Q. What should I bring with me when I come for a scheduled office appointment?
A. Apart from medicare and your insurance information
- A referral from your General Practitioner or family doctor
- All pertinent x-ray reports and test results from your primary care or referring physician
- A list of all medications that you are currently taking
- A list of any known drug allergies and the symptoms you may have from taking these medicines
- If you have had surgery elsewhere, please bring a copy of your operation report
Q. How can my family doctor help me to obtain specialist medical care?
A. Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to your own family doctor, who can discuss your condition with you and advise on whether any specialist care is appropriate. If it is, he or she can help you to choose the specialist best suited to your needs. Your family doctor can help the specialist to care for you better by providing relevant information about your health. Communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care for you better during and after your specialist treatment.
Q. Can varicose veins be removed during pregnancy?
A. Pregnancy is a time when most of the new varicose veins appear and the old ones become considerably worse. It is not recommended to remove veins during pregnancy and it is best to review the situation after the baby is born. Nursing mothers should delay any intervention until lactation period is completed.
In pregnant women, varicose veins should be treated in a non-invasive way. Considerable improvement in leg circulation can be achieved by wearing properly fitted graduated compression maternity pantyhose. They will prevent worsening of the condition, diminish tiredness and aching of the legs and generally improve the sensation of well being and most importantly prevent dangerous clotting of the blood called thrombosis.