Written By: Emma Squillace
If you have varicose veins, or spider veins, you may have no symptoms other than the visible appearance of these blood vessels. If this is the case, you’re one of the lucky ones because many people with visible veins also have symptoms. These symptoms can include a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in the legs, itching, pain, or swelling. People with symptoms sometimes have pain when they sit down after standing, or trouble standing up after they’ve been sitting.
Even if you do not have any symptoms today, varicose veins do not get better on their own. In most cases, they get worse over time, and that’s when you may begin to feel symptoms. Whether or not you’re having symptoms today, having an evaluation of your veins can be a good step for anyone with concerns about their blood flow and visible veins. If you come in for a consultation with West Medical, here are some things you can expect:
Medical History
Our vein specialist will take your medical history. This is because there are so many factors that can be linked to varicose and spider veins. For example, hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, and smoking can all have a significant effect on your veins. We’ll also ask about a history of vein issues in your family. Varicose veins especially have a strong genetic component. We’ll want to know if you or any close relatives have had vein issues in the past, including venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.
Symptom Discussion
We’ll ask you about any symptoms you’re having, particularly if the visible veins are in your legs. You may not even realize some of the symptoms of varicose veins. For instance, your legs may feel tired and heavy. While some people think this is simply a sign of aging or having a long day at work, this can actually be caused by varicose veins. We’ll also ask you about your lifestyle and how this affects your symptoms – as well as how your vein issues are affecting your day to day life. Questions we will ask include whether you stand or sit for long periods during the day since this is another risk factor for visible veins.
Examination
When you come to our offices, we’ll examine your legs or anywhere else you have visible veins that you want us to see. This physical examination is non-invasive, and lets us get a better idea of your vein issues. If you’ve been trying compression stockings to ease varicose vein symptoms, it is best that you do not wear them the day of your exam. This may interfere with us making the most accurate assessment of your visible veins. Sometimes we perform an ultrasound on your legs. This gives us a very detailed understanding of your vein structure, and how blood is flowing.
Diagnosis & Treatment Options
If your visible veins make you a candidate for a varicose vein or spider vein procedure, we will discuss this with you. In addition to giving you a diagnosis of the type of veins you’re dealing with – we’ll educate you on the different treatment options we have and make recommendations. We have decades of experience treating veins, so you can be assured that our recommendations come from the highest level of expertise. We will explain how the treatments work, and the pros and cons of our recommended procedures. Depending on your individual case, we may even recommend a combination of treatment options. We will also give you an honest and detailed assessment of what we think your results can be. We want you to be educated and confident in your decision about treatments. You can see some of our before/after vein pictures here.
Financial Discussion
If you are a candidate for vein treatment, we’ll help you understand if insurance may cover your treatment. In many cases, our treatments can be covered by a variety of insurances, and our staff is well-versed in helping you navigate the insurance coverage process. We can also explain the various costs associated with your treatment options.
Q&A
Finally, we will make sure to have time for any remaining questions to be answered. Our goal is for you to be educated in your veins, treatment options, and pros/cons of each procedure. Make sure to let us know what questions we can answer for you!
Do you have visible veins? If so, contact us at West Medical and set up a consultation. We can make sure you understand what vein issues you’re facing, as well as your treatment options. The best way to get rid of spider veins or varicose veins for most people is with a minimally invasive treatment like sclerotherapy or laser treatment – but some people are candidates for other procedures as well. If you want to talk to us about visible veins, we’d be happy to answer your questions. You can reach us at (855) 690-0565.