Intermittent claudication

[stevieR74]

Okay I’m struggling today I’m sorry for writting this,

As I have said I started this journey last October, I thought the branchial index was borderline turn out I was wrong it’s .8/.79, I’m 47 year old and I have severe anxiety of this thing.

My walking affected last year but I can walk now with little or no pain, I walk most nights, my blood pressure won’t come down, I started them October tablets, 145/90 avg heart rate 88, I have read too much on the blooming internet and it says I might have a 5 year prognosis, I am at a loss on what to do, has anybody lived a full life with this? Does what they tell to work?

I came across an article which wasn’t pleasant reading it scared me and it was from a nhs trust in Scotland, I wish I never found it it talks about 5 years mass heart attacks etc

Hopefully someone has had this and can offer support

[Ruadh]

Hi Stevie - Intermittent claudication. Had for a number of years, gradually got worse, then, took over, resulting in the fact it was difficult and almost impossible to walk, the pain...unbelievable. Had an ultrasound, found DVT. Told to walk. So, I did my best. Next thing, was hit with an acute achaemic attack with a PE.. Emergency hospitalised. Vascular surgeon took over, cleared the 10cm blockage (like cement ! ) above and behind the knee. Balloon with the medication, don't use stents in that position, as they squash out. The new stents contain aluminium...don't touch if allergic to aluminium / base metals. Does not need a stent. That was three years ago. Ultrasound, Doppler, every year. ALL OK. 100%.Warfarin for the duration, 18 months. Then my GP took me off the Warfarine. (Not a good idea...)

Yes. Have hypertension. Highly reactive to 17 antihypertensive so far. Is usually around, 150 / 90. 160 / 95. Occasional high spikes, 127 / 107. Then it comes down to the more acceptable levels. Then, on the odd occasion, it will come right down to 135 / 85 - at which point I am dizzy as hell. Horrible. Cannot cope with such a low pressure.

Now. Fast forward. August 2020, hit further vascular problems. Breathlessness. Really bad. Chest pains. Could hardly move, walking out, hopeless, breathlessness. Then, collapsed. Was hospitalised. Cleared for Covid. Diagnosed with VTE + PE. Many blood clots in both legs and in the lungs. Back on Warfarine, for life now. That is the only treatment. Arterial, can go clear. V = veinous not possible to clear like one can do with arteries.

Cardiologist put me on Bisoprolol. heigh-Ho. Back to horrible breathlessness. That and watering itching eyes : note, those are in the fairly rare side effects ! Can't win. Dumpted the #17 anti-hypertensive ! Have gone back to my old standby, L'Arginine. Alpha-Arginine. The researchers were given the Nobel Prize for Medicine, way back in 1985 for their work on the use of Arginine in controlling hypertension, and proving useful in treating heart problems. The book is named 'The Arginine Solution'. A good read.

I am coming up 84 yrs, and quite frankly, can't give much of a toss. I take care of the problems as they continue to throw the platefuls at me, but I aint going chewing me fingernails due to any of it. Life is too short and mine is getting a tad shorter <G> Pointless getting wound up and all stressed out, makes matters worse.

Continue walking. See a vascular specialist, will need a Doppler Ultrasound - ensure a good techie / doctor. I have two of em, brilliant. Don't be too surprised if they discuss an anticoagulant. Take care - Oh yes. And I do have a drink every evening. Either wine OR spirits. Cheers.

[stevieR74 in reply to Ruadh]

Hi Ruadh, I decided only to use this form for advice ,

And there’s some good stuff there, I was worried , many years did you first have the intermittent claudication? Till now oh and I will read the book

[Ruadh in reply to stevieR74]

Hi back Stevie - My claudication started more than several years ago - early 2000 ! Blue toes, slightly numb, always coooold. OK. Cold hands as well, plus nose, chin, ears. Reynaud's ? Yes. But, slightly numb and blue ? New GP said poor circulation. Hmmmm. Was pretty active. Had horses, gun dog, did shows and so forth. Plus many small furry ones. Fast forward a few years, 2008. Night time claudication. Only way to cop was to get my feet out and on to the floor. Plus, found that many times I could not stand even the weight of bed clothes on my feet. No way. Had moved. New GP. Poor circulation. Try walking more...! OK. Walk. Claudication came and went, at least did not have to push covers off my feet at night.

Fast forward again, 2017. Help. Could not walk. Pain in my calf. Sheer hell. So onwards to the acute ischaemia. GP knew what we were looking at, and ordered up the diagnostics. There it was. A 10cm rock hard cemented blood clot. Was lucky. Could have been a real hefty surgery or...loss of lower leg. Yea. Not funny. Did have to spend a year walking an hour a day. Yea. Came to pass that just crossing the road had me in total agony. So, 2018 it really blew, a PE and all the rest ! Then the wonderful balloon. Yes, has got a name, but would have to stop to look up, and laptop is trying to do summat else for me at the moment !! (I need two laptops to cope with stuff I do <LOL>) Anyway I was so well looked after : Vascular surgeon; nursing staff; my GP. Could not fault them.

Then later came the VTE. So, am inclined to 'clot' - sticky blood ? Looks like. As already said, Warfarine, for life. Wish it did not cause itching...!!

Take care - enjoy the book. It is sound. Must take me pills - Cheers.

[stevieR74 in reply to Ruadh]

Thanks buddy , hope has been given I keep up the fight , just walked 4K in 8inch snow no pain .

All the best , keep the drink flowing