WHY MARY TRUSTED DR KOKINOS AT SOUTH BAY VASCULAR TO SAVE HER LEGS-AND WHY YOU SHOULD TOO.
Mary’s* Cold Feet
Mary was just living her life, curled up on her couch with a cup of tea, her toes always cold no matter how thick her socks were. She figured it was nothing—maybe her circulation was off, or the Bay Area chill was hitting harder than usual. But after a while, it wasn’t just the cold. Her feet started looking pale, and a little scratch from her cat took weeks to heal. Something felt wrong, so she booked a visit with her regular doctor, hoping for answers.
Her primary care doc was nice enough—checked her out, ran some basic tests, and told her it was probably nothing serious. “Just keep an eye on it,” he said, sending her home with a pat on the back. But weeks passed, and her feet didn’t get better. If anything, they got worse—the cold turned into a nagging ache. Frustrated, Mary pushed for a second opinion. This time, she saw another doctor, someone a friend recommended. He took it more seriously, mentioning something about blood flow, maybe veins acting up. He prescribed some creams and told her to elevate her legs at night. It sounded good, but it felt like a guess—like he was throwing stuff at the wall to see what stuck. The creams didn’t help, and the ache spread. Mary was starting to worry she’d waited too long.
A Friend’s Tip Led Her to Dr. Kokinos
One day, over coffee with a coworker, Mary vented about her feet. “You should see Dr. Kokinos,” her friend said. “My uncle had leg trouble, and she figured it out when no one else could. She’s at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute—been around forever.” Mary wasn’t sold yet—two doctors had already let her down—but she was desperate. She looked up Dr. Polyxene Kokinos online. The reviews were solid: people saying things like “she saved my leg” and “she actually listens.” It wasn’t just hype—there were stories about her being in Santa Clara for nearly 30 years, trained at top schools, and running her own practice. Mary figured she had nothing to lose and made the call.
The First Visit Felt Different
Walking into South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, Mary didn’t know what to expect. The place wasn’t cold or rushed like some offices—she got a warm hello from the front desk, and the staff seemed like they actually wanted her there. When Dr. Kokinos came in, she didn’t just glance at Mary’s chart and start talking. She sat down, asked about the cold feet, the slow-healing scratch, the ache—really listened. Then she checked Mary’s feet herself, pressing gently, feeling for pulses, looking at the skin. “Let’s figure this out together,” she said, and Mary felt a flicker of hope she hadn’t had in months.
Dr. Kokinos didn’t guess. She explained it could be peripheral arterial disease—PAD—where the arteries in your legs get blocked. It wasn’t about veins like the last doctor thought; it was a bigger deal, tied to things like diabetes or just plain bad luck with blood flow. She used a handheld tool to check Mary’s arteries right there—no needles, just a quick scan that made a whooshing sound. When she was done, she didn’t sugarcoat it: “Your other doctors missed this, but we’ve caught it now. We can fix it.” Mary trusted her—not because of some fancy title, but because Dr. Kokinos took the time to actually listen to her.
Building Trust With Every Step
Mary didn’t decide overnight that Dr. Kokinos was her best shot—it grew on her. After that first visit, Dr. Kokinos laid out a plan: a few more tests to be sure, then a procedure if needed. She didn’t rush Mary into anything, just walked her through it—why it mattered, what could happen if they waited. The team at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute checked in, too, calling to see how she was feeling, making sure she understood what was next. It wasn’t just business; it felt like they cared. Mary started hearing more about Dr. Kokinos around town—how she’d trained at the best places, how she’d been saving legs in Santa Clara for decades. It clicked: this wasn’t just another doctor. This was someone who’d earned her stripes.
Why Dr. Kokinos Was the Win Mary Needed
Turns out, Dr. Kokinos was right—Mary had PAD, and it was creeping toward serious trouble. The procedure was done exactly as explained, done right at South Bay Vascular Center and Vein Institute, and Dr. Kokinos did the surgery herself. Afterward, she spoke with Mary to help set expectations about the road ahead of her... it came with real advice, not a lecture. Months later, Mary’s feet were warm again, the ache gone. Dr. Kokinos was right in what she had diagnosed and, she knew exactly what to do.
Mary continues to see Dr Kokinos every 6 months to keep an eye on her health. It’s not just the fix—it’s how Dr. Kokinos and her team made her feel like she mattered. In a place like Santa Clara, where you’ve got options, Dr. Polyxene Kokinos stands out. Your feet might be hinting at trouble—coldness, slow healing, weird colors. Mary's proof it’s worth checking out. If you suffer like Mary did, with both the pain in your feet and the frustration of not getting the kind of help that you need, Dr. Kokinos is there for you. Call her office at 408-376-3626 or visit her website at www.southbayvascular.com to learn more about her and to schedule an appointment.
*Mary's name has been changed to safeguard her identity