Jo, I found the second last sentence of your post simply uncanny! A few days after I had a laparotomy in April 2000, my right leg began to swell, and my husband remarked for the first time "look at the veins in your legs". At first I thought it would get better, but it didn't. My GP sent me to a vein Dr (I'd had a DVT years ago) to make sure there was no clot, and the specialist said everything was fine. I mentioned it to the surgeon twice and he said he didn't know what was causing it (but that it certainly had nothing to do with gyn). I gave up.
It's slowly getting worse. My husband finds it very troubling, because he feels the Drs are treating me like this is imaginary, and yet it's so visible by most afternoons. For instance, today it is pretty bad, so my right leg is almost twice the size of the left one, and I'm sort of limping a bit. It feels heavy and wooden. If I keep it elevated this evening, it will be much improved by morning. I now have so many veins in my legs that they are noticeably discolored by spider and varicose veins, and on my right leg I have quite a few of these 1/2" blue bruise-like spots that look like a vein has blown. Both legs are purplish from just below my knees to my ankles. I haven't even hit 40 yet, and I know my hubby does not like the way my legs look, but what am I to do?
Most of my day is spent behind my desk, and I know that is complicating things. On weekends it is a lot better as I move around a lot more, and I try to take my dog for a short walk most evenings (when I can) to get the blood flowing. The freakiest thing is, I can always feel it starting by the pain in my groin!!
I've often wondered if it could be caused by a lymph node that was damaged slightly during the surgery. This was suggested to me by my nutritionist (who used to be an OB/GYN). I try not to think about it - yes, the ostrich theory has worked well for me lately - but the truth is that ever since they removed that tumor and right ovary, the entire right side of my body has been screwed up.
Jo, like you say, what helps me the most is walking.
Wishing you pain free moments, hours and days...
-- ClareAt Wed, 26 Jun 2002, Jo Eslick wrote: > >Hi Tish! > >I am sorry you are having problems with your legs, because I am too and >currently it has taken over as the most painful part of my body as far >as adhesions go! > >Just in the last three weeks especially I have noticed a huge jump in >pain levels and I have been using my heat packs, walking a circuit >around my house... that is, I walk from my bedroom down our long >hallway (5 bedrooms, two linen cupboards, the main Bath room are all of >this hallway, so it's LONG! LOL > >Then I am in the family room, walk through to the formal Lounge room, >into the front lobby, thru to formal dining room, into the kitchen, back >into the family room & up to my bedroom, I do half a dozen of these >"circuits" to stimulate blood flow in my legs I guess and to make sure >my muscles aren't getting too stiff from the pain. > >I have also gone back to wearing my full legged surgical stockings, you >know the ones they tell you to wear on overseas plane trips now? To stop >the blood clots in the legs? > >Well, I kept mine after my surgery a couple of months ago and I have >started wearing them when I am out of the house, OR if my pain levels >have increased significantly, then I have to get Shane to help me put >them on because I can't always manage them on my own. > >I thought perhaps my suggestions would be of interest to you and worth >trying. Let me know if it helps you too ok? Oh, does your leg pain >start with very sharp and painful spasms in the groin? Mine does. > >-- >Love and gentle hugs, >Joanne Eslick >Founder Australian Adhesions Support Group >http://www.bombobeach.com >NSW Australian Co-ordinator of >International Adhesions Society >http://www.adhesions.org > >-- >I am not a medical person, and all my messages are based >on personal experience. I am a fellow adhesions sufferer >reaching out to help others. >