Post procedure funk

I had what is called VNUS closure today on my right leg, and of course, since it is me and my leg, one would certainly expect some sort of curve ball.

Or in this case, curved vein.

Generally, they insert a catheter through a very small incision or puncture by your knee and then close the bad vein with RF energy.  They numb the area with a bit of lidocaine first, but until the catheter is inserted, the vein itself can not be numbed.

Oh, joy.

Yes, you can feel this probing and prodding.  It doesn't really hurt (okay, maybe it does a little, but not in a want-to-punch-the-doctor-in-the-face way), but there is this odd sensation of something alien snaking it's way up your leg, just under your skin.

And when they do this no less than 5 times to try to get said catheter past the unexpected curve in her vein, yes, Nicole will indeed break out into a cold sweat and wish that the Valium they'd given her had relaxed her just a tad more. 

(Okay, a lot more.)

The doctor is a wily one, and that vein will not win, so he finally makes another insertion above the curve (up in my thigh) and zaps the vein in two phases.  Once the anesthesia is pumped into the veins, the rest of the procedure is a piece of cake.

Until it's time to put the compression hose on.  Think sliding one long, skinny rubber band all the way up your leg.  Dumb leg looks and feels like sausage in a casing tonight. 

This will be such fun for 6 weeks!  (Read: I get the joy of wearing a compression stocking on my right leg for 6 freakin' weeks.)  And I don't get to run for 6 weeks either, which I am not too happy about after I'd just gotten my weekly distance up to around 13 miles.

I know I am kind of griping right now, but the reality is that in the end, this will be a good thing.  My leg ached all day yesterday and during my entire run today.  It was not getting any better.  This will help.

And I can walk for exercise.  As much as I want.  That will mean I will need to take more time out of my day to do so, and I will need to be more careful with my eating (will probably use livestrong.com again), but I was moving toward too much snacking anyhow - this is the calibration I needed.

Perhaps I can even get Rob out there striding with me.  His good cholesterol is too low again, and exercise is a key factor in regulating that, but he doesn't enjoy running.

The discomfort and inconveniences of the next 6 weeks will be worth the long term results.  Which should help me be ready to do it all again in the fall!