At Her Peak – Part 2

Posted on April 4, 2011 by admin

“I feel younger and happier since I had my varicose veins treated!”

By Lynne Knutson

Read the first installment of Lynne’s story.

Like so many women, I had lived with the developing bulges and blue lines in my legs for years thinking it was part of the aging process. I was self-conscious at running events, and looked forward to winter when I could cover up again. I hadn’t realized just how much my varicose veins had affected the way I felt about my appearance.

I finally decided in April 2009 to have someone look at my legs to see if treatment was possible — and the answer was YES.

Choosing Vein Clinics of America for treatment is one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Having your veins taken care of will change your life. Look at me – not only do I feel younger and happier, I am climbing mountains and raising money for 3 Peaks 3 Weeks, a non-profit organization that organizes mountain-based adventure challenges in Africa, Asia and South America that raise funds for local non-profit organizations. Without treatment from VCA, I would not have had the confidence to even apply to be on a team for 3Peaks 3Weeks, let alone stand at the top of three incredible mountains in Africa for the good of its people and places.

My Experience at Vein Clinics of America – Gurnee

During every single appointment, Dr. Thomas Lutz and the whole staff treated me with warmth, respect and professional competence.  Dr. Lutz explained exactly what the course of treatment would be and what would be accomplished.  He was willing to take as much time as I needed to understand everything.  He was also great during the actual procedures in explaining what was happening, how long it was going to take, and what I could expect. For me, knowing what was going on and what they were seeing on the ultrasound screen completely erased my anxiety.

Dr. Lutz has a wonderful gentle sense of humor that also goes a long way toward relieving anxiety. I am actually looking forward to getting my sclerotherapy tune-ups because I will get to see the staff again — and I know that at the end of the day my legs will look great.

Having my veins treated so my legs look 100 percent better was like turning back the clock. I do not need to hide my legs anymore. I am enjoying the freedom to wear skirts and shorts again. It is so fun!

#spon

 

In the next and last installment of At Her Peak, Lynne will answer our questions about the 3 Peaks, 3 Weeks application process, the climbs, all of her adventures in East Africa, and her experience with VCA.

Get involved. Post your questions in the comment field or submit them on our Facebook Wall.

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Let’s Get Real.

Posted on March 21, 2011 by admin
by Jessie Nicholson

I admit it…I am addicted to reality TV. One of my most recent guilty pleasures was Bridalplasty on E! I could say it’s because I’m engaged to be married and can relate to many of the participants, but there’s no need for excuses—I just love watching these types of shows! In this particular program, brides-to-be compete in challenges to earn plastic-surgery procedures in a quest to win their ultimate dream wedding.

What prompted me to write this blog entry, however, was that one of the women on the show had on her list (among many things) varicose vein removal. Unfortunately, Lisa Marie was voted off the show before receiving help for her veins, or any procedure for that matter, but it got me thinking—is this what everyone thinks of varicose veins? Are they really only looked at like a cosmetic procedure?

I hadn’t thought too much about it before beginning work at VCA, but I know that I did not associate vein treatment with procedures like a tummy tuck or a rhinoplasty. Sadly, many people do. Yes, varicose and spider veins can be very unsightly, but they are a medical condition.

So, how do we change this common idea? Stop watching so much reality TV?

Here’s what we do—we get the word out. To everyone we can. We let people know that they are not alone. That you don’t have to put up with the pain just because you think that this is a cosmetic procedure you can’t afford.

You don’t have to choose between liposuction and vein disease treatment—it’s just not the same. Insurance covers most vein procedures–so no more excuses. Spread the word and schedule a consultation today!

Was it difficult to convince your friends and family that varicose veins are a more serious matter?

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Vein Clinics of America

Posted on March 8, 2011 by admin

 

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Dr. King Visits Shanghai, China

Posted on January 26, 2011 by admin

EndovascologyPresentation on ELT at international conference

By Jessie Nicholson

VCA’s National Medical Director, Ted King, practices in the Oakbrook Terrace, IL location and has been a part of the VCA network for 13 years. He was recently invited to speak at the Endovascology Conference, an international meeting held annually in Shanghai, China. Dr. King presented to a large crowd of doctors, mainly vascular surgeons, from China and other parts of the world. I recently sat down with him to discuss the conference and his experience.

When asked how his trip was, Dr. King enthusiastically said,

“Amazing! After visiting it only once, Shanghai is now my favorite city. It’s very much geared around people; it’s very clean and easy to get around. I really enjoyed my time there.”

Dr. King was invited to speak by an American colleague with ties to China. He and two other American doctors focused on the venous portion of the conference, while the majority of the meeting was artillery (veins pump blood to the heart while arteries push blood out).

“The venous portion was small but made a big impact,” King explained, “There was a lot of interest, especially from medical military practitioners.”

The majority of vein treatment in China is still vascular surgery; it’s very invasive. According to Dr. King, the attendees had a strong interest in catching up with the U.S. by offering treatments that are ultrasound guided, and in procedures like foam sclerotherapy and Endovenous Laser Treatment (ELT).

ELT

Dr. King’s presentation was on ELT, a minimally invasive laser procedure that requires no hospitalization and no complicated surgery.

“The presentation was very well received,” he said.” There were a lot of questions in the Q & A portion after the presentation.”

In fact, a very influential German phlebologist (vein specialist) invited him to submit his presentation to be published in the German phlebology journal, Phlebologie.

The best part of the trip for Dr. King was when he visited a local hospital. He noticed an ELT machine just sitting on one of the shelves, collecting dust.

“No one knew how to use it,” King said. “I was honored to perform the very first ELT procedure at the hospital.”

A doctor from that hospital is now planning a trip to America to learn the procedure and plans to spend a day with Dr. King to train. Dr. King hopes to go back and perform more procedures at his hospital as well. He enjoyed the conference and even its tradition of making attendees from other countries sing at dinner as the entertainment. This year, he and his colleagues chose Americans songs like “Take Me Out To the Ballgame.”

“It was a great opportunity to meet dedicated medical professionals and experience Chinese hospitality at its finest. They are eager learners and delightful to be around,” King said. “I would love to go back.”

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Weight Loss and Wellness Wednesday

Posted on January 26, 2011 by admin

Summer will be here before you know it. Who’s ready for bathing suit weather?

Did you just cringe? Me too. Seems like everywhere I look, people are trying to lose weight or get in shape. I am no exception. The pounds have crept up on me over the past few months and it’s time to buckle down and focus, for my figure and my well-being. Excess weight can contribute to health issues, and varicose veins are no exception.

We’ve decided to start Weight Loss and Wellness Wednesdays as a way to motivate ourselves and our VCA community to be healthy and to hit those weight loss goals.

Setting your goals:

According to about.com, if you’ve determined you do need to lose weight, your first step is to set a reasonable weight loss goal for yourself. You can base your goals on any number of factors, but a great place to start would be the general recommendations set out by the American College of Sports Medicine which are 5-10% of body weight or one to two pounds per week.

You can also use these calculators to set your goals:

· Ideal Body Weight Calculator

·How to Assess your Ideal Body Weight

·Height – Weight Chart

·BMI Calculator

Keep in mind that these calculations offer “guesstimates.” There are a number of factors that affect weight. With any weight loss or exercise program it is a smart idea to talk to your primary physician first.

I would like to lose 25 pounds total, losing 15 pounds in the next 12 weeks. I’m going to do it. I have to because now you know and I don’t want to let you down.

What is your 12 week goal?

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Gurnee Spider Vein Treatment – At Her Peak

Posted on January 25, 2011 by admin

spider vein treatment GurneeBe inspired. Meet Lynne, a runner, mother, philanthropist, varicose vein sufferer, and mountain climber.

“Life gets more exciting and focused as you age. You can have dreams and set goals bigger than you ever thought possible.” – Lynne Knustson

Vein Clinics of America (VCA) is honored to partner with Lynne Knutson as she raises money and awareness for the three peak issues facing Africa: education, conservation and health. Lynne, a recent patient of VCA’s Gurnee, IL office, is taking her legs on a journey to attempt to summit Africa’s three highest mountains with an international, all-female team chosen by the charitable group 3 Peaks, 3 Weeks.

The team, with representatives from the United States, Scotland, France and Australia, will tackle Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru in Tanzania-Africa’s highest and third highest peaks, respectively, and Mt. Kenya, the highest mountain in Kenya and number two after Kilimanjaro on the entire continent.

“We were thrilled to be given the chance to help Lynne reach her fundraising goal as she tackles this inspiring feat,” said Dr. Tom Lutz, MD, who treated Lynne’s varicose veins. “We love hearing about patients who reach their goals after treatment, whatever they might be.”

VCA pledged a donation and helped Lynne reach her goal of raising more than $10,000 for 3 Peaks, 3 Weeks.

Read a snapshot of her first diary entry and stay tuned for updates from Lynne’s amazing journey across the world.

vein treatment gurnee, IL“I had lived with the developing bulges and blue lines in my legs for years thinking it was part of aging. Being a runner in the summer was tough because everyone wears shorts. I was self-conscious at running events; and looked forward to winter when I could cover up again. I never felt like an athlete because of my legs.

It was during a run when a woman started telling me about how happy she was with her vein treatment at Vein Clinics of America. I don’t even know her name but I am indebted to her. I made an appointment for a consultation, and it was the start of a completely successful course of treatment. Going to Vein Clinics of America is one of the best decisions I have ever made!

As millions of baby boomers are thinking of slowing down in their retirement, I am taking on the biggest challenge of my life.”

#spon

We’ve been following Lynne’s story and will continue to report on her inspiring journey. Donations are still welcome—if you are interested in contributing to her cause, click here.

 

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Men Are From Mars, Women Are From The Venous System

Posted on January 24, 2011 by admin

The Difference Between Men And Women 

varicose vein treatment
What’s the difference between men and women…. How long do we have?!?! Joking aside, we all know men and women are quite different when it comes to health-related issues. This applies to vein disease as well. Varicose and spider veins affect both men and women, but how or why might be a different story.

It is a common misconception that varicose and spider veins affect only women. Since vein disease is caused by heredity, both men and women can suffer from this condition. While half of women will develop it over a lifetime, many people are surprised to learn that the incidence of vein disease among men is almost equal. Over the course of their lifetime, 40-45% of men will develop vein disease as well.

At VCA, more than 80% of our patients are female. So, if the incidence of vein disease is so similar among sexes—then why do we see more women than men? Well, according to Dr. Todd Greer in our Alpharetta, GA office, there are likely a few reasons for that.



“There are several unique hormonal changes that only affect women that do not cause vein disease, but they can cause it to become worse if a person is genetically predisposed to the condition,” Dr. Greer explained.

These include:

* Pregnancy
* Menstruation
* Birth control pills
* Menopause

He added, “Since men’s legs are typically camouflaged with hair, smaller veins are often not quite as visible. Women’s legs are often times more visible in skirts and shorts and, therefore, they may be more likely to seek treatment.”

Regardless of whether you are male or female, it is important to seek treatment for varicose and spider veins when you first spot signs of it. Vein disease is progressive—it will continue to worsen if not treated, making future more extensive.

Talk to us. Ladies, how can you get the man in your life to seek treatment? Men, what made you finally seek treatment for your vein disease?

For more information about the causes of vein disease, please visit www.veinclinics.com.

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6 Tips on How to Relax During Sclerotherapy

Posted on January 23, 2011 by admin

Sclerotherapy is a microinjection procedure for varicose and spider veins. While most patients find this procedure fairly painless, it can make others nervous.

Here are our top 6 tips to help you relax during your sclerotherapy treatment:

* Bring an iPod and listen to your favorite relaxing music. Sing along if it helps!
* Clear your mind as best you can by practicing meditation. Think positive thoughts and allow no distractions.
* Catch up on your reading. Bring your favorite book or peruse through a gossip magazine.
* Use breathing exercises—take long, slow, deep breathes.
* Be vocal! Tell the nurse or doctor about your comfort level. He/she can make things as comfortable as possible if they know there is fear or pain there. They may also be good at distracting you!
* There’s an app for that. Use your smart phone to “tweet” and Facebook with your friends. Better yet, use it to read this blog so you have your tips for treatment, while getting treatment!

Sometimes, you’re your own worst enemy. Don’t let the fear of the unknown get the best of you. Use these tips and it’ll be a piece of cake.

Talk to us. Were you nervous about your first sclerotherapy session? If so, what tricks did you use?

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Learn more about the signs of Varicose Veins

Posted on January 22, 2011 by admin
Boca Raton Varicose Veins

Michelle Vecchione, RN, MSN/Ed

Meet Michelle Vecchione, RN, MSN/Ed a Registered Nurse in our Boca Raton, FL office. She has been a nurse since 1993 and has been treating the patients of VCA for more than three years. We chatted with her to find out more about the signs of varicose or spider veins.

Jessie: How does someone know if they have varicose or spider veins? Can they always see them?

Michelle: Spider veins are tiny, thin veins that can be seen very close to the skin’s surface. They look like red, blue, or green spider webs just beneath the skin. Varicose veins often appear rope-like. The veins are enlarged, twisted or full and bulging and can look blue, red or purple. Sometimes, they are also described be as looking like marble. There is a common misconception that vein disease is always visible on the surface of the skin. However, that is not always the case.

The better informed you are about ALL of the symptoms, the faster you can get treatment. The top five symptoms that you may have leg vein disease include:

* Pain. The most common sign of varicose veins is a painful burning, aching, throbbing or discomfort of the legs.
* Fatigue. Legs feel very heavy and tired, especially at the end of the day.
* Itching. Dry, itchy legs can cause a rash, scarring or ulcers if scratched or irritated. Itchy, red dots are also known as venous stasis dermatitis and signal an underlying leg condition that cannot be seen at the skin’s surface.
* Swelling. When you stand or sit for long periods of time and the valves in veins of the leg are not functioning properly, an abnormal amount of fluid can build up around the ankles.
* Restlessness. Feeling the urge to move legs is a common complaint of those with vein disease. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) can make it uncomfortable to do normal activities, especially when sitting down. RLS sufferers have trouble sleeping through the night and traveling long distances in a car or plane because they always feel they must move their legs.

Jessie: What should someone do if they have any of these symptoms?

Michelle: If you suffer from any of the five symptoms, it is important to be evaluated by a specialist right away because vein disease just gets worse.

While you may not have visual signs of vein disease, you may have an underlying condition that cannot be seen by the naked eye. A plebologist (vein specialist) can examine your condition with an ultrasound in order to make a thorough evaluation of your condition.

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Kansas City Spider Vein Treatment – Mary’s Story

Posted on January 21, 2011 by admin

Varicose Vein Treatment Kansas CityRecently Mary McKenna, a radio DJ with Kansas City’s Best Country 94.1 KFKF had her spider veins treated at VCA. She kept a blog detailing her experience, which we are pleased to share here. Stay tuned for weekly updates on her progress.

I remember one Easter-I think I was 9 or 10 (a long time ago)-my mom let me wear panty hose for the very first time. I was so jazzed!

And then panty hose began to become a pain in the you-know-what. And now of course nobody wears them anymore. Right around the same time they went out of fashion, I started noticing these tiny little veins popping up on my legs—spider veins.  If you are like me and are tired of wearing hose in the summer to cover your veins or wearing jeans to a pool party… we need to talk.

When I finally decided to do something about my spider veins, I wanted to go to the experts . After a lot of research and talking to friends, I decided to go to Vein Clinics of America. Their 30 years of experience says A LOT!  I’ve had my first of three treatments. Even though it’s early in the process, I have already noticed a huge difference in my legs.  All those nasty little spider veins are fading away!

  • Test

Listen to Mary talk about her experience on the radio.

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