Is there anywhere to post about Venous Stasis Disease??

Just wondering if anyone knew about vd, or had it themselves???

There is not a specific place to post but this condition does run in both sides of my family so I am familiar with it.  Both parents have large ropey varicose veins, venous insufficiency, swelling in ankles and feet and pain in the varicosities.  I have spider veins but don't appear to have any varicose veins yet.  Do you have this condition?  Are you wondering about anything specific? 

Well long story short I'm not much of a doctor person, I only go if it's last resort. I've dealt with many rude doctors and for some reason have really bad anxiety attacks going to them. Back in 05 my junior year of hs I noticed this red blotch on my ankle and it didn't hurt or anthing. Well over the course of the year I got 3 of them and they started off about a quarter size. Well I went to the doctors my senior year and she looked at them and said hmmm... try scrubbing the red spots?? I was like ok??? Well hoping they would go away they wouldn't they multiplied and grew bigger, they are soft red patches that change from dark to red and when you press them they go away?? It's painful @ times, kinda like a burning. I decided in Feb that I ought to get them checked out again. So I wne to the Drs (only after I had strep throat lol) when he asked me if there was anything that I was concerned about, I showed him my legs, I told him they swell all the time and fall asleep. He said that it was Venous Stasis Disease. He said it was because I was so heavy that it caused my veins to get deprived of blood. I said ok what do I do. He said I think you need bariactric surgery, I said I'm glad you brought that up, because I wanted to talk to you about that. So I said what do I do now in the mean time. He said nothing, all you can do is elevate your feet!! Well I'm 19 I work 65-70 hrs a week and go to school??? The only time my legs get elevated is when I sleep and sometimes it's not a full 8hrs. I wouldn't be so discouraged, but my employer excluded wls from our plan and I'm trying on working on that whole mess, but besides dieting and watching my salt intake I was just wondering what else can I do?? Does it help to walk or hurt worse?? Do I go over my docotrs head and see someone else?? When I look it up online I really am not finding the answers I am looking for. It's  getting warm out and I am so self concious of my legs I can't wear shorts, or capris and would lke to find out if I can make the red blotches fainter or something?? If anyojne can add input it'd be great ly appreciated thanks!! =]

You could try wearing support stockings to keep the swelling down while you are on your feet.  I don't know how large you are, but insurance will cover them if they are prescribed, and they can be specially made if you don't fit in standard ones.  They aren't terribly comfortable, and they are warm, but they definitely help.  Watching salt is important, and also exercise that moves the leg muscles is helpful for circulation - swimming is ideal because the pressure from the water helps too.  Your veins don't pump, so the only way to move blood back up from your legs is by contracting the muscles surrounding the veins.  Veins have little gates in them to prevent blood from flowing backward but the only way to go from gate to gate is to move it physically.  Standing still makes it worse not better, you have to actively move the muscles.  I don't know if you'd want to also ask your doctor about prescribing a diuretic?  That really depends on your particular situation but it could help with fluid retention.  The doc is correct though, putting your feet UP is most important because when you are standing or sitting with your legs down the blood will pool in your legs and you will get edema.  Regular deep massages of your legs from hip to toes may also help. 

My 14 year oldson has venous statis they cant give him support stockings due to his eczema on his skin. They said if he loses the extra weight it should help he needs to lose about 35 pds and he is trying to lose it. If we take a 2 hr trip and make no stops his legs bruise from the seat. he says a bath helps him..