Angioplasty

[HKS]

Some of you must have some experience with angioplasty. I have blocked artery under my right knee. Artery is called the popliteal artery.
I have an operation scheduled May 20 To put a stent in the right leg.

They always make an incision on the upper left leg for the catheter that will be threaded up to the aorta and back down to the poplitieal (main left leg artery).
There is the possibility of disturbing the blockage and sending stuff downstream to make another blockage. My sons tell me lots of people have this done and not to worry..

Now I wonder if this all started years ago when I had a heart catherization done 20 years ago on my right leg.

Strange, my leg hurts when I walk over 100 feet but I can ride a stationary bicycle for 3 miles at a high level setting. The muscles must help pump the blood when bike riding, whereas walking does not do enough.

Wish me luck.
Hermann

[AZTB]

Hermann...keep us posted. You are still on my prayer list so this helps bring me current on how to pray.
God bless

[007Cruiser]

Sorry to hear that, Hermann. It’s good that you’re getting it repaired before you have a problem. Keeping you in my prayers.

[HKS]

Hermann...keep us posted. You are still on my prayer list so this helps bring me current on how to pray.
God bless

Thanks all of you,

Don't forget my Birthday 5 days before the operation. You can wish me luck for the second time.
I told my (young lady) surgeon Dr. Hargraves, that I could have all this done at the VA and she said negative, no.
So medicare will take care of the tab plus my copay.

I am going to ask, if they put a stent in, and later a downstream clot occurs, can another stent be threaded through the existing one and placed downstream?
Hermann

[merlot4]

Good luck, Hermann, best thoughts and wishes to you!

As to your very good question about a second clot occurring later, I think the best qualified person to answer that is your doctor. Ask her, and let us know.

15 May is marked on the calendar for your birthday!

[steelblue5505]

Best thoughts for you Herman, today and again on your BD.
From the experiences a lot of my friends have had with stints YOU got nothing to worry about. Just keep trying to relax. Yep I know the apprehension is truly bothersome but still you just got to relax. Tough to do but you have been through much worse.

[HKS]

Thanks Mike and all of you.

I need such assurance since 99% of my luck was used up after surviving WWII and Vietnam..

Donations of luck accepted. 1% should be OK.
Hermann

P.S. Mayday.
Today is the day I am getting the garage dust off of the Tbird and start driving it. Thinking about taking the hard top off after I go through the car wash.
Switched to Allstate from State Farm.

[Tbear]

I'm sure you will do well, Hermann. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

[Howlandd]

Well, I had two stents put in after having a severe heart attack 13 years ago. You should most likely have an even better stent used than I had and mine were the latest newest at the time.The discomfort after the procedure is very little. Prayers for you - - - .

[HKS]

Well, I had two stents put in after having a severe heart attack 13 years ago. You should most likely have an even better stent used than I had and mine were the latest newest at the time.The discomfort after the procedure is very little. Prayers for you - - - .

Thank you Dan, for the sharing your stent experience.
It is appreciated and helps to reduce jitters.
Hermann

LegArteries-anatomical-variations-Skecth.png
The popliteal artery is the main one but there are many branches.

[2K2BIRD]

Hermann, I'm sure you'll do great. Procedures that should be described as miracles are so familiar to today's surgeons, they could probably do them in their sleep. God uses them in mighty ways.

[HKS]

Hermann, I'm sure you'll do great. Procedures that should be described as miracles are so familiar to today's surgeons, they could probably do them in their sleep. God uses them in mighty ways.

Thank you Paul.
All input from you and all TBN members is good and appreciated..
Hermann

Here is the silly reason for my Jitters:
The old experienced half-retired surgeon was not available on the days I could make the first appointment because Kay had Hospice visits on those days.
And, my good looking 25 year old girl surgeon mentioned the word Amputation.
I always make too much out of such things. My girl surgeon should have steady hands.

P.S. Must be at least 30 to be a doctor I would think.

[longbill]

Herman, I had two stents put in back in August 2018. I went to the hospital at 0900 and was home by 1700 after a nice nap while they did it.

The actual operation took about an hour and the rest of the time was spent in preparation and recovery to make sure all was OK.

All I had for show from the operation was a bandaid covered, very small wound on my right wrist. From this I couldn't even get any sympathy! :-)

The whole thing was basically a non-event. Don't worry about it!

[HKS]

Thank you very much Bill, for the support.

Some more infotainment.
During the operation I will be sedated but awake.
I had the same situation in 2019 when my pacemaker was replaced. The surgeon mumbled that he wished he put the pacemaker a little higher up. I told him to do it.

This story did not sit well with my young surgeon and I promised her I would not talk during the surgery.
Signing off for a while now.
Hermann

[HKS]

Thank you very much Bill, for the support.

Some more infotainment.
During the operation I will be sedated but awake.
I had the same situation in 2019 when my pacemaker was replaced. The surgeon mumbled that he wished he put the pacemaker a little higher up. I told him to do it.

This story did not sit well with my young surgeon and I promised her I would not talk during the surgery.
Signing off for a while now.
Hermann

Got a response from my young girl (P.S. Meant as a term of endearment) vascular surgeon.
She says she is very careful about putting a stent where there is a lot of flexing (like just under my knee)..
Makes me feel a bunch better about the surgery this Thursday 8 AM.
Hermann