Hi everyone. New here and I don't where to begin to tell my story of the last 10 years when it all first started. I hit 40 and it hit back with a vengeance. I first noticed when walking, a tightness in back of calves. As soo as I sat down, it would subside. It continued to get worse and worse till couldn't even walk a city block. I had always been active. If I could walk instead of taking a bus or subway place, I would. I was in fit and in shape. Oh yeah, I was and continue to be a smoker. I know, the worst possible thing for poor circulation. Anyway, I went to several doc's and it was finally diagnosed as PAD, Peripheral Artery Disease. That was back in 2003 and I had my 1st vascular surgery of my femoral arteries in my groin. By the way, heart is fine, it is all in the groin leg feet area. Surgery did not help at all. I did all I was supposed to do but nothing. In 2005 I redid the surgery with same surgeon and it was a nightmare. Caught a nasty staph infection and felt/wished I was dying. I was told later that while on the table, after a 4 hr OP, as soon as he closed me up, I starting clotting and there was no blood flow. So he opened me up again for a total of an 11 hr surgery and a staph infection.I felt so helpless and at my wit's end, depression, suicidal, you name it. I let it go with no treatment for a couple more years until the PN started as a result of my feet being oxygen blood enriched deprived. The pain was unable. It felt like razor blades inside mt feet, slashing to get out And the jolts of electricity that would shoot out of feet and out of hands at the same time. I had every test under the sun. I found a new Primary dr who I came to adore, he recommended to a new vascular surgeon, Who performed a bi-femoral bypass. It worked for awhile while doing nothing to help the pain of the PN.I take 2400MG daily of Gabapentin (neurontin) with no side effects at all. I will never forget that first dose. It was a miracle!!! But it slowly faded and I am worse that ever. I went back to my vascular surgeon, he did more tests, and says the groin arteries are blocked again. He also said I have had enough surgery and wants to do angioplasty. I honestly do not hold out any hope for this. I am so very disgusted, most days I am miserable in pain, even Oxycontin does nothing to help. I get severe edema, swelling of my feet and legs. They are so red/purple and angry looking. Feels like a 10 lb sausage in a 2 lb skin. The discoloring disturbs me great. I am waiting to be told I have to have them amputated. That is NOT going to happen. I will "check out and night night" to all I love before I allow that. And on top of that I had cataracts removed and now diagnosed with glaucoma. It was so bad,and scary. My eye pressure was 40, normal is about 10-20. Pain unbelievable. But now we have it down to a healthy 14 pressure. But I have blind spots and fear I will go completely in affected left eye. I could keep going but I feel like I have babbled on. I hope someone reads this and has some advice or suggestions. Thanks for listening. Sincerely, Kitty.