Step Moms to have Bypass surgery in legs.

[Lorraine]

I just spent yesterday morning at the hospital where my Step Mother was having an angiogram. She had been problems for the last year with excrusiating pains in her legs whenever she walked. The had given her steriod shots, had her change her diet, told her to walk more to try and keep the circulation going. To no avail, her legs were getting worse. The cardio had to go through her arm instead of near the groin in her leg, yesterday because they had already done numerous tests and believed her arteries in both legs, were blocked from where they seperate right above the groin. THe cardio came out and talked to me and one of her daughters after the procedure was over. He showed us the xrays and it looked pretty bad. He showed us where the dye stopped and couldn't get though down below. Infact when the nusre was prepping her she was trying to get her pulse by her ankles) there was none. She tried behind the knee and only got a very faint one behind the left knee. Anyway, he said he hasn't seen a blockage like this in 20 to 30 years. He aid she would have to have bypass surgery to correct it and we should call Friday to set up the operation. My sister and I had the understanding he would be coming to the room to explain to our Mother what was happening. My step sister called two of our other sister to come up there, so they could hear first hand what he had to say. He never came. When we talked to the nurse she said she could just as easily explain what was going to happen, which she did know the basics, but she hadn't seen the xrays what what the doctor told us. He had mentioned that Mom legs had created their own tiny vessles to try and filter blood down to the legs. Now I don't know if that can happen, but anyway, he said they would have to try attach to one of those arteries and bypass the mass that was blocked. He didn't have a great prognosis about it. We all decided yeasterday that the four of us need to have a consultation with the cardio, not just rush into an operation without the facts.
My question, is has anyone on our site had this done? All my sisters realize what incite I get from VR.com and would welcome any feedback. I wasn't there for all the other tests because I have to work. I just happen to be on jury duty and didn't have to report back again until 1:00pm yesterday. My sister was greatful I was there. He did say because it was so bad, he couldn't put stents in.

My family would appreciate any help anyone can provide. Thanks!

 

[Ross]

All I can say is to get a second and third opinion before making any decision. This one is going to be critical.

 

[tobagotwo]

The body can create additional blood vessels, and often does, even to the heart. The problem is that they are not as large, and just don't have the carrying power of the original.

I wonder if a specialized vascular surgeon might have a different approach, like what they would be doing for Dave (davecv67 - http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9570 ). Is there no Dacron option that far down the arterial chain?

With absolutely no offense to the thoracic surgeon you spoke to, I would seek a vascular specialist.

You need to move quickly, though.

Best wishes,

 

[Lorraine]

Ross & Bob: Thanks for your posts. I just talked to my StepMother and asked her the name of her doctor. I looked up the stats on him and they are as follows:

G. Hossein Riahi MD,


Specialty: General Surgery (primary) and Vascular and Thoracic Surgery (secondary)
Board Certified in Primary Specialty: Yes

Clinical Interests: Thoracic Outlet

Medical Education: Isfahan Medila School, Isafhan

Residency: St. John's Mercy, St. Louis, MO

Internship: Columbus Hospital, Chicago

Fellowships: Univeristy of IL, Chicago

Years in Area: 17

Age: 70

My Step Mother seem to think he would be being doing the surgery and I thought: "no way"! He's a general surgeon and Vascular and Thoracic Surgery (secondary) so he would not be the operating surgeon for something so complex, that I could believe. Anyway, we are trying to set up an appointment where her two daughters and two of us step daughters can be there too, to get the whole picture. I'm trying to come of with a list of questions to ask. I did tell my Step Mother we should get at least a second opinion, have the all the test results viewed by another specialist and/or surgeon to tell us all our options. Like I said, he ran through it so fast and left us thinking he would be coming in to tell our Mom. I mean to drop the ball on us and when she asked questions of course we didn't know all the answers, seemd unprofessional to me. Again, I appreciate any advise anyone here can give. Thanks!

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

My mother-in-law has blockages and pain in her legs when she walks. She has taken up going to curves for women and the weight-bearing exerise has helped a lot. She had the balloon thing done on one leg to clear the blockage and that leg is better. The other leg was so blocked, they couldn't get the balloon thing to go through, so they left it alone because they didn't want to take the chance of puncturing the vein. X-rays do show that her body has "made" new vessels to go around the blockage. And they put her on plavix for a month or two. She was so into wanting the bypass done because the doctor [a heart doctor] was pushing her to have it done. She really doesn't need to have that done if she continues to improve with exercise and if her body continues to bypass the blockage on its own. I was so mad that she almost had the procedure done just because "the doctor said I should do it." You can't get a 2nd opinion up here in Alaska because everyone in a specialty are all in the same group. All the cardiologists all work together. She would have to go to Seattle, Washington to get a 2nd opinion. It is really bad up here.

 

[Lorraine]

Peggy: The problem with my Step Mom is they couldn't get the balloon in either leg. They had already had her doing exercise, which actually made her feel worse because she was in constant pain when she did exercise. They had given her steroid shots and pain meds too. This was all during this previous year.

We are going to meet with the doctor next Tuesday and after we hear what he has to say about options and procedures with the bypass, and then we'll get a second opinion on all the test results. Like I said, she did create two new blood vessels the doctor said, that was trying to compensate for the blocked arteries. He doesn't think he will be able to do the bypass using those two small vessels. Thanks for your input. I'm sorry that you can't get a second opinion due to no competition. Right, I can understand not wanting to Washington to get a second opinion.

 

[Ross]

test post to send email.

 

[Yaps]

I have this in my legs and the pain is excrutiating, have had angios done on both iliacs(sp), 5 stents..I think.. anyway, I still have some pressure in my feet, but I sure can empathise.
Collateral veins do take up the job of circulation, it helps but as stated you are left weaker.
Collaterals are helping me in my carotid and one behind my heart.
By-pass on my legs is in my near future, doing my utmost to stay away from it, I am sending you and your family my heartfelt prayers and thoughts.
Love Yaps

 

[Peggy in Alaska]

My mother-in-law seems to be doing a lot better. She still has not had the by-pass done. . . yet. She talks about doing it though. I dread her doing it, but on the other hand, I have heard of people having it and that it wasn't bad at all, that they were up on their feet in no time.

 

[John & Joann]

Joann has this problem in both legs in addition to the 2 mechanical valves and the 3 coronary bypass.

Cleveland Clinic said the following:
1. Do not do the surgery until there is NO other alternatives.
2. The surgery must be done at a MAJOR facility (Cleveland Clinic will be our choice) by a surgeon that specializes in perpherial vascular diseases.
3. Since Joann is on coumadin, we wil do everything possible to avoid this surgery.
4. Walking to develop the new vascular routes is the current treatment for Joann. Things are going down hill slowly, but it is better than the alternatives.

Your surgeon qualifications do NOT match the proposed treatment.

My mother-in-law seems to be doing a lot better. She still has not had the by-pass done. . . yet. She talks about doing it though. I dread her doing it, but on the other hand, I have heard of people having it and that it wasn't bad at all, that they were up on their feet in no time.