Peripheral artery disease

My husband has PAD, he had stents put in both thighs then ended up having a femoral to femoral by pass because one of his arteries was so blocked the vascular surgeon couldn’t sort it. One of his kidneys has shrivelled up and he has a triple A aorta aneurysm. He now has CKD stage 3b. He gave up smoking in 2016, he still eats badly, his choice not mine! He take 4 tablets for high blood pressure and 1 for high cholesterol. We went to Cyprus last October and his insurance was the same amount as his flights and holiday!

Despite this being a symptom of heart issues, my GP has refused to check this out.

All I have is water tablets to remove the excess fluid.
I have an osteopath who has some success on preventing the need for these, but I pay for that

My husband has this. He has never had high cholesterol or diabetes but he did smoke years ago. He has been given blood thinners and statins plus blood pressure pills. He has never had high blood pressure either (apart from white coat syndrome).
Apart from the pain in his legs when he walks, the biggest problem we have found is that travel insurance is mightily expensive for him. We are wondering if having the problem surgically treated (he has had that mooted by the GP) might bring down the price of insurance along with getting rid of the pain. He doesn't want to go under the knife but would consider it. Does anybody know if it would make a difference?

If you're diagmosed as prediabetic, it's unlikely that uncontrolled blood sugars have led to PVD already.
Many people don't know until they have PVD symptoms, that they have clinical diabetes.
But it does make it important to follow the reccommendations at the clinic conscienciously.

Oh thanks for that growstuff, I wasn’t told much at the time and now have to wait.
You mentioned diabetes upthread and am a bit more concerned as I begin a pre diabetes group next week.

Apologies - that's a different test, where a cuff is applied and BP is compared. I've had that too. A Doppler test uses ultrasound and is more thorough.

keepingquiet

growstuff

keepingquiet

I'm not sure what a peripheral artery is.

Arteries tend to be quite large and centred deep in the body or limbs, certainly not in the peripheries.

The "peripheries" refer to legs.

Diabetics are particularly at risk. I've been tested for it a couple of times, but so far the results have been negative. The advice is to keep walking as far as you can, even if it's quite painful, and all the usual advice to eat a heart-healthy diet. I believe if it gets really serious, stents might be offered.

If it is the legs than it isn't peripheral. It only becomes peripheral in the feet, and then the toes where arterial blood is found in the capillaries, or very fine blood vessels where gaseous exchange takes place.

However, maybe I am just being pedantic...regardless, I hope OP gets the right treatment soon.

Yes, it most certainly is the legs! The blood pressure in the lower legs is tested and compared with BP in arms.

I've had at least three Doppler tests and I am absolutely sure which part of my body was being tested.

growstuff

keepingquiet

I'm not sure what a peripheral artery is.

Arteries tend to be quite large and centred deep in the body or limbs, certainly not in the peripheries.

The "peripheries" refer to legs.

Diabetics are particularly at risk. I've been tested for it a couple of times, but so far the results have been negative. The advice is to keep walking as far as you can, even if it's quite painful, and all the usual advice to eat a heart-healthy diet. I believe if it gets really serious, stents might be offered.

If it is the legs than it isn't peripheral. It only becomes peripheral in the feet, and then the toes where arterial blood is found in the capillaries, or very fine blood vessels where gaseous exchange takes place.

However, maybe I am just being pedantic...regardless, I hope OP gets the right treatment soon.

Apparently the nurse who does this has left the surgery and they have yet to find a replacement.
I agree it’s ridiculous, I have already waited for a couple of months. Have been told it will be next year.

silverlining48

I am waiting for a Doppler test at the surgery which may be a wait of months (!) because of cold legs/feet nose and hands. I think it’s a circulatory problem. I’m trying not to worry too much.

It's a very simple test, so I don't see why you would have to wait months.

I am waiting for a Doppler test at the surgery which may be a wait of months (!) because of cold legs/feet nose and hands. I think it’s a circulatory problem. I’m trying not to worry too much.

There we are, I never knew that about arteries and veins. I thought arteries were the big stuff too.

You learn something every day🙂

Hi I have a friend with PAD. She had an operation this summer to unblock the artery and then stents fitted to keep the artery open, she’s recovered well and is now waiting for the other leg doing.

forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/peripheral-arterial-disease-tens.104658/

healthunlocked.com/bhf/posts/141830927/pad-pain

Some info / support here.

keepingquiet

I'm not sure what a peripheral artery is.

Arteries tend to be quite large and centred deep in the body or limbs, certainly not in the peripheries.

Arteries are the vessels that take oxygenated blood all around the body, including the feet and hands, while veins take the depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. The arteries and veins may be smaller in the toes and fingers, but they are still there. So to say ‘certainly not in the peripheries’ is incorrect.

keepingquiet

I'm not sure what a peripheral artery is.

Arteries tend to be quite large and centred deep in the body or limbs, certainly not in the peripheries.

The "peripheries" refer to legs.

Diabetics are particularly at risk. I've been tested for it a couple of times, but so far the results have been negative. The advice is to keep walking as far as you can, even if it's quite painful, and all the usual advice to eat a heart-healthy diet. I believe if it gets really serious, stents might be offered.

Nevertheless, peripheral artery disease exists and is a problem for the OP

I'm not sure what a peripheral artery is.

Arteries tend to be quite large and centred deep in the body or limbs, certainly not in the peripheries.