Amin: I used to travel quite a lot on inter-continental trips and I once had a pain in my leg on one of my trips. These trips used to be very short and I'd usually come back after three or four days. When I came back recently, I had some blood tests done and they detected that I had an overactive thyroid gland.

Harry: Okay, it's not very common in men and is much more common in ladies.

Amin: Well my weight has been more or less constant for some time.

Harry: So you weren't exhibiting one of the symptoms, which is weight loss.

Amin: They also detected that my blood was also very thick and the doctor suggested that I give blood three or four times a year to thin it out.

Harry: That's quite a good idea. So you've got two separate problems.

Amin: Well the thyroid is being controlled and I haven't given any blood yet, but I do get these pains in my legs and sometimes in my arms as well. Now could this be a result of the blood being too thick and struggling to go through the arteries?

Harry: Well that is a very definite possibility and therefore you should be checked by a vascular surgeon. Have you done that?

Amin: No, I haven't done that at all.

Harry: I would strongly recommend that, because with the thick blood, you could have some problems with your circulation and that could be causing the pains.

Amin: I see.

Harry: Now please, I don't want to alarm you but this is not something that you should ignore. Please take this seriously and make a date with a vascular surgeon tomorrow, preferably through your GP.

Amin: Okay. Thanks very much Professor.