Vein Stripping: Five Weeks Later

For my 43 today, I did more leg work (and a bit of core since there was a high level of balance involved!). I used my stability ball: (not the BOSU – it was just in the picture!!)I started with one foot on the ball – knee bent:

Then I did a single leg squat and slid the ball out in front of me:

And, like so many of the 43s in the past, this was a double because I want both of my legs to get equal treatment!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Back to Core. Since this is my first time through the program I didn’t know what to expect from this workout – now I know that it is a LOT of controlled moves and holds!!! My upper back will be sore tomorrow for sure!!! The only equipment needed for this workout is a little band – Good times!!!

I decided to get in a little run today since this workout didn’t have much cardio (and I’ve been in a bit of a running slump) – I ran on the treadmill since it is STILL raining here! 1.5% incline – 4 miles in 30:54 + 0.25 mile cooldown

Not sure what the deal is with running lately – not super motivated. I’m trying to cut myself a little slack and push harder with other things because I don’t want running to ever become something that I dread!!Thankfully, I don’t hate running but I’m not loving it at the moment either – I have a small idea of what the problem might be. (coming up…..)

So, it has been 5 weeks since this lovely picture (the day after I had my veins stripped):

I thought I would just do a short follow up (no gross pictures today!!!) with my thoughts on the surgery. I’ve already talked about the fact that my DR completely misinformed me by not telling me all the possible results and how long the recovery could take.

Now, it has been 5 weeks and I can do all of my normal activities so that is definitely a good thing. The downside – my legs have hurt every second of the past 5 weeks!!! They don’t hurt as bad now as they did the first couple of weeks but I have a few areas on both legs that HURT all the time.

My left ankle has a huge knot right under the bone on the inside that causes my ankle to stay swollen and ache all the time.

My right calf, while better than it was the first couple of weeks, still has a knot in it.

right calk — right calf – hard to tell much

And, my right upper thigh is just a mess – little knots all over.

I have regretted having this surgery almost since the minute I got home from the hospital and I’m still not at the point where I’m glad I had it done!!! I’m hoping that maybe in a few more weeks I will at least be happy with the results but for now all it’s done is cause me a lot of pain.

And, that pain (while definitely manageable) is what I think has caused my little running slump!!! Every time I run now my legs feel like this:I keep telling myself that the DR said I can’t hurt anything so I try to ignore it but it is a joy sapper for sure!!!

Well, what I meant to be an update, came out sounding like a lot of whining! I’m done with that now because I know that I’m lucky to be able to work out and do all the things I want to do!!!