For Sqad, that leg … an update

[kia cat]

Hi an update following GP visit [ http://tinyurl.com/cr4hyau ] he's changed my medication rather than go for surgery, which he reckons is very last resort. I was on -spread over the day -
Lacidipine 2mg + 4mg tablets; Ramipril 10mg caps; Quinine bisulphate 300mg; Simvastatin 40mg tablets; Pregabalin 75mg caps.
He's now dropped the Simvast in favour of : Lipitor [Atorvastatin] 20mg; and added: Amlodipine [besilate] 5mg and Aspirin 75mg. with a view to widen the artery in my leg and thin the blood down a bit. Due for nexy cholesterol check in about 2 months

[Sqad]

Thanks for the update kia....that sounds a reasonable approach.....any mention of the angiogram?

[Sqad]

Ah! You saw your GP...sorry. The angiogram will be decided by the vascular surgeon.

[kia cat]

Thx Sqad, I'll keep you posted ;)

[kia cat]

Hi Sqad. I've just been to see the Cardio Vasc Consultant. He's confirmed I have PVD [Peripheral Vascular Disease] in my right leg. They ultrasounded all around my leg and it's artery behind my knee.

His outlook was on the grim side - or he was saying the worst scenario. They could insert a stent to widen the troublesome bit [an angioplasty?], or re-route to use a different artery. Either way he felt the blockage could dislodge which would require emergency surgery to catch it before it caused trouble. Which may involve me losing my leg!

He wants a treadmill test to see what I can cope with, me to lose some weight and to see if by "burning through the pain barrier" i.e. keep walking even when it's agony to see if my body will force itself to re-route the blood flow itself.

I guess there's no short term fix for this; he's booked me in for this time next year for a follow up appt. [at least he thinks I'll still be here!]

Out of interest the blood donors have now taken me off the register when I was two donations short of my 50, I'd set a goal over the next few years to give more pints than my age; [just turned 58 in January]. Is PVD something that could "go away" i.e. would the blockage get absorbed back into the bloodstream? Thanks for reading this