Varicose veins anyone?

[Touch of Sunshine]

I never had any issues with these before, now my legs are riddled with spider veins and varicose veins.....YUCK.

Now if it was just appearance whatever, but i have some concerns of long term effects. My grandmother had a arterial defect(can't remember the name) that cause the eventual amputation of her legs.

Does anyone know if this is a serious issue? I go to the Dr. this coming week so I have a few things to address, I guess...

[its_our_family]

Amputation....I hope not! mine are just below my breasts on the side!

What causes them anyway??

[Viola]

I think it is genetic, and weak valves in the veins or something. The blood flows back the wrong way and can pool. All my sisters on my mom's side have them (as opposed to my sisters with a different mom). I'm the only one who has mostly escaped, though I have one broken vein in the back of my thigh, and some little spider veins in my ankles. My sister and mom have horrible bulging ones in their legs, all up and down, and my sister had them in labia when she was pregnant.

Supposedly yarrow is good for varicose veins, but I've never tried it.

[Eggie]

Hi Touch of Sunshine,

You should address this issue to your OB and maybe to an Hematologist. During pregnancy sometimes varicose veins appears but also could be a warning of other things, like the possibility of developing blood clots. Happened to me and I didn't even had one varicose vein but the doctor said that some pregnant women develope a condition that could be genetic or not and makes your blood thicker. I developed a blot clot on the brain 10 days after the delivery and I didn't even knew about the possibility of having one. Please check that ASAP... if someone would told me before I certainly would be happier... as this can be controlled. Ask for the Factor V test on your blood.
Good luck!

[Eggie]

Sorry for keep on this but I just saw your signature... I am so sorry for your losses, but several miscarriages often are sign for the Factor V Laden in your blood. Genetic and totally treatable, do not worry!! ok :). There are some drugs that you can take while pregnant and wont harm your baby at all. Some obstetritians don't even check for this but please try to see an Hematologist.
Every thing will be ok!!

[miriam]

My maternal grand mother had legs that looked like road maps with blue and red and black lines all over.

My mother had long blue ropes that huge out of the back of her legs. My mother had been a heavy smoker in her teens although she had also been a dancer and skater(?)

Anyway, I had been a dancer and a swimmer and a jogger. By the time I was fourteen, I definitely had signs of varicosities arriving in my young legs. In college, I had taken up bicycling and weight training, and began to watch my weight. I made sure I had lots of fiber in my diet, Vitamin E, and put my legs up at the level with my hips whenever I sat.

While pregnant each of four times, I wore $40.00 surgical hose daily, exercised, watched my diet, and took lots of Vitamin E. Exercise included a bicycle, walking, and swimming.

I do have varicose veins, but they are not as hideous as my mother's and grandmother's. They are not sore, never have been, and I really have no desire to hide them or have them operated on.