Medical procedure question

[Rich Jordan]

I recently found out I have veinous insufficiency in my legs; I have some minor varicose veins in one ankle and some swelling in one leg. Caught it fairly early thanks to a vein that got scraped accidentally, and created quite a mess, which lead to an ultrasound.

The vascular specialist is recommending "Closurefast" a minimally invasive catheter probe that uses RF to generate heat to seal up the problem vein, on both legs; it is outpatient surgery with usually a one-day recovery, and a 7-30 day window to know if it worked to fix the main issues (longer for the body to completely adapt). Sounds a hell of a lot better than 'vein stripping'. The various websites claim 95% success rate, my doctor says its 80-85%. Insurance covers it. At our hospital it is done under general anesthesia though the vendor site (for the catheter and procedure) says it can be done under local as well.

While I check to see if I can get a second opinion via insured sources, thought I'd post a query. Anyone had similar problems or has experience with this procedure? I'm leaning towards getting it done after reading a lot about the problem and options the last couple of days.

Thanks.

[Cobar]

No experience with anything like that.
Get well soon.

[Precision]

sounds better than the two alternatives, but no experience. I do know back in the early 80's our PE teacher had the stripping done and he was out for a while recovering and he was not a huge fan of the procedure.

[blackeagle603]

brute force and ignorance -- not just for VW mechanics.

3rd opinion anyone?

https://3rdopinion.us/our-services/vari ... treatment/

[blackeagle603]

Chelation therapy and veins is something that has come up in reading as I've been researching heavy metal detox.

FWIW. Eat the chicken, leave the bones.

https://life-enhancement.com/pages/edta ... ar-disease

http://beta.asoundstrategy.com/assiwebs ... orId=46753

[Rich Jordan]

brute force and ignorance -- not just for VW mechanics.

3rd opinion anyone?

https://3rdopinion.us/our-services/vari ... treatment/

Thanks for the link. FWIW I've done some research on the doctor and his rep is quite good, and its in one of the major hospitals here in the suburbs of shitcago, not a clinic with a mail order practitioner. I asked if there was any way to improve function once the valves are malfing, and it sounds more like wishful thinking as far as all the nutrition and exercise type responses. Those are great at preventing. Of course losing the weight and improving condition would still slow down a lot of the delightful side effects... but in the end you'd get ulcers and edema or have to wear compression stockings, sleep with raised legs, etc.

Our insurance covers this procedure and other related options. That implies (without confirming of course) that they consider it a cost saving over not doing the surgery...

[blackeagle603]

In case it wasn't clear... Was not advocating for the services provided by that first link. Just threw out there as a source of broad discussion/background of treatments and factors and such.

I will add however that (as a one who has had a stroke) the whole circulation and blood "stickiness" thing has become of great interest to me. As has vasodilation and what influences it (like insulin, heavy metals) since I'm hypertensive. Thyroid plays into that and gut biome as well. Been working with a Natureopath to improve underlying factors and been able to reduce meds. More work and hopefully more progress to go. Feeling great -- better at 58 than at 40.

Root causes... For my part, regardless of what treatment or procedure I may go for in the interim, I want to get after underlying functional causes. It's remarkable how disinterested (or unaware/oriented differently) the mainstream of medicine is in that regard.


Allopathic medicine paradigm vs Funtional or Integrative medical paradigm.