This is my fifth year of leg treatments. [View all]

Specifically, because my cankles were more than unsightly, my cardiologist referred me to the leg vein specialists.

My first year was a combination of modern day vein stripping. Some veins were pulled out and then there were lasers. Anesthesia of course.

Subsequent annual visits have injections where new minor blockages have been established. The needles are so thin that they feel more like slight bee stings rather than the shots we remember as kids.

My legs don't feel as tired and overall, my heart health has improved.

And I have a new machine that compresses my legs to get the lymph nodes to release collected fluid build-up.

What I don't like: those damned compression stockings. I feel like I'm stuffing sausage into casings. I know, I know. That's the point. Because I have four appointments in eight weeks every year, that's how long at the least I have to wear them. I'm thinking of looking at the stockings that have Velcro as I've heard they're easier to get in and out of.