veracose veins

Hi everyone!  I hope you are all doing well...I've been so busy at work and with the baby, I promise once school gets out for the summer I'll be around much more.          I'm doing well...April 10th was my 1 year anniversary of having RNY with Dr. Schmidt, and I've lost 160 pounds.  I'm in a size 8 from a 26, and life is GREAT!  I can't thank everyone enough for all your support this past year!         I do have a question though....I have realized that I have some nasty,raised,bumpy, black  veracose veins on the back of my legs.  I don't know if I always had them, and I didn't see them because they were under my fat, or if I just got them.  But amyway, they hurt when you touch them, and after standing all day at school my legs are killing me!    Did this happen to anyone else?  If so, did insurance cover having them removed (I think they can laser them)...I have Horizon PPO and I'm thinking of going to my primary doc to have them looked at so he can at least document them. Please let me know if you have any ideas/experiences with this... Thanks! Marcie

Hi, I have had vericose veins since I had my first daughter Rachel, over 20 years ago.  I got it from gaining so much weight from being pregnant with her..  I actually got phlabitus (inflamed vein) a few years back.  You have too watch that, because you could get a blood clot.  My veins are much better now that I lost all this weight.  You do need to go to your PCP so she can schedule an Ultra Sound of your legs, so they can rule out blood clots.  They will then send you too a vascular doctor who can remove the veins, and am sure your Insurance will cover it because if the veins are inflamed they are know good anyway.  I had two removed myself, and I am fine.  You will be put on an inflamatory medication in order to remove the swelling from the inflamed vein before they remove it.  You will be fine, and now that you lost all this weight there won't be a lot of pressure on the veins in your legs.  Definitely go have everything checked out.  Good-Luck!!  I will be praying for you, also Congratulations on doing such a great job!!!  Keep up the good work!