Varicose Vein Oedema Inclined Bed Therapy Study Alternative to Surgery

Hello Andrew,

I find IBT very interesting and I would like to try it, but it seams strange that last posts are from the last year. I want to know if this forum is active, so I could ask some questions.

Hope to hear from you soon

Biljana

Sorry for delay in replying as involved in my main project for the last 18 months at www.operationoasis.com

When I set this forum up the response from people to provide input was sparse so it is left here as an information source.

When IBT begins to work with varicose veins there is a shift in pressure within the vein which pulls the veins in over 4 weeks, the results should become obvious at 4 weeks of IBT.

Yes people have reported pain as a result in pressure changes but I can assure you that the pain should ease and is probably far less intense then undergoing surgery and the recovery post surgery.

Andrew

Sitting posture is very important also. Sitting with knees higher than seat compromises the effects from IBT overnight.

Your comment about the observed lessening of VV proves the therapy works. You then mention the cold weather causes them to bulge out again.

Alun also raised this question and we nailed it down to high humidity in his case.

Could the winter have meant that you spent longer than normal sitting in a chair? And is this chair tilted back so the seat is lower than knees when sitting? Does this chair (could be a car seat) apply pressure to the backs of the thigh muscles above the knees?

Alun also used to wear compression stockings. He no longer needs them. But they could as you say be used to speed up the effects of IBT when worn at night. And I have recommended this for several people who had oedema and it worked well to the point that the oedema vanished completely and the stocking was not longer required.

Now that your veins have returned back to where they were before the winter, have you found you are not sitting as much?

Very interesting post

Thanks

Andrew

Unnaked Patient
Re: Varicose Veins & Oedema Study Inclined Bed Therapy IBT Alternative to Surgery
« Reply #301 on: 13/03/2010 21:58:57 »
Started IBT last September. At that time, I made reference to a nutritional publication, which unfortunately is no longer in print. No possible posting of links, obviously.
Since old habits are difficult to break, my IBT was rather sporadic initially. Even so, had some improvements to my vv's. Had a bad cold with a touch of bronchitis middle of February. Stopped me smoking cold, and that without any withdrawal symptoms at all. Perhaps IBT had something to do with it. If so, from a pack a day to zero - not bad at all.
Waiting for summer, as my vv's were worse then. A bit reluctant to post pictures, they really do lack appeal. Will see. BTW, whether my vv's will disappear this summer, next year, or gradually over a number of years, makes no difference to me. Just happy to know that regardless of age (67), I indeed can make them disappear by following IBT on a regular basis. Gives a totally different outlook on this situation.

Quote from: frankwest12345 on 13/03/2010 20:20:27

Hi Andrew, thanks for the comments. My armchair does indeed seat me lower than my knees so I have added some cushions to it. I usually do an eight mile walk three or four times a week, the only time I missed that was when we had the snow - maybe a couple of weeks at most.

I have already adapted to the eight inch bed height - interestingly, I find myself less inclined to stay in bed once I wake up, and find myself getting up as soon as it is light.

I will start compression stockings whilst sleeping, see if that helps.

I am now on day two of Serrapetase (60,000iu three times a day before food) and will also be adding Cayenne (inc Hawthorn) pills as this is reputed to have a highly stimulating effect on circulation.

BTW my mother's side of the family suffers from vv, my uncle had huge ones in both his legs but actually lived to 98, so we are talking bad genes here so if I can get rid of them anyone can (I am 53 BTW)... see what happens next


Made an error in previous post abut calf muscles, should have said back of thigh muscles just above the knee www.rwc.uc.edu/ap/LL17.JPG Note in the image the locations of the vessels just above the knee.

Pressure in this area could well be responsible for the swelling of veins during the daytime.

I have a new forum now on www.inclinedbedtherapy.com that is being updated regularly. The forum has a section for varicose veins and oedema and could use some input.

Varicose Vein Photos
March 6th 2010 - photo taken midday, natural light, two-three inches from the leg. Photo not altered, Sony 10.1 megapixel camera on highest settings, no zoom.

Varicose veins on the knee, lower leg and side of the leg next to knee, after six months with IBT at six inches and no real changes.

Very cold winter may have hindered progress and have been told that sitting with knee higher than upper leg in armchair will have retarded progress. Have added cushions to rectify latter...

Have just realised that the way I sit - left foot on floor and right leg crossed over left thigh - explains why most of the vv's are in the right leg, if the theory of having the leg higher than the groin does indeed encourage vv (rather than as normal theory would have it helps).

I am 53 years old and mothers side of family have history of varicose veins, uncle lived to 98 but had huge vv in both legs, so genetics at play here.


Inclined Bed Therapy is supposed to help a number of health problems including varicose veins, there is a thread here that explains in more detail. I have now increased the bed height to eight inches and am taking Serrapetase at 60,000iu three times a day before meals.
March 23rd 2010 - photo taken midday, natural light, two-three inches from the leg. Photo not altered, Sony 10.1 megapixel camera on highest settings, no zoom.

This is two weeks with IBT at eight inches and taking Serrapetase three times a day before meals (60,000iu each time).

I am also into the fith day of taking Swanson's Super Cayenne (225mpg Cayenne, Ginger root 100mg, Hawthorn 100mg), four tablets twice a day after meals - this is reputed to have a very startling effect on circulation and has been used to revive people having a heart attack!

The veins are still very visible and bulging but the photos do show more progress than I actually thought was going down. So promising so far.






March 30th 2010 - photo taken midday, natural light, two-three inches from the leg. Photo not altered, Sony 10.1 megapixel camera on highest settings, no zoom.

Not much progress here but I would say that some of the small bumps and lumps on the lower leg have improved.

Next photo on April 15th - after that I will be on holiday, sleeping on a normal bed so it will be interesting to see if that affects the veins badly or not. I will still be taking the supplements.

Frank, thanks for providing photographs. The results so far are pretty impressive IMHO.
Very useful having photographs of before and after.
The latest photograph is showing considerable improvements over the previous two. Thanks for updating.
Just had a call from a lady who mentioned you had updated your progress.
Hope your not stuck in the volcanic dust cloud while on holiday

Andrew

trpdpetcraftproject
to me show details 11:48 AM (12 hours ago) 02/10/2010 08:03:07

Dear TRPD Member
It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Al, or Old Dragon as most of us affectionately knew her has passed away suddenly. I know Al will be greatly missed by all who knew her and all the rescues she worked so tirelessly on behalf of. Several threads have been started in tribute to Al, please come and join us in remembering this remarkable lady
http://Http://petcraftproject.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=resqgen&action=display&thread=19444&page=1

Viv and all at TRPD

salta
« Reply #312 on: 05/12/2010 10:22:35 »
Quote
Hi, new to this forum. About 22 weeks into 3rd pregnancy I developed several quite bad leg varicose veins as well as a mass of spider veins. Some areas on the backs of my legs look like they have been hit with a cricket bat! I am very sad about it as my legs look very changed. Anyway, despite the constant 31 c and high humidity we live in, I am now having to wear graduated compression stockings every minute of the day as legs are very uncomfortable these days. I am now 25 weeks pregnant.

Anyway never having had this problem before I have searched the internet for any clues as to what might help. IBT does seem very interesting.

I have started sleeping with the bed raised about 4 inches at the top 2 weeks ago and then a week ago we raised it again to 7 inches. So its been two weeks now....not really noticed much difference except for the decrease in the need to pee during the night and husband's snoring has improved. I am drinking more water on purpose and using air con at night to assist the evaporation. I would post photos of my legs but I'm currently too upset by them, and the thought they may remain like this, to do this. When/if I see a good improvement I'll post the photos to give hope to others - especially as this thread doesn't seem to have covered much on vvs in pregnancy, yet it is very common and really uncomfortable. I also hope this is a safe thing to do in pregnancy!??
I am a bit concerned that not many people visit this thread anymore. I hope the improvements seen by Alun etc. have lasted and that new people might post their successes or failures to help give a clearer picture of what's realistic. Thanks