Mild increase in velocity in an artery in my leg
 

Hi all.

This time the question concerns me and I don't know where to post this so I'll post it here and maybe someone can give me some support and insight.

We both went to the podiatrist who said "I have a gal here who does the test for PAD, (he was telling this to Alan) and he said "how long has it been since you tested your circulation in your legs?" Alan said "I have no idea". Since we have the same guy, I said "Oh I never had it done, can I be tested". He said "Just go in the next room and she'll take you both".

I went first. I had absolutely no idea what this test entailed.

She had me lay down and put some things on my big toes and my thumbs. Then she had me go to the wall and go up and down on my tip toes for 3 minutes. No problem.

I then lay down and she goes to my groin and goes from the groin to the bottom of my legs with this doppler thing.

I then said 'How did I do?" And while they don't tell you until the report is typed up, etc," she said "Well, your left leg is fine but in your right leg you have a MILD INCREASE IN VELOCITY in one of the arteries, why don't you come to my office and they can do more testing to see what's what"

I nearly had a stroke but I said "is this serious because my husband is going in for a prostate procedure on August 25, can I come in in September? She said "Sure, no problem" So I made the appt for September 9th. Oh, Alan PASSED this test.

I had the doctor explain to me what they are looking for but honestly I got so nervous all I know is that I didn't pass this test.

They were talking about possible angiograms and maybe a stent in the leg.

Please, someone, walk me through what I can expect to happen on September 9th.

Thanks much

Melody

Hi MelodyL
Good to see you back - hadn't seen you around for a while but know you have your hands full to overflowing and figured you were just busy.

I had never heard of PAD so I looked it up. The test you had seems to be a general indicator for artery health (as opposed to a more specific diagnostic test). I'm guessing they want you to come in for further testing to pin point if anything is actually wrong.

Here's a link to the NIH site about the PAD test.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/heal.../pad/diagnosis

Hope you find the information reassuring until you can get to your appt. and get the full picture. Try and keep in mind that it is an indicator test (also used for monitoring), and if there was anything seriously urgent the doctor would have insisted on you having an earlier appt.

Hope things go smoothly for Alan's op on the 25th. Please keep us posted on how you're doing. All the best.

HI. Thanks for the info. I'll check this out. I have been so nervous I got sick to my stomach when I got home. See, I'm the one who is the caregiver in this house and I make it my business to see that I eat correctly, walk around, do this and that and I never expected to have a PAD test today. Should have kept my mouth shut.

Thanks for the kind words.

I'll be sure and update on Alan who is just fine right now. lol

Melody

Don't have a lot of time this morning--
 

--have to go out and tutor the panicky SAT students--but you can look up and find that most of the time, an increase in blood flow velocity in an artery is an indication of narrowing of that artery, not uncommon as we age and certainly not uncommon in those with diabetes.

Narrow arteries are, of course, more susceptible to thrombosis (blood clot blockage). And they are associated with peripheral artery disease--again, extremely common.

But, this is probably not an emergency situation--it is something that needs to be monitored and perhaps treated (exercise and oxygenation are very good for this, as one would suspect). But I wouldn't panic just yet. That's for my SAT students. :)

Love you Glen. I am having coffee in Dunkin wondering if I should be walking around, and I found an article that states that walking is beneficial. So besides taking care of Alan I now have to walk. I can do this. I do have a question. I take 5000 of Methyl B12 every day for years. Do I continue. I have zero neuropathy symptoms but I'm not sure if the amount I have been taking would interfere with a possible diagnosis of PAD I do know I will take a baby aspirin every day from now on. I eat greens, grow my own sprouts and never eat red meat. I wonder what might have happened if I never took this test.

Thanks much Glen. Now go take care of your panicky student.

Love ya, melody

GLEN ( or anyone who knows)' can I continue to use my tens unit on my knees) I ask his because it really feels good when I do this? Thanks much.

Melody

Hi Melody,

Sounds like this accidental discovery was a good thing and is an early catch of a potential problem down the road. As glenntaj stated, it is common and you should not be alarmed especially since the person indicated it is a MILD increase. You did not state having any symptoms so this was a good catch that may have gone undetected until it did reach a point where it becomes a real problem.

Good for you that you were curious and asked to be tested, too. Please keep us posted.

Do not be alarmed until a doctor tells you that you need to worry. So far it sounds like a no worry situation based on the MILD mention. Diabetics have so many risk factors for the potential of damage to almost everything in the body, and the circulatory system is no exception. Based on our age (We are in the same age group.) and our diabetes, this is a fair expectation. You are not alone. Wish I had been given the "mild" notation instead of the information my doc gave me. The first time I was tested was due to poor pulses felt by my doctor.

I am just GUESSING, but I think using the tens unit on your knee should be OK but I would definitely check on that with your doctor.

Okay, will call on Monday (maybe I'll call them now just in case they are open). Thanks to all who responded. I'm just focusing on the word MILD to get me through this.

I even bought a new blond wig to get my mind off of this. Walked out of the house this morning. All my neighbor's husbands noticed. One called me classy. no one else recognized me until I opened my mouth. Had a good laugh over that one. I look completely different. I'll change my profile picture so you all can see it.

But guess who hated it? My husband.

He wants me to look like Lady Godiva. rofl.

Melody

Just tried changing my profile picture, deleted the one that was there, added the new one with the wig but it's not showing up yet. Maybe it takes time?

Hi Melody

Re the B12 dose - check with MrsD - normally I think she would say you could go down to 1000mg but with not eating red meat this may be different. Have you had a recent test? (you know you need to stop taking the B12 about a week before the test to get an accurate level).