vascular surgery

[jackhammer]

Im having vacular surgery in about a month. I have a very large and long massive vericouse vein knotted up along my leg, about 2 feet long and curled up around 2 inches wide, I looks real bad, I cant even get normal things to heal on my leg because of the poor circulation. Dr wants to strip out the vein, along with cutting me at the groin and ankle. Im very nervious about getting this done, I'll be layed up a month, with lots of pain. I have had this problem for around 8 years now before I even working out and taking AS. So that not the reason why I have that, I had surgery 8 years ago for same reason but it grew back. I have good looking veins in the other leg. Dr says Ill be fine and it will be even better for the muscles with out the vein since it isnt even moving any blood, I guess there is bad valves in there.
Some times in mags you can see a pro with one, sometimes around their shoulder or leg, I was wondering if they have dones this surgery, or maybee any of you had this done. Id like to here your thoughts on this.

 

[pharmguy]

don't sweat it, those veins are not even that important.

 

[jackhammer]

ya, thats what the dr says too, originally if the vein was healthy they could use it for heart surgery, my are way too blown out to do anything with it. Thanks for your reply

 

[pharmguy]

the more important veins are the deep veins that run with the deep arteries, you can't see those unless your cut open.

 

[geoffgarst]

The veins your physician is going to cut out is a Superficial vein (this meaning it is outside the muscle fascia and just below the skin). These can develop varicosities. It is likely if you are being cut at the groin that you are having the Saphenous Vein removed (this is one of the larger non-needed veins - it is used in cardiac sugery for a bypass graft). They can take one from your arms if you ever need one for cardiac surgery.

The Deep Veins are the most important. I am concerned of one thing. Generally, a superficial vein does not cause poor healing problems. Poor healing is generally due to diabetes or arterial obstruction. Remember, arteries take oxygenated blood down and veins bring it up. People who have claudication (muscle pain and cramping of the legs) usually have poor circulation, meaning they have arterial obstruction or arterial stenosis. Veins, on the other hand, bring blood back up to the heart (de-oxygenated) blood. People who have edema at their feet have venous problems (vein). Now, you can have what is called a venous ulcer, which is a non or slow healing ulceration of the skin. Do you have a lot of swelling in the afternoons or evenings? If so, you likely have venous valve problems.

Now, for small varicosities, a physician can inject those with a solution that will dry them up. Larger varicosities often need to be stripped (surgically removed).

I sincerely hope your physician doing the removal is a vascular surgeon. If not, find a vascular surgeon or at least get a 2nd consultation on the matter. If you are a slow healer now, then the scalpel cuts will likely be slow healing. Let me know if I can be of further help.

PS: Karma is always welcome here!

 

[jackhammer]

This will be done by a good vascular surgen, the slow healing was my theroy, since I have like red dots last never completly go away for years right next to where they took out the old vein 10 years ago. these are massive bulged out mess, beleive me I could live with it, but it bothers me bad, my leg looks deformed, my friends say I have cottage cheese in my calf. also my leg swells up everyday, so I where a medical sock sometimes.

 

[geoffgarst]

The red dots are likely from your swelling, not necessarily a sign of poor circulation or healing. You will likely be down for 7-10 days and back to your full activity in about 3 weeks. After a few days of recovery, walking will be good for you to promote better flow to the area and this will speed recovery. When off your feet, elevate your legs and lean back such as in a recliner or on a sofa. This will keep any swelling to a minimal. It is very possible severe varicosities run in your family (did your mother have them?) or this could just be from your way of life. People who sit more at a desk or in a truck/car, or people who stand in one spot at a factory line are more inclined to get varicosities and venous disease. This is because the arteries pump the blood down at high pressure (100-130 mmHg) and the veins bring the blood up at low pressure (2 - 8 mmHg). You have to have a torniquet for stopping an artery, but every time you sit in a normal sitting position such as in a car, you bend off your Iliac Veins (at groin) and Popliteal Veins (behind knee). What happens when you turn a water hose on and the water is coming out with a steady stream, and then you bend the hose? Water trickles out of stops coming out. Heart is still pumping blood down to the legs through the arteries. So, what happens? Increased Venous Pressure stretches out every single vein it can find to hold more blood. After which all spaces are filled, they start letting off fluid through the venous walls (osmosis). This fluid irritates the tissues and is called Superficial Phlebitis. Redness, dry skin - all symptoms. The veins that are stretched out never go back to normal (if this happens over and over). Pregnant women are at risk since they have all this weight bearing down on the Iliac Veins during their 3rd trimester. Same effect. Sitting in a car/truck/chair is bad for veins, especially those who have a family history of the disease and are also heavy. Hope all this helps and good luck!

PS: Karma is always welcome here.