Hi
After visiting the forum for a while, thought I should actually finally join.

I'm based in the UK and started getting symptoms at Easter. Fairly rapidly progressed and by June my left hand was clawed, no grip, severe pain and no pulse - and couldn't turn my head to the right without getting dizzy. After 2 months of not getting anywhere with the joys of NHS - public health care in UK - no picking who you go and see - I finally had an angiogram which showed that when I raised my arm or turned my head, I occluded my subclavian artery.

Had my first rib resection just over three months ago and the first few weeks were tough - finding the forum and reading other people's experiences really helped me realise I wasn't the only person who found it hard...and now I'm improving all the time. Long way to go but I'm back working 3/4 time, swimming and starting to get back to normal.

This is a great resource - and such a supportive community. Thank you.