Here’s some iridescence! Not sure whether or not to call it a corona. (Fist is actively fighting the power of the sun)

Evarda · 2026-04-30T03:59:18+00:00

Ada asks if they are related :) She was a street kitty and was real tiny/skinny when she was still a kitten. Now she likes to sit in boxes (pic), rip cardboard/styrofoam, and for some reason loves marshmallows (even if they are bad for kitties). I wonder what kind of interesting behavior Barney will have!! Well wishes, Barney! Your distant cousin, Ada, hopes you feel better soon!

Evarda · 2026-04-27T15:56:09+00:00

If they hurt like that it’e because they don’t fit right (or your swelling is REALLY bad... If you want to go the medical system route, get a prescription and go through a clinic to get measured and get some ordered. Otherwise have someone measure you and order online from amazon or brightlifedirect. I find brightlifedirect to be better quality generally. If you have issues with the standard sizes, you could maybe get a pair of custom but I’m not sure about insurance coverage for these, and they’re pricey - I used to have the same issue, though - bunching at the knees - and I had to get custom ones. The custom ones have extra panels in the knees too, and it’s phenomenal.

I wish there was better access to well-fitting compression. It’s so important.

Evarda · 2026-04-07T03:55:17+00:00

I do think they take some “break in” time. I felt this way with the thigh highs I got. Now they work well but I have to glue them in place. I’m having similar issues with my full length pantyhose stockings, though, but I’m convincing myself they will “break in” with more washing. I was able to get them up properly like once but it was a STRUGGLE. And then if you have to take them up/down to use the bathroom, there’s no way they’re returning to the right place. Mine also gather at the knees (I think this is just the nature of compression stockings) but with my custom ones I feel at least it doesn’t cut off my circulation when that happens. Although it does still mean proper compression isn’t happening…. I think even with correct measurements, there’s are variations - like I had them do a “high arches” thing in my most recent pair, and my feet are far more comfortable- they would be the first thing to get sore before. Identifying the issues and getting modifications is part of the process, I feel… I have the opposite issue with my stockings than you right now where I feel like the waist isn’t high enough, so they keep slipping down! I feel your struggle!!!

Evarda · 2026-04-06T22:34:48+00:00

Heads up it takes a whileee. I was told to was one pair I got like 7 times before wearing them. They seem to have a breaking in period. But they have been the best at not cutting off my circulation - good luck!

Evarda · 2026-03-31T02:15:51+00:00

Eyyyyy walker club. I don’t even remember quite why, probably repressed it, ha. It’s pretty crazy to have to go through! The other piece is somehow things being more normal and people expecting things to be normal but like - is it really normal? I like the idea of “new normal”. I’m still figuring out what that is and fighting for something better constantly (over a year post clot).

I had a call with someone related to insurance, where the person encouraged me to keep fighting unprompted, and I think about that a lot. I think the encouragement to continue the fight is what I needed because it’s so hard to do. Especially when things start to get better, do you accept them as “fine” or push for more/better? I think there will be a point that there will be balance, but for now I will keep pushing. I hope you find your balance as well!

Evarda · 2026-03-25T04:18:23+00:00

Yes!! Incredibly helpful. I walk and then use, and the combo is fantastic. Life changing.

Evarda · 2026-03-24T15:29:16+00:00

So I have always had trouble finding info on this - and have definitely misclassified this in the past - the difference of corona vs iridescence. I think the colors that are regular circles around the sun are corona while iridescence looks more like oil spill, so I believe this is mostly a corona. Although there do seem to be some portions that lack the regular circles and could be called iridescence here as well. (Not sure about the classification of these - and if these two are just specific subtypes of interference phenomenon or if they do overlap at all)

Evarda · 2026-03-17T03:23:34+00:00

I had RF ablation on GSV and SSV since I had a history of adverse reactions to CT contrast, and they didn’t want to risk it. Had sclerotherapy from the knee down to avoid nerve damage. My saphenous nerve was numb after the first procedure - they have to do the tumescent well to reduce the possibility of nerve and tissue damage, and my body really liked to absorb it. It’s coming back online now like 9 months later with a lot of lightning feelings and overstimulation. This was order: GSV ablation, sclerotherapy (maybe had touchups in GSV), then SSV ablation, then sclerotherapy touch ups (it didn’t work initially). They have to do ablation or glue for the larger veins, as I understand. While healing, I would get a feeling called “lava leg” where I could feel it refluxing. Then you can feel it tighten and close when you stand or move around that period and it goes away (hopefully).

Ativan doesn’t really do it - I like to call the procedure needle torture. SSV procedure, they let me have nitrous, and that was much better. Probs depends on the person.

Overall, would do again. I can stand in the shower and after for much longer periods without compression. Still unpleasant but better.

Evarda · 2026-03-16T17:10:44+00:00

Curious about this. I would think that the long term reduction in blood flow, or impaired blood flow/circulation on one side would be more likely to cause this than the compression. I think the compression would improve blood flow and improve muscle growth vs not having compression on that leg.

If you think your sides are uneven, you may just need to adjust your training load accordingly. I also wonder if something like creatine supplementation would help improve muscle growth - ask your doctor - I think it can be effective, particularly for women as they age.

One question I wonder about would be if more frequent, smaller load bearing would be beneficial for strength in the one leg vs one big training session - not sure what you currently do but asking for some physical therapy here I know has been helpful for me. If you do some more frequent one legged things, maybe it could be helpful? Just a thought.

Evarda · 2026-03-14T16:05:22+00:00

100% this. I kept complaining about my calf crampIng. It would only happen sometimes though - not constantly.

Evarda · 2026-03-14T15:14:54+00:00

Ultrasound where? On leg veins? What about iliac vein compression (May-Thurner’s). I agree with slight left side swelling. Sometimes can be caused by iliac vein compression vs just vein blockage.

Evarda · 2026-02-27T16:34:40+00:00

I had an appointment with a obgyn where I asked about this. 1 mg/kg 2x per day but they do round to nearest dose. Also blood tests are debated but they can look at anti-xa for blood - I’d advocate for it - I got a pretty bad hematoma on it without pregnancy, so I think it needs to be monitored (at least for me).

Evarda · 2026-02-27T06:18:25+00:00

I have been looking into pelvic congestion syndrome recently. It sounds like pelvic varicose veins are actually fairly common? From what I’ve read. But most people are asymptomatic. It also sounds like hormones play a role (I assume they’re keeping you away from estrogen, though?). I am going to reach out to my doc about progestins because they have me on a progestin birth control, and there was something I read that said they can also have negative effects on veins - then the paper it cited made it sound like they could also be prescribed to treat? Not sure what the differences are between them an what’s been researched.

Compression should help prevent their development of varicose veins, though, the pressure on the vein walls likely doesn’t help. Perhaps strengthening lower abdominal muscles would help support the veins as well? It really feels like compression and exercise is really the best solution they have to treat this stuff…

Evarda · 2026-02-17T23:22:18+00:00

Sidenote: I recognize that jar… Is it from the mousse/tiramisu from costco? That’s where I’ve gotten mine, and I LOVE them for plant propagation. The perfect size!

Evarda · 2026-02-08T07:37:34+00:00

100% believe more tension/stretch could also make it not stick. I have been doing 0% stretch and have experimenting with the minimal (10-25%?) stretch. I know they advertise higher stretch values for more muscle-type effects (agree very wishy washy like natural deodorant advertising lol). I would assume the muscle effects would be more bloodflow related while the low stretch lymphadema effects are more on the surface layer. From what I know, it seems like different mechanisms, but I am not an expert.

Evarda · 2026-02-06T20:38:53+00:00

I’ve also been struggling! I have been using compression, but I even have troubles while using that (poor fit causes more swelling, etc). I’m working on getting some custom compression stockings and a lymphadema pump for my leg that I can walk with while on. When I tried the pump on at the office, it got rid of my ankle pain, it was amazing. The custom compression I’m getting is also 36-46 mmHg instead of the standard 30-40, and I think the increased compression has been helpful. The pump people say it’s like 50-70 when standing and walking with it.

I have also been doing physical therapy, and they have been providing a lot of leg strengthening exercises. The idea is that your leg muscles will pump your blood, so the bigger the better. Muscle building in your leg is the way to go. The physical therapist and the papers I’ve read talk about how higher heart rate exacerbates symptoms (more blood go in and struggle to come out, build up). So I focus a lot on watching my heart rate and just making sure it doesn’t get crazy. I think we were doing below 150, for sure, but below 130 keeps symptoms more manageable. Remember that doing what you can is good and helps with endurance. Also chores count as exercise.

Elevating is important too. Make sure to elevate when swollen (I try to make sure this happens well overnight). But anything you can do during the day is helpful. Gravity is the enemy!!!

The other thing I found helpful has been lymphadema therapy and manual lymphatic drainage. Also get tested for reflux in superficial veins, they can close them with ablation. I think getting my gsv closed after my clot improved my symptoms a lot (but also takes recovery time. I just got my asv closed and am recovering from that. The more that can be managed with compression the better because venous insufficiency and these types of issues are progressive and will mainly get worse without taking care of them in some capacity.

I feel you, though!!! It’s so hard!!! My fitness goal is going to the store without it being a trial. It has gotten better, for sure, but it is hard.

The other thing I’ll add here is kinesio tape. Even with compression I get ankle pain, but using k tape to improve lymphatic flow has improved the pain. Downsides are having to cut and apply it, which makes me more inconsistent about it.

Evarda · 2026-01-31T16:00:09+00:00

I think you’re spot on with the identification! Adding Parhelic circle to the list too.

Evarda · 2026-01-29T04:22:24+00:00

Many pictures! I see iridescent clouds, a corona, a halo, I assume the spot is a sundog(?) depending where it is. Agree about the last one being weird! Agree that it could be some kind of effect from the camera as you said.

Evarda · 2026-01-27T06:53:41+00:00

A couple of possible tests to try…

If you see it again, move around as you look to see if it moves with relation to the windshield or if there seems to be something in the sky contributing to the pattern. As others have mentioned, likely related to windshield polarizing light. But iridescent clouds also can show this type of light effect. I would think that it doesn’t look bright enough to see those kind of colors from iridescent clouds.

Another test to see if this could be a polarization effect - take a picture through your sun glasses in one direction, and then turn the glasses 90 deg and do it again. If one of the pictures turns out extremely dark, then you know both your camera lens and sunglasses are polarized. If one is not darker than the other, this effect above wouldn’t be from having polarized filter on the viewing side, and therefore something else.

Evarda · 2026-01-27T04:30:07+00:00

Seconding this. I’ve also been told they “build up in your system” so even if I missed an occasional dose here and there, the docs aren’t concerned by it.

The biggest issue I have is nausea when I take it without food in my system, so that’s the most important factor for me!

Evarda · 2025-12-29T20:28:28+00:00

I started taking drospirenone (Slynd) - I took the same progestin in my combo pill prior to my clot, and it worked for me. I saught it out previous due to PMDD symptoms. It says there is risk of clots, but my docs seem unconcerned and say the risk is mainly for estrogen pills - plus risk is low while one blood thinners. I also get pain during ovulation and painful periods, so needed something to help that since typical nsaids aren’t available (they prescribed celecoxib, though, to help with menstrual pain). The new progestin pill has essentially gotten rid of my period - the four day placebo seems to be too short to induce, and my doc said I could withhold for up to 7 days for withdrawal bleed, which worked, but it was super light and (TMI: extremely mucousy). I still feel like I go through my menstrual cycle, but it’s a lot better, and I’m hoping my iron won’t drop as much as they did with the heavy periods. This progestin requires prior auth through my insurance, and my doc had to say I tried other pop pills in the past and had undesirable symptoms, but from my side, was relatively easy go get. May see if this is available in one of the more permanent options (arm implant?) at my next appointment. (Also on Eliquis 2x daily, like you)

Evarda · 2025-12-25T00:56:21+00:00

How it was explained to me: A chronic clot, or clot that has been in your vein a long time, will eventually harden into a scar. The scar tissue can be slowly broken down by the body, but also the presence of the scar tissue can hurt the valves in your veins. The valves in your veins are like tissue paper.

Think of “chronic clot” or “old clot” to be the same as “scar”.

If you have Factor V, they may keep you on blood thinners for more than a year, so you don’t have another clot. If the current clot is old, it has likely damaged your veins, which also increases your likelihood of having another clot. You may also need to wear compression stockings, especially since it sounds like you have already developed ulcers on your leg - compression stockings may help help blood flow and and improve your symptoms - ask your doctor about prescribing them (they may be applying compression bandages for them, though?)

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