Glad to help, Silversword. As an additional update. It has been 5 days since my posting, and I have continued my nightly regimen using just witch hazel and cotton balls. I notice several days ago that I no longer had swelling in my ankles and as of tonight, the biggest patch of broken veins has diminished remarkably. There is just one vein showing there and it is looking pale. I feel like I've stumbled on a miracle! Keep it up, the results are fast. I rub it all around the patches I can see and behind my knees where I know there are some veins, also around the outer edge of my feet where I can see lots of veins. I never expected such quick results, and I was astonished that my swollen ankles aren't swollen at all anymore. It never occurred that could happen. Just because of some arthritis, I've also been using it on my hands and arms hoping better circulation will ease some of the pain in my fingers. Nothing noticeable on that yet, but it can't hurt to try. Zhizara

Did you ever find out what was going on? Just wondering. Mrs H

I was diagnosed with varicose veins about four years ago, don't recall how, as I don't have much if anything showing on my legs. I've had blue veins on my feet for quite some time, but they don't seem large. They prescribed a diuretic to reduce some of my water. Anyway, they felt that I needed some vein reduction, so I was slated for a series of four shots, using MRI to guide the needle carrying a foamy stuff that was to shrink the vein. After the first shot, I was to walk for a half hour, and two half-hour walks daily for two weeks. On the day after the last one, I did one half-hour walk, and on the next day another. On the following morning, I was wakened early by a pain in my chest. I could take a small intake of breath without trouble, and when I pulled in a little more, there was some pain, which increased as I pulled in more, until I couldn't stand it. Thinking that I needed to do something, without delay, I headed for the living room ... but, first things first, of course, visited the bathroom ... and, while sitting on the john, found that I could breathe without pain. So - back to bed ... but couldn't breathe there without pain! Didn't have handy the 800-number of the consulting nurse, so called police, they gave me hospital number, they gave me nurse's number. Called it, we had a discussion covering various aspects ... did I have pain all the time, had I had it for 5 min., etc., she said the decision was up to me, but she recomm. calling 9 1 1, I said that I didn't like to dispute an expert's testimony, but (sitting upright and having no pain) I didn't think that it was that bad, so she said that I should go to a hosp. emergency room, I agreed. Sun. morning, I had some veggies to take to a couple of churches, had some tomatoes unpicked that were near death, I figured that whatever didn't get taken to church that morning were dead, so picked some, paying close attention to what my body was doing. It has spoiled me, over the years, seldom, gives me trouble over anything that, within reason, I ask of it: rarely tells me, "Listen, you darned old fool - I can't do that for you, any more!". Dropped the veggies off at two churches, at 10:30 the choir and minister ready to process up the aisle of the second when I went in, I went to hosp. emerg. After checking in, I sat for some time, was taken to a cubicle about 2 ... so figured that I should have signed in, then gone back to church. They did an X-ray and some tests, including of blood, plus MRI, I think, and I sat for some more time, a nurse came in about 7, saying that they had found something in my blood, and gave me a shot, telling me that I should give myself some for several days, with a nurse to come to my home the next day to get me started, and with several blood thinness tests. Also told that I was to go on pill-style blood thinner, Warfarin, and have been on it since, with tests of blood thinness, about every two-three months. Scheduled a CT-scan the next day. When the folks who'd done the shrinking of the veins heard of it, they took no time at all in cancelling the other three slated vein-shrinking sessions: convenience is one thing; life-threatening is another! Seldom have needed adjustments in dosage for upwards of a year and a half or so, and it's to be the third anniversary of the blood clots in the lungs late this coming September. If cut or scratched, I bleed a little more than I used to, but nothing of consequence ... thus far, at least ... but haven't had a major cut with which to deal. I'm still on the diuretic pill for the veins that I began using well before the clot trouble. I've had next to no reduction in lifestyle since those problems - for which I'm very thankful. I said on here some time ago that I hoped that, if I were on the Warfarin for a long time, that I wouldn't start looking like a rat ... ... and one of the habitués here said that her Dad had been on it for (5+?) years ... and they hadn't seen any sign of a tail sprouting, thus far. Having some osteo-arthritis, my doc put me on Glucosamine Sulfate, that I've been using for over a year ... and it has helped my arm movement substantially. ole joyful

I have a incurable (noncontagious) skin disease that I can't cover up (on my hands, neck, eyelids, feet)... I use to try, but it is impossible now. I'd have to wear turtlenecks and gloves every day... and that ain't happening. lol People may think things, but rarely say anything. I wouldn't worry about any varicose veins. I have a friend who has lost a chunk of her leg due to melanoma. She wears shorts. She may get some stares, but she is more comfortable in the hot humid weather than she would be in heavy jeans. Don't worry about it. Life is too short.