Why did Mike seek treatment for varicose veins?
Mike has always loved to walk and even when he was 5 stone heavier, nothing was stopping him from heading for the hills and walking up to 11km with his wife every weekend.
Mike is 53 and has a busy job working as a Logistics Director that has taken him all over the globe and requires long working hours. Although he is based in the Lake District and has his home there, he’s currently working during the week in Budapest, so being in good health was very important to him, especially as he does a lot of travelling.
As well as walking, travelling is a big passion of Mike’s and it was only when he was stopped in his tracks and hospitalised for 12 hours due to cellulitis that Mike felt he needed to take action and contact us. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection which can occur for different reasons, one of these being due to untreated varicose veins/venous insufficiency.
What treatment did Mike have to undergo?
Upon performing a colour duplex ultrasound scan, Dr Diwakar, Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Veincentre Liverpool, found that Mike was suffering from faulty valves (underlying cause for varicose veins) in two of the veins in his left leg. As a result, Dr Diwakar recommended him to have endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) to destroy the faulty valves and restore healthy blood flow back to his leg. By having the underlying cause treated, this resolves any symptoms associated with varicose veins, such as aching, burning, itching and throbbing. In addition, Mike also required foam sclerotherapy to treat the visible veins and improve the cosmetic appearance of his leg.
As our procedures are walk-in, walk-out, Mike was able to go home as soon as his treatment was complete. No downtime is required following varicose veins treatment at Veincentre, meaning Mike was able to continue with his day to day life as usual.
How was the treatment for Mike?
“I would say that I’m the world’s worst patient so it was reassuring to have the nurse talking to me throughout the procedure. I don’t even like going to the dentist,” Mike said.
Thankfully his wife was able to accompany him and Mike was delighted with how quick the treatment was and the unbelievable results. “I’m sure everyone says they wish they’d done it sooner but I’m so pleased that I built up the courage to have it done. The care and attention I got from the nurse and doctor at the clinic doing my treatment was absolutely outstanding. I could not have asked for more.”
The world really is Mike’s oyster now as he plans to continue walking as much as he can, travelling and continuing with Latin and ballroom dancing.