Medically reviewed by Zoe Deol, MD, FACS, on June 25, 2025
Debbie, a mother of nine and former occupational therapist, spent years juggling work, parenting, and persistent leg pain until she found herself nearly immobilized by the symptoms of vein disease. Her journey, marked by misdiagnoses and complex conditions, ultimately led to life-changing care from vein experts at Center for Vein Restoration (CVR), demonstrating the power of persistence and the importance of finding the right vein specialist who will listen deeply and respond accordingly.
If you're dealing with unexplained leg pain, swelling, or pelvic discomfort, you're not alone—and you don’t have to keep guessing the cause. Many women go years without realizing their symptoms stem from vein disease, such as varicose veins or pelvic venous disease. At Center for Vein Restoration, our board-certified vein specialists listen, diagnose, and offer minimally invasive treatments to help you feel better, inside and out.
📞 Call CVR at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
For Debbie, vein problems ran in the family, but she never imagined how severely they would affect her life. On her feet constantly for work and home life, she began experiencing burning, itchy, and heavy legs, as well as swelling in her ankles. At times, she could feel veins throbbing under her skin.
“I was miserable. My legs felt ugly. I couldn’t wear what I wanted. I was scared and didn’t know what was wrong with me.” – Debbie, CVR Patient
That fear grew when she started feeling pain deep in her pelvis. “I honestly thought I had ovarian cancer,” she recalled. “It was so intense, and no one could give me answers. I just wanted help.”
Debbie’s case left a lasting impression on her vein doctor, Center for Vein Restoration’s Zoe Deol, MD, FACS, who first evaluated her after a referral from Debbie’s OB/GYN. Dr. Deol is the lead physician at the Center for Vein Restoration (CVR) vein clinics in Southfield, Michigan, and Southgate, Michigan.
“I originally saw her as a referral from her GYN,” said Dr. Deol. “She had nine children and a history of prior left leg vein stripping, right leg ablations, and now with a recurrence of varicose vein disease in both legs, the left much worse than the right, and severe chronic pelvic pain. Her GYN could not find a cause, so he sent her to us.”
Dr. Deol suspected pelvic venous outflow obstruction, known as May-Thurner syndrome. “She ended up having the worst case of May-Thurner with pelvic varicose veins that I have ever seen because of all of those babies she had,” Dr. Deol explained. “She underwent left iliac vein stenting. Once her pelvic pain was dissolved, I could then treat her varicose veins.”
📅To schedule an appointment with Dr. Deol in Southfield, Michigan: CLICK HERE.
📅To schedule an appointment with Dr. Deol in Southgate, Michigan: CLICK HERE.
📅 To schedule your appointment at one of CVR’s 110+ vein clinics nationwide, call 240-965-3915 to speak to a patient services representative or schedule your consultation online at a CVR near you today.
With her pelvic venous disease under control, Debbie returned to CVR to address her painful leg veins. Under the care of vein specialist Dr. Deol, Debbie underwent minimally invasive vein treatments for varicosities arising from venous insufficiency. The experience was life-changing—both medically and emotionally.
“I was nervous. I even got lightheaded just hearing the treatment plan,” Debbie admitted with a laugh. “But Dr. Deol was so kind, so skilled, and so patient. She treated the whole person, not just my veins. She made me feel safe.”
Two years later, Debbie’s legs feel great. She no longer needs daily compression stockings, and her pelvic pain has vanished. “I go upstairs, walk the zoo, go to amusement parks—things I couldn’t do without feeling like I was dragging cement blocks,” she said.
Debbie now encourages others, especially women, to pay attention to their symptoms and seek medical help:
“If your legs feel heavy, if you’re swelling, don’t assume it’s just cosmetic spider veins. It could be serious vein disease like venous insufficiency, and insurance may cover it.”
She also emphasizes the importance of knowing your family history and not waiting for symptoms to worsen.
“I dodged a bullet. I could’ve ended up with ulcers or worse. Thankfully, I was proactive.”
Her advice? “Don’t be afraid. The little pokes aren’t fun, but it’s worth it to feel good in your skin again. I can wear shorts. I can wear a swimsuit. I feel confident and healthy.”
Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse or chalk them up to “just being a mom” or “getting older.” Trust the compassionate team at Center for Vein Restoration to uncover the root cause of your discomfort and guide you through every step of treatment. Relief is possible—and it starts with a conversation. Call 240-965-3915 or SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION ONLINE TODAY.
Your comfort, confidence, and health are worth it.
Perhaps the highest praise Debbie could give came in the form of trust:
“My daughter has my legs, poor thing, and I’m sending her to Dr. Deol when she’s done nursing her third baby. I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”
Debbie is especially concerned because she sees early signs of vein disease in her daughter, including leg heaviness and visible veins. “I don’t want her to wait as long as I did or suffer through the fear and pain I went through,” she said. “I want her to know that help is out there—and that treatment can make all the difference.”
Dr. Deol concludes:
“Debbie has been completely stable since then, and when I saw her today, she was very happy and wanted me to see one of her daughters, who just gave birth to her third baby and is headed down the same road as her mom!”
Thanks to expert diagnosis and treatment at Center for Vein Restoration, Debbie avoided the long-term complications of untreated vein disease, and she’s now an advocate for the next generation to seek early care.
📞 Call CVR at 240-965-3915
📅 Or book online HERE
At Center for Vein Restoration, we diagnose and treat the root cause of vein symptoms, including varicose veins, pelvic congestion syndrome, and chronic venous insufficiency. Our board-certified vein doctors offer minimally invasive, office-based treatments tailored to your unique needs so that you can feel better, faster.
🔹 Suffering from leg pain, swelling, or visible veins? It could be more than cosmetic.
🔹 Ready to schedule your consultation? Call 240-965-3915
or click below to find a CVR vein center near you.
🔹 Don’t wait! Vein disease is progressive. Let’s take care of it— together.
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