Quote:
Originally Posted by sundance_15
I've had a DVT for years now on my left side. never had symptoms on the right. I've developed many collaterals. I do experience fatigue in my left hand and arm if I over do it. I wear a light compression sleeve in my left arm during most any activity. It helps. I don't notice that my arm changes color any more and the sleeve resources the slight swelling I get when using it.
My doctor told me if the vein was clear, then he woukd recommend the surgery, since mine is still completely ocluded, then he just didn't believe my vein would ever stay open... Even with a vein bypass. My advice would be.... If I considered anything, I'd do the unaffected arm. Just have your rib removed to avoid the issue. I don't think you'd have a big problem from just removing the rib. There is a chance that the damage has been done regardless of the surgery. You good arm vein is probably scarred where it crosses the rib. Did the Dr. say your vein shows scaring in the good arm?
I took Eliquis for over a year and now all I take are two aspirin a day. I developed dizziness with long term use of Eliquis.
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None of the surgeons would want to operate the side that didn't have a DVT before they operate the affected side.
I did MRI and venogram and it showed scaring only on a DVT side, although even affected side is fully patent when they did Doppler. I also have quite a few collaterals developed. 2nd surgeon said he would only operate the affected side and that there is a relatively small chance (15%) to develop DVT on the opposite side. 1st surgeon said it is up to me if I want to have the other side operated after I do the affected one.
I don't know how much damage DVT has caused, but I can't tell any difference between the arms. I rarely have any issues with either.
I am just scared that the surgery would cause the damage (not the one which is already there). I don't know if collapsed lungs, damaged nerves, partial paralysis, pains (all the things we hear on this forum all the time) are freak accidents or the integral part (side-effect) of the surgery regardless of the condition before the surgery. I have none of those right now, I won't want to risk it if it is a big risk.
Both surgeons tell me I can do the surgery and stop taking thinners or keep taking thinners without the surgery, although the 1st surgeon (less experienced) one recommends I do it. He says I should be fine in 2-3 weeks after the surgery.