I will be headed to her home next week to take her to the doctor for more testing. I'm just wondering if this will be something she can manage on her own or not.
The most complications I ever saw in my career as a nurse came from blood thinners and from vascular surgery of the lower extremities. Blood clots, often traveling to lungs. Many complications from both the surgeries and the blood thinners. Each case of lower extremity vascular insufficiency is unique. Is your Mom by any chance a diabetic? Is she overweight. and then there is the question of how many and how important the blockages are. Only the doctor who does her particular testing can give you a good idea of where she stands, the complications and etc. She is going to have now to be very careful of any nicks or injuries to the lower extremities which will have difficulty healing; it is often such things as gangrene and amputation that takes one down on the slow slide. And keeping weight low is important. I am sorry for what she is facing. I am glad you will be there to listen; it always takes two listening when docs explain what's happening. Wishing you both good luck.
Thanks so much. Yes, I guess we will find out much more on the 13th. She is not diabetic or overweight, but she doesn't move much at all, mainly due to fear of falling. She has had both hips and both knees replaced. She has never been good at following doctor's orders or doing her prescribed PT. She is on blood thinners and has already dealt with skin tears that take forever to heal. This is just really bad news :(
Each case of lower extremity vascular insufficiency is unique. Is your Mom by any chance a diabetic? Is she overweight. and then there is the question of how many and how important the blockages are. Only the doctor who does her particular testing can give you a good idea of where she stands, the complications and etc.
She is going to have now to be very careful of any nicks or injuries to the lower extremities which will have difficulty healing; it is often such things as gangrene and amputation that takes one down on the slow slide. And keeping weight low is important.
I am sorry for what she is facing. I am glad you will be there to listen; it always takes two listening when docs explain what's happening. Wishing you both good luck.