50 years of pain zapped by a laser

Beverley Whitehead with husband Alwyn Whitehead.

NEW laser therapy for varicose veins stripped away 50 years of discomfort in just 45 minutes for a Shaw grandmother.

Beverley Whitehead (65), of Dorset Avenue, Shaw, developed the condition where lumps grow in the vein when she was 16-years-old.

Varicose veins, which are a symptom of deep vein thrombosis, can leave people with painful and disfigured legs after veins become enlarged and twisted by blood clots.

Beverley put up with hers for decades because she didn’t want a general anaesthetic purely for reasons of vanity.

Now back at home and totally recovered, she said: “They were absolutely ugly, but I must admit I don’t have a bad pair of legs now. I haven’t worn shorts for a very long time, but I am looking forward to wearing them this summer.

Lunch

“I’m also looking forward to going on walks — pain free — with my husband Alwyn.”

Beverley recalled: “I had the procedure under local anaesthetic at the Royal Oldham Hospital at 9.30am and was home for lunch.

“The following day I was walking in Shaw and the consultant said it would have been OK for me to drive.

“If this treatment had been available years ago I would have had it then, it’s amazing.”

Beverley, who has a daughter and a grand-daughter, was treated by vascular surgeon Mathew Hadfield, who helped to trial the laser treatment.

She said: “I’ve had varicose veins for a very long time in both legs. I never bothered to have them done because I only wanted an operation if it was necessary.

“I wasn’t bothered about it cosmetically but then I had to go to the GP and he suggested I go for ultrasound to see if my veins were suitable.”

The procedure, called Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT) is expected to be used for more than 450 patients a year in the Pennine area, which covers Oldham, Rochdale, Bury and North Manchester.

Surgeon Mr Hadfield, who brought the technique to Oldham with fellow-vascular surgeon Dele Oshodi, believes it will bring an end to painstakingly slow alternatives.

He said: “The traditional surgical treatment for this condition is stripping the veins, which requires a substantial incision in the groin and a much longer recovery period.

“This has been associated with more complications. Patients can find it painful to stand or walk with varicose veins so it is very important they get the help they need quickly”.

He explained: “The new laser therapy can be performed under local anaesthetic, and no longer means patients have to stay overnight and they can carry on with their day to day activities almost immediately.”