Poor veins and bulging/surfacing veins in legs/arms?

burner

Hello- does anyone have recommendations on various stockings / compression garments they've used due to poor veins ever since chemo? I don't have lymphedema yet, but I've noticed that the veins in my legs and port side are starting to bulge / surface.

I started wearing some basic mild compression knee-highs from Nordstrom to go to work, but I'm not sure they're doing much at the moment since the veins in my leg keep bulging. The list of medical compression stockings on Amazon is mind-boggling. I'd appreciate if the community has any recommendations both for compression stockings you may wear to sleep (i.e., OK to be uglier and thicker with higher compression) versus the ones that you might wear to work underneath trousers or with a skirt (e.g., needing to look more like pantyhose). Thank you!

MinusTwo

burner - Did you have breast surgery? That might impact your arms & trunk & breasts, but I'm not sure why you think your legs might be involved with LE. If it's LE, you need to be diagnosed & measured & fitted by a professional. Below is a site for your reference.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

If it's other swelling, you really should talk to your PCP as a starting point. Lots of other internal physical problems can cause swelling that he/she should know about.

burner

Oops- I need to fill out my profile...

Yes, I had a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy. I had heard that chemo ruins your veins, so just assumed it was chemo. But you are right - I should figure out what's going on with the swelling in my legs (it's overall, but the veins in my legs seems to be the ones bulging/surfacing). I'll start with the MO since I'm seeing her this week. Thanks for the site reference on garments, too!

MinusTwo

Burner - I wouldn't think that chemo would have ruined the veins in your legs, unless that's where they did the infusions. Also I think that 'ruined veins' means the nurses can no longer use them.

The link will give you lots of info about LE - and just a little about garments. It would be good to arm yourself with this info before you see your doc, but don't be surprised if he says pooh, pooh. Both my BS and my PS said 'never happens'. Interestingly it was my RO who said 'well yes' and sent me to a certified LE/PT.

burner

That makes sense- thanks, MinusTwo! You are such an informative, helpful resource across this community!

Oh my goodness... I feel like LE is a whole new space that I haven't even considered. Lots of reading to do. Thanks for your personal experience, too. My BS said that it was "highly unlikely" that I would develop LE, but then again, it was "highly unlikely" that I would get some of these other SEs from chemo, so....

SpecialK

burner - you may have an issue called venous insufficiency - it can go along with varicosities (bulging veins), but venous insufficiency is a condition where the blood flows down to the legs but not all of it comes back up, and this results in swelling and heaviness in the lower leg. This can mimic lymphedema, but is a different problem. It is important to get this checked out as it can cause a clotting issue - particularly important if you may be taking Tamoxifen. Here is some info:

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/tc/venous-insufficiency-topic-overview

I had symptomatic varicosities treated surgically about 16 years ago. I had them from pregnancy but they had never caused problems, until they did! Removed them but the root cause was still there, so I actually just had my left leg treated with endovenous laser less than two weeks ago, and had one varicosity removed. I will have the right leg done probably at the end of the summer when I am done with trips. I am wearing compression tights, and TED hose for 6 weeks, see link. I am also taking 81mg aspirin daily.

http://www.medtronic.com/covidien/products/vascular-compression/ted-anti-embolism-stockings

burner

Thank you, SpecialK! Just as an update, my MO didn't think it was related to chemo. She also didn't think it was a clot or lymphedema, but might be something that is aggravated due to taper effects of steroids (all-over edema) and being on my feet a lot more recently due to trying to increase my work hours back to normal.

So, the plan now is to monitor, be aware of clot signs, and wear compression hose and staying off my feet if I can.

I always have had close-to-surface veins, but the bulge of some of them is unsightly to me. I'm glad to know that you were treated successfully, SpecialK! This will be another thing that I add to my list of potential things to do if the situation doesn't improve. Hopefully it doesn't get too much worse.

SpecialK

burner - you might try to see a vascular surgeon that specializes in this - if you have venous insufficiency it can present a clot risk. All it takes is an ultrasound in a vein specialist's office.

burner

SpecialK, thank you! I know this procedure is lower priority to reconstruction, but good to be aware of this. So far, the situation hasn't gotten worse, which is always good.