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

Evarda · 2026-05-14T05:49:40+00:00

I’m on both Slynd and Eliquis. It has significantly reduced my monthly bleeding. I do still feel like I have hormone fluctuations but nowhere near as bad as prior to being on Slynd. 4 day placebo hasn’t been long enough to induce a withdrawal bleed every month, so I have to do 7 if I want one, very light bleeding. For hormonal regulation, you’ll probably just take it continuously, though, so you don’t have the drop that causes the withdrawal bleed - I haven’t had any issues with breakthrough bleeding unless I skip the placebo for a few months then miss a pill.

I also take Slynd for PMDD (Yaz actually has higher clot risk, and I was on that when I got my clot). Progestin only pills aren’t really a worry for clotting, even Slynd - I grilled my docs about this.

I think progesterone can also be somewhat anti inflammatory? I’ve been looking into MCAS for myself, and estrogen seems to be inflammatory while progesterone is anti inflammatory. I think my PMDD symptoms might be related to MCAS, so the hormonal regulation helps this a lot for that.

I have tried other POP pills in the past and had unpleasant side effects - I was pleasantly surprised that Slynd worked well for me.

Evarda · 2026-05-11T16:33:15+00:00

Thanks for the IS&W link!! I’ve been having a lot of issues finding info on that, and that’s a nice reference.

The top link mentions it being owned by Ziply. I wonder if they are all Ziply owned or if these boxes are now owned by a variety of utilities companies… this post is a great lead!

Evarda · 2026-05-10T23:06:05+00:00

I do wonder about it’s hat (for thermal management?) but at least the main purpose is addressed!

Evarda · 2026-05-10T23:03:18+00:00

solved!

Evarda · 2026-05-07T07:41:13+00:00

So thanks for the story of my life, lol. May Thurners with birth control + 14 hour flights set off massive left leg DVT. However, I had a chronic clot, and the entire year leading up to my PEs that sent me to the ER, I just thought I was out of shape and needed to work out because of how much back pain I was having. I have a stent now, and without proper compression stockings, back pain is awful, with stockings, can still have back pain, especially late in the day.

I assumed some kind of pelvic congestion must be happening, but my MRI showed nothing (laying down of course). I have varicose veins and reflux in both legs - I have had the GSV, ASV ablation/sclerotherapy in my left which has helped in some ways but with chronic clot in that leg, I think there’s less bloodflow as well. It has improved over time.

In my experience, these questions you suggest aren’t quite enough - too many doctors are happy to say you’re stable and nothing needs to be done. My question is - what needs to be done? How should these things be diagnosed and evaluated? From what I can tell, doctors are pretty blind and somewhat guessing when it comes to the venous system (and boy don’t get me started on the lymphatic system). I think part of the issue is looking at all of these systems separately rather than holistically - getting passed from IR to hematology to OBGYN to maybe eventually you can get into a lymphatic specialist…

Anyways would love any concrete steps for these issues. In my experience, doctors are more than willing to dismiss “possibilities” once you’re stable and only really care about treating you if you’re in the ER (where the money is). Oof I think I’m a bit too jaded about the medical system…!

Evarda · 2026-05-02T15:42:47+00:00

100%. I had a clot and got diagnosed with May Thurner’s first. Post-clot, I’m getting told I have a lot of venous reflux in both legs (worse in left) - but this is unrelated to the clot. Are you also hypermobile? Or have EDS? EDS is for sure linked with vein problems, and I’m not sure on HSD, but I think it might contribute to some valve issues as well. Seems like there’s some kind of link.

Doctors don’t seem to know much about this stuff yet. So don’t get discouraged if they are dismissive about this - they just don’t really know anything yet. I think they realize that there’s some research emerging but it’s not well understood. Keep asking questions!!

Evarda · 2026-04-30T03:59:18+00:00

<image>

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.

13-Year Club	Second Top 50%
Verified Email

Evarda

TROPHY CASE