Hi all, I read about Emily's surgery (EVLT) and also latelatebloomers varicose vein problems and I wanted to share some of my own difficulties with VV's and ask you guys some questions. First of all I have had VV for years now, and yes, cycling really helps alot, but I'm a surgical nurse and spend alot of time on my feet and the past couple years I have had more and more pain. I have been wearing support hose for at least 2 years (just when I go to work).
Heres the thing... I can deal with the pain in my everyday living, but I'm wondering how much the varicose veins EFFECT my cycling. I raced road last year and many times experienced cramping in my right calf (my right leg is worse than my left). When I have intense hard workouts and go to sprint, I sometimes feel like someone is squeezing my whole right leg, especially in my calves, I feel this tightness and some cramping. I can't help but wonder if my varicose veins have something to do with this. I've been training really hard to be ready to race again this year, but I worry if the VV hold me back from being stronger and faster on the bike. I've seen 3 cardiovascular docs and none of them think the VV make my cycling worse. They do however, say that cycling will help prevent the VV from getting worse (of course we already know that). As a nurse and as an athlete, I can't help but wonder, if the circulation is not efficient and the blood with the lactic acid cannot be taken away quick enough, can't that result in cramping and pain in the muscles? Well, after seeing 3 surgeons, none of them seem to be able to tell me what I want to hear--that the EVLT surgery WILL in fact, help my legs to function better on the bike. None of them would guarantee this. They all said, that definitely, I should have less pain (in general) and especially after a long day at work... but what I'm really hoping for, is that it helps my legs feel better after a long day on my bike!! Emily, you are the only female cyclist I have heard of that has had this surgery---please share with me your feelings about this procedure and HOW IT EFFECTED your cycling. My surgery is scheduled for February 26th and they are also doing a ligation and a phlebectomy. The surgeon did ultrasound my leg and said I am definitely a candidate and my saphenous veins are incompetent. I wanted to do this in the winter before racing season started, but I just found out my insurance will pay for this 100%!! So I think I should do it now and get it over with and hope that I'm not off the bike too long and can get right back into it and maybe race about one month after the surgery. The doctor said he wants me off the bike for at least one week. I'm wondering how it will feel once I get back to riding. I guess my biggest fear is that I will lose alot of fitness and maybe even have more pain than before. Or that it takes me out of the racing season for months. Any comments or advice is appreciated!!! THanks for reading my long post!! Susie