Local Physician Talks about Veins

By Reisha Zang

You know the signs, a few gray hairs here and there, little wrinkles around your mouth that you insist are smile lines, or the twinge you feel when getting up from the couch…It’s happening to all of us. We’re getting older. While these are familiar symptoms of aging we try to ignore, some of us may experience other changes that shouldn’t be ignored. If you notice a feeling of heaviness in your legs; fatigue or aching in your leg muscles; swelling, skin discoloration, tenderness, or soreness; wounds that don’t heal; or leg cramps at night, you may have Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). A common sign is varicose veins. But just because you don’t see varicose veins doesn’t mean you don’t have CVI. It is a progressive problem that can lead to serious complications if left untreated.

“After you live with these symptoms for a while, you just accept that this is the way your legs feel. But that shouldn’t be the case,” says Dr. Jeffrey Braxton, Director of Venous Intervention at CiC Vein Center. “These symptoms can have an impact on the quality of your life. I want you to know, you shouldn’t have to make subtle adjustments like not going out as often or spending less time doing the things you enjoy.” Symptoms like varicose veins or heavy legs are easily treatable and a warning that your circulatory system is not working properly and needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.

So how does it all work? Your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The arteries carry blood away from the heart and the veins carry it back. CVI develops when excessive pressure builds up in your leg veins. This happens when your leg veins are unable to bring the blood back to the heart. Braxton explains, “The veins in your legs must work against the force of gravity when sitting or standing to get the blood up to your heart. Your calf muscles act as a pump and one-way valves inside the veins work to keep the blood flowing.”

CVI can develop when there is a breakdown of this system which results in blood backing up in the legs. This is called reflux. As the pressure builds, veins near the surface can bulge which are called varicose veins and excess fluid can accumulate in the legs. This can cause symptoms such as pain, aching, and leg heaviness. Left untreated over time the skin can darken, thicken, and even break down into leg ulcers.

“Vein disease is surprisingly common, affecting about a third of us, but the good news is, it’s manageable,” says Braxton, who is board certified in venous and lymphatic medicine. “Vein treatments have really advanced, they are less invasive and more effective than in the past,” says Braxton. “Now, it’s all about improving quality of life.”

Diagnosis involves a painless ultrasound exam that can show if the valve in the vein is allowing blood to leak, or flow back into the veins or blocking it all together instead of letting it flow up to the heart. If the valves are weak or damaged, one of several minimally invasive treatments can be done in the office.

Innovative techniques can improve the condition and as a result, the appearance improves too. Treatments involve closing or sealing the diseased vein. There are a variety of options available, and your doctor will guide you as to which one is best for your condition. You are awake and alert during the procedure, with minimal discomfort. There is a short recovery period in the office, and you are able to walk out afterward.

Each type of treatment results with the vein shutting down and disappearing. “The body eventually absorbs the closed vein,” explains Braxton. “Your body has plenty of veins and there is no cause for concern when unhealthy veins are eliminated.” After the vein disappears, your body reroutes the blood to healthier veins improving flow in the leg. Most people notice a significant improvement within days.

“You don’t want to dismiss the symptoms of CVI as signs of aging. It’s important to pay attention to the subtle signs of this condition,” explains Braxton. “The sooner you’re seen, the better your chances are for reducing or avoiding serious complications.”

Don’t wait for your feet to yell at you. If your feet hurt, they are talking to you. Our doctors can help tell you what they are saying.

Y /

Does foot pain prevent you from doing your favorite activity?

Do you have burning or tingling in your legs or feet?

Do you have leg or foot cramps with activity or at rest?

If you checked “yes” to any of the questions, call our office today to see how our doctors can help.

Dr. Gillihan is now with CIC!

SUNDAY MARCH 12TH @ 9AM SHOTGUN

$20 PER PLAYER

*A $35 GREENS FEE WILL APPLY TO THOSE PARTICIPANTS WHO DO NOT HAVE AN ANNUAL GOLF MEMBERSHIP.

4 PERSON SCRAMBLE LUNCH INCLUDED…BYOB

Closest To The Pin And Longest Putt Contests

Orld 50th

By Lisa Cornelius (Assistant Golf Professional)

We all strive to improve our golf game, whether it’s through clinics, private lessons, tips from more advanced golfers or our Rookie League at Heron Lakes. This is a great starting point to gain valuable information and knowledge! However, it doesn’t end there and having the right equipment is just as important and beneficial to your game and advancement!

Through the many lessons and clinics

I give, I see a lot of my students with either hand-me-down clubs, maybe their husband’s or significant others’ old sets, or even a set from a garage sale. This is ok at first to determine if you even like golf, possibly want to play more, and maybe even get better! If you do decide to move forward and invest more time in playing, lessons, Leagues, etc. … understanding your equipment and what you are playing with is key! It is crucial to your development and progressing in the right direction!

As the technology in golf evolves, golf clubs become more forgiving, better balanced, and more suited towards the amateur golfer, men, and women. Not that the older technology was bad, but the newer technology is just that much better! If you take a moment and look at your clubs, do they have steel or graphite shafts, what are the flex of the shafts? Are they stiff, regular, senior, or ladies’ flex? Steel shafted clubs are heavier in general than graphite and take a lot more strength and effort to swing. Graphite shafts on the other hand are lighter and depending on the flex, give you more feel when swinging the club. Flex plays a big part, too! If the flex is too stiff, you might have trouble getting the ball in the air or just distance in general. If it’s too weak, you may have less control and a less consistent shot pattern. The shaft, in my opinion, is the most important part of the club and crucial to ensuring a more consistent hit. Take a look at your grips, are they slick or worn down, and do they feel too big or too small in your hands? If your grips feel sticky or are flaking, this is generally caused by the clubs being stored in the garage in our hot summers and the heat melting the rubber! Also, this might not be something you’d notice visually, but is the club’s length suited to you? You could be a taller lady or man and your clubs might be too short or if you’re a shorter person, maybe the clubs are too long. There is an Industry standard length on all golf clubs and based on a person’s height and overall make-up, clubs are measured accordingly. These are some things to consider and keep in mind as you move forward. This all plays an important role in how you hit the ball, beginner or advanced! I tell a lot of my students that your struggles and/or frustrations aren’t always YOU or your fault! Your clubs possibly could be holding you back from improving if they are not suited to you! I’m not saying to go out and buy a brand-new set, but really take a look at what you have and go from there. If you don’t know, ask your Pro Shop Staff for their input or advice … we would be more than happy to help! I recommend if you are truly going to give golf the time and effort to get better, make sure your clubs fit you! There are many second-hand stores in the area that sell used clubs and most look brand new but at a fraction of the cost. If a new set is in your future, Shane, Dan, James, Rich, or myself would be glad to help and recommend a good option for you! but delicious chili will be served!

Golf for most is a leisure activity, but even playing for fun, we want to show improvement, not struggle, and have a respectable game! So, be fair to yourself and really get to know and understand your equipment! It will be beneficial and rewarding and the effort you are putting in will soon reflect in your golf game!

Play is at 12:30 p.m. but arrive early to sign-up for the Football Pool and purchase raffle tickets!

For more information, please contact Carlyn at 206 409 0774.

Coyote Run Ladies Golf League

Submitted by Lori Elliott

January was a busy month for the Coyote Run women. On January 10th we held Growing Girls Day which is a day we invite women who aren’t already a member of the Coyote Run Ladies Golf League to play with us in hopes they will have fun and possibly decide they’d like to join us. A social hour was spent after golf to give everyone a chance to meet and mingle. We also held the President’s Cup on January 17th and 24th.

In February we will be holding our first Invitational in three years. This tournament has been canceled and postponed for the last two years due to Covid. It is being held on February 7th and the committee is looking forward to a very large group of participants. The event will include lunch, dinner, and a fashion show along with a raffle for gift baskets. They’ve been planning this event for a long time, and they will need plenty of volunteers to pull it off. Here’s to a very successful tournament to come!

Another upcoming event is the Memorial Tournament on February 21st which is being held in conjunction with the Coyote Run men’s league. Looking forward to good weather and good golf!

Heron Lakes Donut League Golf

Submitted by Gwen Johnson

We missed a couple of weeks of golf due to bad weather.

December 21 results:

Front Nine:

• 1st place at 55 - Mary Paulson, Duane Dehne, Doug and Ruth Anne Atnip.

• 2nd place at 56 - (tie) Mario Lachance, Carla Wizniak, Don and Mary Paulson.

• 3rd place at 56 - (tie) Zane and Bonnie Anderson, Bob and Kay Richey.

Back Nine:

• 1st place at 47 - Doug and Donna Bailey, Kent and Cheryl Wenck.

• 2nd place at 56 - (tie) Sue Ford, Jo Hebert, Jane Cox.

• 3rd place at 56 - (tie) Vince and Betty Horner, Mike and Kay Anderson.

January 4, 2023 results:

Back Nine:

• 1st place at 79 - Bob and Maria Young, Dennis McKay, Arlene Rexine.

• 2nd place at 84 - Barry and Bev Budvarson, Barr and Pat Connelly.

• 3rd place at 87 - Dan Dehne, Vince and Betty Horner.

Front Nine:

• 1st place at 90 - Zane and Bonnie Anderson, Doug and Ruth Anne Atnip.

• 2nd place at 94 - Mario Lachance, Carla Wizniak, Duane Dehne, Sue Ford.

• 3rd place at 96 - Jack and Lois Stockton , Bob and Kay Richey.

Heron Lakes

Ladies 9 Hole League

Submitted by: Mary Paulson

On December 15, the Women’s 18Hole Golf Club hosted a Christmas party for the Ladies’ 9 and 18-hole leagues. We enjoyed a good meal, a fun game of golf, and a social with gifts for everyone. Thank you Women’s 18-Hole for your wonderful hospitality!

Golf Results December 6, 2022 (T-E-S-T)

• 1st place at 31 - Carla Wizniak,

Marcia Steele, Peggy Babb, Janet McMaster

• 2nd place at 34 (Scorecard Playoff)

- Jan Wahl, Debbie Beardsworth, Connie Richert, Mary Haas

• 3rd place at 34 - Jan Rydalch, Bev Dillon, Trudy Artz, Pat Connelly

• 4th place at 35 (Scorecard Playoff)

– Cheryle Wenck, Pam Moore, Kay Anderson, Terri Goade

December 13, 2022 (Step A-Side Scramble)

• 1st place at 20.75 - Karen Jacoby, Lyn Erickson, Lynn Peters, Kris French

• 2nd place at 21.25 - Carol Silver, Debi Budvarson, Kay Richey, Susan Paitel

• 3rd place at 22.25 - Debbie Beardsworth, Janet Robinson, Bev Byrd, Pam Gass

• 4th place at 22.25 – Jan Rydalch, Marilyn Weber, Peggy Babb, Sheri Chrouser

December 20, 2022 (3 Little Pigs/1 Net)

• 1st place at 12 - Debbie Beardsworth, Bev Byrd, Xenia Johnston, Denise Haala

• 2nd place at 13 - Betty Horner, Janet Robinson, Peggy Babb, Susan Paitel

• 3rd place at 14 - Cheryle Wenck, Jane

Cox, Nita Calow, Terri Goade

• 4th place at 15 -Anne Manikel, Lois Stockson, Sharon Cziok, Sheri Chrouser

December 27, 2022 (Cha Cha Cha)

• 1st place at 51 - Betty Horner, Jane Cox, Cheryle Wenck, Karen Jacoby (Blind draw)

• 2nd place at 55 – Janet Robinson, Lyn Erickson, Nita Calow, Mary Haas

• 3rd place at 58 (Scorecard Playoff)

– Anne Manikel, Bev Byrd, Kay Anderson, Sheri Chrouser

Upcoming tournaments include Member-Member on January 17, Combined Championship on February 21 & 28, League Invitational on March 14, Eclectic Tournament on March 21 & 28, and Fun Day on April 11.

Heron Lakes Men’s Club - 9 Hole League

Submitted by: Don Paulson

The Heron Lakes Men’s 9 Hole League (Thursday):

December 1, 2022 (3 Net Front 9)

• 1st Place at 85 – Dennis McKay, Kevin Bishop, Mario Lachance, Bruce Rodabaugh

• 2nd Place at 93 – Rich Blum, Don Butler, Herb Fish, Lee Nixon

• 3rd Place at 96 - Greg Holl, Bob Richey, Joe Miola, Jack Dechellis

December 8, 2022 (1 Net/1 Gross Back 9)

• 1st Place at 58 – Kevin Bishop, George Chrouser, Don Butler, Gary Byrd

• 2nd Place at 60 – Rich Blum, Bob Richey, Jim Gardin, Virgil Knapke (Blind Draw)

• 3rd Place Tie at 61 - Shane Budvarson, Tom Fulton, David Foley, Bruce Rodabaugh

• 3rd Place Tie at 61 – Ted Jackson, Terry Morgan, Ken Meidl, Jim Goade

December 15, 2022 (2 Net Odd/1

Net Even Front 9)

• 1st Place at 47 (Playoff) – Rich Blum, Gary Byrd, Mario Lachance, Bruce Rodabaugh

• 2nd Place at 47 – Shane Budvarson, Duane Dehne, Don Butler, Dan Dehne

• 3rd Place at 48 (Playoff) - Dave Babb, Terry Morgan, John Erickson, Don Paulson

December 22, 2022 – (1 Gross/2 Net Back 9)

• 1st Place at 90 – Rich Blum, Don Butler, David Foley, Larry Miller

• 2nd Place at 92 – Greg Holl, Jim Nell, Herb Fish, Gary Byrd

• 3rd Place at 98 (Playoff) – Barry Budvarson, Bill Klepacki, Wayne Richert, Dean Gray

December 29, 2022 – (2 Even/1 Odd

(Net) Front 9)

• 1st Place at 41 – Rich Blum, Don Butler, Joe Miola, Gary Byrd

• 2nd Place at 42 (SPO) – Greg Holl, Bob Richey, Tom Fulton, Gary Byrd (Blind Draw)

• 3rd Place at 42 – Wayne Seiffert, Mario Lachance, John Erickson, Tom Fulton (Blind Draw)

• 4th Place at 43 – Shane Budvarson, Greg Holl (Blind Draw), Bruce Rodabaugh, Lee Nixon

Heron Lakes

Men’s Club - 18 Hole League

Submitted by: Don Paulson

The Heron Lakes Men’s 18 Hole League (Monday):

December 5, 2022 (3 net on 3’s/ 2 net on 4’s/1 net on 5)

• 1st Place at 139 – John Fleming, Virgil Knapke, Henry Krahn, Bruce Rodabaugh

• 2nd Place at 142 – Jack Stockton, Kevin Bishop, Larry Bowers, John Mullen

• 3rd Place at 146 (Playoff) – Greg Holl, Randy Manikel, Frank Strainis, Dean Gray

• 4th Place at 146 – Shane Budvarson, Ken Steele, Ken Meidl, Tomy Mitchell

December 12, 2022 – Cancelled due to weather

December 19, 2022 (2 Net – 3 scores per player)

• 1st Place at 102 – Ken Dryden, Jeff Sanders, Dave Foley, Dean Gray

• 2nd Place at 103– John Fleming, Duane Dehne, John Erickson, Tomy Mitchell

• 3rd Place at 105– John Mullen, Ken Steele, Wayne Richert, Ken Meidl

• 4th Place at 109 – Vern Monson, Bill Kemp, Bill Klepacki, Glen Myrick, Rich Blum, Virgil Knapke, Mario Lachance, Bob Wilkins, Jack Stockton, Bob Richey, Don Butler, Bruce Rodabaugh

December 26, 2022 (1 Net)

• 1st Place at 47 – Ted Jackson, James Nell, Mario Lachance, Tomy Mitchell

• 2nd Place at 48 (Playoff) – Greg Holl, Bob VanScoy, Bill Klepacki, Dean Gray

• 3rd Place at 48 - John Fleming, Bill Kemp, Herb Fish, Joe Miola

• 4th Place at 49 – Doug Atnip, Vern Monson, Brian Gottselig, John Erickson

Heron Lakes Roadrunners Golf

Submitted by Gwen Johnson

Happy New Year!

This is our first game in 2023.

We welcome golfers to come out on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:00 p.m. for 9 holes of golf. After golf, we have snacks and beverages and discuss our games. Only friendly discussions are allowed.

January 8 results:

Back Nine:

• 1st place at 54 - Kent and Cheryl Wenck, Roger and Bev Dillon.

Heron Lakes Women’s 18-Hole Golf Club

Submitted by Nita Calow

The Heron Lakes Women’s 18 Hole Golf Club is holding their President’s Cup, Club Champion, and Medallion Championships during the few weeks of January. Results will be noted as the tournaments are finished. In the meantime, on December 15th, the 18 Hole club hosted the 9-Hole Club in a Christmas party and 14 holes of golf.

December 15, Green Elf Ball

• 1st Place: Betty Horner, Diane Gaudet, Mary Paulson, Nita Calow

• 2nd Place: Bev Byrd, Carla Wizniak, Connie Richert, Lucie Grenier

• 3rd Place: Pam Moore, Vonna Thomas, Kris French, Ruth Anne Atnip

December 22, Santa’s Gift

• 1st Place: Linda Anhorn

• 2nd Place: Judy Dunitz, Ruth Anne Atnip, Mary Hayes

• 3rd Place: Darlene Baran, Carla Wisniak