Testimonials
Betsy's Story: How Vein Care Gave Me Back My Life
My story begins five years ago. I was thirty-five years old, and at the end of the day my legs were so swollen it hurt to walk. I saw countless doctors, and they all said the same thing: "Lose weight." Yes, I was overweight, but I knew that was not what was causing the swelling and the pain. Eventually I gave up – I figured out a way to tolerate the swelling and the pain. But as time went on, and the older I got, the more my confidence plummeted. It was more than just the uncomfortableness that I felt in my legs; it was becoming something I was extremely self-conscious over. So, I lost the weight – 75 lbs. to be exact. But the swelling and the pain were still there. As silly as this sounds, when I knew I had an evening event I would plan my day to lay in bed with my legs elevated for hours, hoping that it would keep the swelling in my legs down enough for me to be able to wear an elegant, shorter dress to the event and not be embarrassed by the swelling in my legs. The swelling and pain really put a damper on my daily activities.
I heard about the Laser & Vein center the United Way campaign – funny, but Dr. Prasad's wife was the co-chair for the annual campaign. I work for a nonprofit that receives funding from the United Way, so I was introduced to Barbara Prasad through the campaign. The decision to use the Laser & Vein center was literally because of Barbara's dedication to our community.
I met with Dr. Prasad and knew immediately I had made the correct decision in choosing a doctor who could help me. And help me is exactly what he did. In just one visit Dr. Prasad examined my legs and ordered an ultrasound to be done immediately. He knew exactly what was going on and explained everything to me in great detail that I was able to understand. I had questions, and he took the time to sit with me and answer each and every one. I never felt rushed during my appointment and I could sense that Dr. Prasad genuinely cared for not only my health and activity, but also my confidence.
Once the ultrasound was complete I was scheduled to have laser surgery done on both legs. I am not ashamed to admit that I am the world’s biggest baby when it comes to pain tolerance – as a matter of fact, I have no tolerance for pain at all. The prospect of this simple procedure was daunting to me and I was a nervous wreck.
I can honestly say that in both my experiences (left and right legs) the level of care, concern and "coddling" I received was incredible. My nurses were simply amazing, tending to my every need – never rushing or making me feel like "just another patient."
When Dr. Prasad came into the procedure room to begin the treatment, he could sense that I was uneasy – I was on the verge of tears. The nurse covered me with a warm blanket to help me feel "protected." Dr. Prasad took my hand and gave me permission to ask any questions that would help me to feel more at ease. I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen, and he explained exactly what the procedure would entail – even showing me what would be used and how it would be used, explaining what the purpose of each step was. Then he asked me what my hobbies are. I shared with him that I do movie reviews on the radio every week and he used that information to engross me in conversation about various movies he had seen or wants to see – all the while performing the procedure! I was so caught up in conversation that I didn't have time to think about what was going on; I felt very comfortable and very at ease. Before I knew it the treatment was over and Dr. Prasad was patting me on the back and raving about how well I did! :)
The follow-up care was no less amazing – I felt confident that if I needed anything, I could call and it would be taken care of.
Today, just three weeks after both legs have received treatment, I am happy to say that the swelling is no longer in my legs. I have returned to my normal activities and no longer have to be strategic when planning or attending events. I am in my forties, but I’m so excited that I now have the legs that I did when I was in my twenties! ...and I have Dr. Prasad and his team to thank for giving me my life back!
This is my active.
