Anyone here have peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

Welcome @brendaharris. I moved your question to this existing discussion of the same name in the Heart & Blood Health support group.
- Anyone here have peripheral artery disease (PAD)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pad-1/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect with members like @onthecoast386 @dimbulb @marykayriver @kaodd @jlf2 who have experience with PAD.

Brenda, is this a new diagnosis for you? How are you doing?

Yes this is a new diagnosis for me. Well, this diagnosis has blind sided me. I ended up having to have my artery in my thigh open so blood would flow. My toe became gangrene because of lack of blood flow. I had to have my second toe amputated. I just need to talk with others with PAD.

Thank you so much for the welcome! The information I have read has been helpful.
Brenda Harris

@brendaharris Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I think you found the perfect discussion for PAD. Be sure to read through all the entries; PAD hasn’t changed much over the years except for the treatment.
Do you have PAD and what treatment are you currently getting?

I have just had two angioplasties and my 2nd toe amputated on my left foot. The insurance company I was with at the time did not give me timely treatment and caused the toe to go gangrene. Now my 2nd toe on my right foot is bothering me; this time I have a new health care provider and they are aggressive in treating it.

I was diagnosed with PAD about 7 years ago. I quit smoking 5 years and 10 months ago. Started smoking age 13, quit at age 49! Didn't think I would ever quit, it was my BFF! over the years I had NEVER tried to quit before (like lots of my friends). It took about 1.5 years for me to finally be done. Started off with Chantix. Got all the way down to 1 cigarette, but couldn't let it go. Doctor added 1 dose of 150 mg Wellbutrin. Still not enough. She upped the Wellbutrin to 2 x per day and BINGO!! Now, it's not some magic pill, but without this I would've NEVER been able to quit! I could've chewed nails a few times!! But I kept hanging on. Btw y'all, my husband still smokes to this day. Friends couldn't understand how I was able to stay away from his cigarettes. I knew if I had 1 puff that would be it for me. Anyway, I fought and made it through and coming up on 6 years soon. God is good, and my breathing is so much easier :)) PAD much better too.

Thank you for your comment. I know quitting cigarettes can be challenging!

I’m a type 2 diabetic, 66 years old. In April last year, I developed a diabetic foot ulcer behind my amputated big toe on my right foot. I underwent a vascular study which revealed that right foot BR was 1.3, the left foot was 0.7. I attribute this deterioration to the fact that I had been unable to walk distances with offloading required to heal my DFU. The DFU healed after a long struggle. The first walk I took after the healing was a shock. I couldn’t walk a 1/4 mile before I had to sit down. I’m going through the painful process of walking with PAD and I’m walking 2 miles in a little less than an hour, 3 times a week. I also swim once/week and do the elliptical, and bike once a week for about a hour. These exercises don’t cause any pain. How long to I have to continue with walking before I can return to my normal pace of walking 2 miles in 40 minutes? Will the pain continue for ever?

I forgot to add that I take 100mg of Cilostizol 2/day and it does nothing to alleviate the symptoms of PAD

Diagnosed 2017. Illeac bilateral stents in legs and just two months ago bilateral stents both main renal arteries. This, with the living on the cake an AAA diagnosed 2020. Has remained stable at 4. 2 currently. Blessed more than I deserve. ✌🏻