New to W & B

[DeniseN]

Just wanted to say hello. I just joined your group. Curious to if the posts in this group are visible to everyone or only those in this group? Guess once I post this I will have my answer really lol.

I also wanted to find out, if any of you have any experience or know anything about peripheral artery disease. Seems I didnt quit smoking in time as I thought. I found out yesterday that I have this, and its not something that I know much about. I am going to google it of course but I didnt know if anybody might have first hand experience with it. Thank you for any help...

 

[Mary Kay]

Welcome Denise! Yes these posts are visable to anyone..after you have made a few posts I can send you the code to our private area. Only the title of those posts can be seen by the whole forum...and those members who post in there of course. The moderators of the forum also have the keys in order to keep the peace.

I have diabetes and PAD is a big worry for me. Smoking aggravates it ( thank goodness for vaping!) as does sitting crosslegged or crossing your legs..sitting all day doesn't help a bit!
Having cold feet all the time is a sign you are in trouble!
I walk a lot and elevate my feet when I remember. I also do foot exercizes like drawing the alphabet with my feet (while laying down). That helps to keep the blood vessels open and pumping. I sometimes stand by the edge of my toes on a step and drop my heels down as far as they will go and then raising up to tiptoe..hang on to the door frame or handrails as this tends to throw you off balance.
let us know what you find out! I just had some kind of scan done where they track the flow of blood with a scanner..like they do on Pregnant women. No problems yet..thank goodness. Try having that gunky stuff smeared on you neck to foot..ewww

 

[DeniseN]

I also have diabetes, I didnt know that also caused PAD though he didnt mention that one. He only mentioned the smoking one. So I guess I got a double whammy lol. I've had swelling in my legs for a few years now but my other docs just kept giving me water pills which would then drop my potassium and then they would change the pills and give me potassium for years too and then they finally got the doses and meds right and the swelling went away for about a year and now its back. I'm with a new doc now and he decided to do this circulation test and thats when he discovered the PAD. He said we are going to do an MRI next and see how severe it is and then see where we go from here if pills and walking will take care of it or if we have to do more than that.

 

[Mary Kay]

I don't know that diabetes causes it or not..but diabetes damages artieral flow and the artery's..that leads to PAD. That is a big deal along with sight, stroke, kidney disfunction and H.A.'s. Have your Dr. give you the list of things diabetes have to watch out for. PAD can cause you to lose feeling in your legs and feet. a sore may get bad because you don't feel it. Also slow healing of leg and foot sores. Please be careful with tight shoes or those that cause blisters.
I wear an anklet..not for pretty..it is, but that's not the point..it is an early warning system to remind me to watch for swelling. I drink a lot of water and try not to eat too much salt..that really causes swelling of the feet and hands..you will also see it in your face in the morning.
My mom was given both water pills and potassiun to be taken at the same time..worked for her for a while. But her problem was old age and thyroid.

 

[DeniseN]

I knew about about the other stuff just not the PAD. I knew about the circulation to I guess maybe I just never really joined the two in my head or something I dont know lol. I have so much medical stuff in my head. I have alot of medical stuff wrong with me. I have to see a few different doctors and I have notebook that I have to carry with me to them with copies of all my records since 2003 in it so they know about my situation. How I am "put together" lol after my surgery and so they know all my labwork results because I have to have labwork every month. So its easier to take it with me and show them for them to make copies then for them to try and get the copies themselves. I have all my scans, mri's everything in there.

 

[Mary Kay]

Now that is smart! I keep a paper on me at all times with my contacts, meds and conditions. It also has a short note stating what I want in terms of medical care.
I need to put together a file for hubby and I with our labs and stuff. It ticks me off when my Dr. of 3 years asks me what meds I take..she wrote all the RX's!