Anyone had a artery bypass in their leg?

Borobuddah

Borobuddah

Well-known member
I thought it couldn’t get worse, but it has.

Just going through the recovery from my hip. Op is bad enough, but I had a 30cm blockage in my leg artery about 5 years ago which was cleared by angioplasty, but they didn’t put stents in, it was great for a year or so but ever since has been a constant problem reducing my ability walk considerably.

A week and a half ago the top of my left foot became badly swollen, angry red like sunburn, painful cold and numb. When it crept up to my ankle I was taken to hospital and a scan showed the artery was completely blocked.
As my big toe turned a purple black colour the vascular team told me the options were a further angioplasty, a bypass or amputation of the big toe, even amputation of the foot.

Today I was told the surgical vascular team favours a bypass. I am to meet with them following a further scan and an assessment of fitness for surgery with a senior nurse and an anaesthetist.

Anyone had one and could give any advice and their recovery time?
 
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Sorry I have no information but I wish you well, sounds like you have had a really difficult time recently, hopefully you get the treatment you need a you make a full-length recovery.
 
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Sorry to read that. Can’t help, but just want to say I hope you get treated quickly and successfully.
Wishing you well mate.
 
Been decades since I worked on vascular ward. As @rkangel says, if they give you the option of a bypass it could potentially give your foot the blood supply it needs to survive. Recovery means different things to different people. Recover and go home used to be about a week. Recover and walk any sort of distance will be depend on how successful the bypass is. If you smoke then you should stop. If diabetic keep blood sugars within decent levels. As others have said wish you all the best.
 
Just one more try, in case I can catch anyone who has direct experience of this operation.

After this, I promise to stop boring everyone, and listen to what the sawbones have to say
 
Borobuddah said:
Back in RLH as of yesterday, hoping to have the op done tomorrow, won’t know until ward round today, just noticed my small box of sarnies from yesterday was made in Boro, Barton Rd , TS2.

Hope I don’t get sick 😀😆😂😂
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Good luck with it mate. You’re in one of the best places, hospital wise.
Soon on the other side of the procedure and on the mend.
 
The sandwiches didn’t mention ‘finest ingredients’ but included a reference to ‘May include traces of fish and eggshell’ or something. Did they mash all fillings with just one fork? 😆
 
Obviously loads of unknowns due to the strike, and half if not more of me, hopes it won’t go ahead until the weekend, but It could be my best chance to avoid an amputated foot
 
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Borobuddah said:
I thought it couldn’t get worse, but it has.

Just going through the recovery from my hip. Op is bad enough, but I had a 30cm blockage in my leg artery about 5 years ago which was cleared by angioplasty, but they didn’t put stents in, it was great for a year or so but ever since has been a constant problem reducing my ability walk considerably.

A week and a half ago the top of my left foot became badly swollen, angry red like sunburn, painful cold and numb. When it crept up to my ankle I was taken to hospital and a scan showed the artery was completely blocked.
As my big toe turned a purple black colour the vascular team told me the options were a further angioplasty, a bypass or amputation of the big toe, even amputation of the foot.

Today I was told the surgical vascular team favours a bypass. I am to meet with them following a further scan and an assessment of fitness for surgery with a senior nurse and an anaesthetist.

Anyone had one and could give any advice and their recovery time?
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Years ago I was in a hit and run - to cut a very long story short - after 5 years or so of limping with calf cramp,I finally had the surgery to by-pass the blockage I had told them about years previously.

A massive scar - but it worked brilliantly.
What they didn't say was these types of by-passes only last about 15 years or so. The material ( artery) is "dead" when they put it back in to create the by pass ,it is kept "alive" by the blood flowing through it.

So thus when I woke up one day with the same as you -the large swelling above the knee ( a lot phlebitisy) I knew what it was - another surgery using the other legs supply of vein/artery ,and BOOM, I was back again.

In fact I left hospital with the stiches and tapes barely holding and went off to Reading Rock with a walking stick as my air guitar. It split a little in places, but no great harm done.

Well time has ran out on that bad boy too ( 20 years - so quite good going) - they wanted to cut the leg off, as they couldn't do surgery a 3rd time ( one really hoped they would of invented something by know - **** knows what one will do if my heart needs one - pig??).

HOWEVER. One youngster wanted to try targeting clot buster liquid - they would have to go in via tube through the artery/vein until they reached the blockages and give them a weeny dose - lots of them.
Downside - had to be fully conscious to let them know if my brain was OK ( loose clots) can I see?, is my mouth straight?, any dribbling?, - it was as you can imagine extremely painful.
But it did work - I could see it live on the big screen in full HD.

Afterwards in recovery-( I had a nursey 24 hours beside the bed) I bled out through the IN site -claret everywhere- cue hallucinations and "Call Crash!!!" - I think I was pretty close to seeing a White Light.

So a massive hematoma - my b***ks were the size of a football and black. Even the nurses heard about my massive cojones and asked to have a looksee - knock yourself out. One would never know the old ball sack could stretch as much as that - unbelievable Jeff.

So that kinda worked - it was only 6 months later and another block - so basically back to calf cramp of 30 odd years ago. This time instead of surgery etc, just blood thinning pills and " see how we go" . Touch wood - I still have the old peg ( have grown quite attached to having it around).

I see a second op is being offered - absolutely grab that option.
 
Ok news in brief. Vein not strong enough for bypass, likely to do a
Plastic artery bypass next weds or Thursday- I will NOT be discharged in meantime xx
 
Sorry to hear that BB. Good luck once the surgery is carried out and hope you have a successful recovery
 
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