Chang Jeanette K Dr MD

I was referred to this doctor, via my PCP, to treat a heredity varicose vein issue. I’ve visited this doctor twice this year. While my first visit was okay, the second more comprehensive visit was just full of failure. My main beef is this. I take my health very seriously. I spend a great deal of time reading everything I could get my hands on in relation to what I might be getting myself into by having my leg surgically treated to deal with veins that were started to get more noticeably bumpy, and more frequently uncomfortable.
Now a little about me. I’m a weightlifting female who’s been busy making inroads to getting certified to be a personal trainer. I lift as heavy or heavier then some men my age, height, and weight class. Many of the guidelines regarding my sort of vein issue, recommend against heaving lifting, or strenuous activity. I had tried to find any real scientific studies, or imperial data to support this recommendation and had found *nothing*. I spoke to a friend of mine, a Physical Therapist, who originally had started out as a Personal Trainer, if he knew of any data to support this guideline.
Again, nothing.
So, it was for me of great concern that I get further clarification about my workout habits, especially since it could affect my future desired career.
With this in mind I took the time to ask Dr Chang very direct and pointed questions about this. She echoed the guidelines but could not tell me anything more as to why this is. Her staff seemed very put off with me when I explained how, while I was in full understanding of how I’d need to wear compression stockings, I would need stockings that fit my lifestyle.
Something that would allow me to train and move effectively, but that might breathe well, and perhaps wick sweat. I told her how I’d done my own research on what sorts of athletic grade compression products existed, even trying a sort of leg compression sleeve made by a company called Zensah. She had no idea what I was talking about.
Her staff was also very depressing in telling me how miserable and terrible compression stockings are. How they just don’t breathe and that I’d just have to endure it. No attempt to really help me find something to better fit my needs.
I was prescribed a compression stocking to wear for a time prior to surgery, as well as given a list of local suppliers. I have very long legs. 32″ inseam. When I called down the list of suppliers, giving my measurements, more then a few exclaimed that 1) a full leg stocking would be very difficult to fit me for, and how they have a tenancy to not stay up even with normal activity, let alone the sort of training I do on a regular basis. 2) Given my activity level they seemed surprised my doctor would want to wear a full leg compression stocking pre-​surgery. Often you need a full leg stocking for the weeks following surgery, but that many do just as well or better by wearing a knee high, which given my long legs, would be much easier and less expensive to be fitted for. 3) A few of the listed suppliers said that I might even need custom built stockings if my doc insisted on full leg compression pre-​surgery.
Medical grade compression stockings are VERY expensive. As in up to 100 dollars a pair. I could not imagine how much more costly a custom pair might be. The more I found out, the more questions I had about my prescription. Thus I called back to the doctors office. I explained what I’d learned and of my concerns. I had to call back more then a few times, and honestly felt like I was being treated like a pest. I got rushed off the phone in almost a perfunctory manner.
In the end I went with my gut. Given how Dr. Chang didn’t really seem to be able to answer my questions, and given how her staff made me feel that I was a jerk for wanting more info, let alone the fact that I really started to feel they just weren’t used to or able to help a patient with my needs, I called back to my PCP to get a second referral to a different doc. Dr. Julianne Stoughton.
DO YOU NEED VARICOSE VEIN TREATMENT? SEE DR. STOUGHTON. Her office was so much better in contrast to Dr. Chang’s office it might as well have been on a different planet. In reality Dr. Stoughton’s office is right across the street from Dr. Chang.
Dr. Stoughton’s staff was bright, cheerful, and listened carefully to my concerns. Dr. Stoughton was delighted to hear I knew a great deal about my problem, and spent a lot of time explaining to me that yes, the don’t lift heavy, no strenuous activity for those with my condition is largely unfounded and not supported by any real data. She excitedly told me all about the latest research, and when I told her of how I’d like a compression stocking that would be better suited to a highly active person like myself, told me about a wonderful German company who makes sportier, wildly colored and patterned stockings, in contrast to the usual sort that are neutral colored and boring. Better in every way!