOAP
Thanks, Rod.
For garters..The Wenatchee World just did a story about a local store selling corsets and I think they mentioned garters..They sell online only and are just a little South of you…Shipping shouldn’t be too bad.
Your haircut looks very nice.
Upriverdavid
Well thank you kind sir. I will look into that article today. Nice to see you commenting here.