nce, as translation was very poor. Therefore, I went to Phoenix, AZ for a 2nd angioplasty in Nov, 2010. Good experience, but same result, could not get through the clot. So, after reading about the experiences of other MS patients who had stenosed or collapsed jugular veins getting a jugular vein bypass by using a vein graft, I looked into it.
Dr Hernandez & his team at Centro Medico Excel in Tijuana, MX do this operation. I spoke with Tina, the coordinating RN for Excel extensively. I finally decided to take the plunge after much research. I had nothing to lose & everything to gain! When I got there on Sept. 3, I was admitted to the hospital after being picked up at the hotel in San Diego by a driver from the hospital. 2 days of testing, venogram concluded what I already knew, Large thrombus occluding my right subclavian vein, at the juncture of my innominate vein & superior vena cava. So Dr. Hernandez decided that he would be able to help me by doing a venous saphenous graft on Sept. 5, 2012, from my left jugular vein to my right jugular vein.When Dr. Hernandez took the saphenous vein from my left leg, he found it to be small, so he decided to take a portion out of my right saphenous vein, joining them together to make a larger vein. This surgery required Dr. H. to make 2 incisions on my neck, to transplant the `new` vein, one on each side. Does not look pretty, but I now have proper venous drainage from my brain. (Did you know that your internal jugular veins are responsible for 80% of the blood draining from your brain)
It is a major surgery, so healing does NOT happen overnight. You won't see instant results like with angioplasty, (which I never had), but I have noticed better color in my feet & calves, which were always cold & blue, & slight improvements in walking. I expect further improvements to come with time & healing...
Thank you everyone for your well wishes! You will never know how much they meant to me & Lorne. He was by my side from the beginning & has been my rock.
God bless...