Scared

[mysticwmn]

I'm 51 and have been having pain in my legs and feet when walking for years and now is excrutiating, also pain in check of buttock, then I started going numb in my legs and feet when lying down. Have to get feet down to get feeling back to them. Sometimes I will go numb from my waist down in the back and groin area and down the legs and feet. Left foot turns red and purple at times. Have lost some feeling around the small toe and side of foot now. I'm always cold on my feet.
I had an angiogram done and they couldn't get into my right side and barely got into the left side. All the dr. said to me was I needed 2 to 3 by pass surgerys and left the room. He went to my husband an told him I was blocked in the adbominal aortic and the arteries in my legs from the groin down. He then tried to draw him a picture. Thats all, he never came back to my room to talk to me or anything.
I had to have a stress test done again to make sure I could last the opperations. They have to cut me from chest bone to groin and then on each side for my legs. I'm not sure if they also will harvest from a leg.That will be the first one they want to do. I never was told much more then that.Not what to expect, how long recovery, anything. So I started looking for some answers. I found out about these chelation treatments and have been trying them(25 treatments so far) Has anyone been throught this and has any info I could use. Thank you for listening. I'm desperate

 

[Nancy]

Welcome and I'm sorry you have such scary things going on.

Probably the very first thing you have to do and soon is to have the doctor explain what is wrong face to face. He owes you an explanation that can be understood, and not a drawn picture given to your husband. This is YOUR medical problem and YOU have to understand thoroughly what you have.

It sounds as if you have several areas of blockage of some kind, and that surgery will be necessary to open up these areas and give your heart and legs the circulation they have to have.

I can't help you out with chelation stuff. My feeling is that if your doctor has told you that you are going to need surgery, then that is the solution to your problems.

Do you have a consult with a surgeon to discuss this and how it is approached?

 

[Yaps]

Ive read of the chelation as well,(have PAD, severe) and I am a bit afraid to try it..sooner or later it will be another bypass for me.wish you luck, love the pup

 

[Nancy]

I found this on quackwatch.org

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/chelation.html

 

[Cris N]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I agree that you need to get back with your cardiologist & get a thorough explanation of what's wrong, what needs to be done to fix it & who he recommends as a surgeon. You owe this to yourself... this is your life!

If you think the cardiologist is not meeting your needs get your PCP to refer you to someone who will spend the time necessary talking with you.

Keep us posted.

Cris

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I would call your Cardiologist's office and tell his NURSE that you need to understand your condition and want another appointment. If he is unwilling, find another cardiologist!

In the interest of time, I would try to see your current cardiologist and also request a referal to a surgeon. As one of our nurse/patients said, "When you have a conditiont that can only be treated surgically, get a SURGICAL opinion". You should probably set up this surgical consultation ASAP.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Yaps]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/26/AR2005082600238.html
PITTSBURGH -- The death of a 5-year-old autistic boy has raised questions about whether a medical treatment aimed at cleaning the body of heavy metals should be used to treat the neurological and developmental disorder.

Officials said they do not know for sure what killed Abubakar Tariq Nadama, who went into cardiac arrest and died Tuesday after receiving his third chelation therapy treatment at a suburban medical clinic. State police were investigating.


The boy was undergoing the therapy at Advanced Integrative Medicine Center in Portersville, about 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. Neither the boy's doctor, Roy E. Kerry, nor a representative from the center returned a call for comment.

Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-tion) is often used in patients with sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning or other maladies. Its use dates to the 1940s.

Some people believe autism can be linked to a mercury-containing preservative once commonly used in childhood vaccines. Chelation therapy has been advocated as a remedy, although it hasn't been proven, because it causes heavy metals to leave the body through urine.

"If I were a parent considering it, I would probably stop considering it. There is no clear evidence that you can make kids better with this," said Dr. Gervasio A. Lamas, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center-Miami Heart Institute.

Autism is a developmental disability that affects a child's social interaction and communication. There is no cure.

Because there are more questions than answers about autism, parents often desperate to help their children are willing to try anything, said Lamas, who is leading a $30 million government-funded study into chelation therapy and heart disease.

Geoffrey Dubrowsky, of Brick, N.J., said his 10-year-old autistic son, Daniel, has been sleeping better and responding more to learning since starting chelation.

"These are caring parents doing whatever they can to help their child," Dubrowsky said. "We're desperate because there are no answers and the government is not willing to put up any answers."

During chelation, chemicals are administered under the skin or orally. The chemicals bind to heavy metals in the body, and patients then excrete the chemicals through urine.

One of the most common uses for chelation is lead poisoning, in which a synthetic chemical called EDTA is given to patients. It's unclear exactly how many people undergo the treatment.

There are thousands of patients getting chelation at home at night in many parts of the world. And it's generally considered quite safe," said Dr. Lakshmanan Krishnamurti, a pediatric hematologist and director of the Sickle Cell Program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

In 2001, the San Diego-based Autism Research Institute issued a position paper saying that 73 percent of more than 23,000 parents surveyed reported that mercury detoxification helped their children.


Lamas said the therapy does come with risks, including causing kidney damage and in some cases heart problems.

Dr. Cynthia Johnson, director of the Autism Center at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said autistic children often undergo a variety of therapies so it's difficult to pinpoint what is working and what is not.

"I tell families frankly that I don't see (chelation) as benign and it's really very scary to me," Johnson said.

The boy's mother, Marwa Nadama, said she did not blame the therapy, but was waiting for results of an autopsy.

___

 

[Nancy]

I also read this in the paper this morning. I'm glad you posted it.

 

[imhayley]

Ive had to see a few different cardiologist to get my questions answered. I originally had a Doctor and when he found out I didnt have insurance he assured me I was okay and sent me off on my way. I demanded to know how this could be as on our last visit he said he was going to have to order very expensive tests and that I would need to get insurance. (was denied insurance by 5 different companies) When I questioned him HE FIRED ME AS HIS PATIENT and said I didnt trust doctors and to go somewhere else. TRUE STORY. I went to a new cardiology group and met my new cardiologist who has the personality of an old leather boot. He came in ordered the tests and left. Im not expecting them to dance with me but geesh how about some information and compassion.....NOPE not this Doctor. Needless to say Im glad I did get another oppion as I DID have something wrong and 9 wks ago had a mitral valve replacement. When doing follow up with the Doctor (never get to see the same one in this group cuz they are so busy) I was extremely depressed and he told me I need shock therapy and gave me a prescription for prozac. I told him NO to the prozac and he got snotty and crossed his arms and said "then I cant help you". I cant believe they do heart surgery on you then just toss you aside to deal with all the fears and anxiety and questions I had. Once again (a week later) I saw another doctor in this group and THANK GOD I DID!!! He is great and answered ALL my questions and re assured me that things were going in the right direction. I figured out that here in my area you DONT ask the docs for more info or you are considered a "problem patient" at least thats the impression I got. ASK ASK ASK THATS MY MOTTO AS ITS YOUR LIFE and get as much info as you can. Thank you for letting me share. Good Luck to you!!!!! Oh and Yes Im waiting to run into the first cardiologist at the grocery store or somewhere so I can let him know in person that left up to his advice I wouldnt even be alive. I Know.....let it go.......