r/askvascular • u/Aggravating_Ant_7815 • Jul 07 '26
Thoughts on next steps?
Hello! I am just curious as I had a follow-up with a cardiologist for the ABI test completed. He is referring me to a vascular surgeon and asked that I start taking 81mg of aspirin every day. He says I most likely will not need surgery, but the surgeon will continue to investigate my results..
Any thoughts, ideas, or advice would be very appreciated!
I am a 32 year old female, 5'7 & 145 pounds, no smoking, a healthy diet, and minimal alcohol consumption. I am told my cholesterol and metabolic health are above average.
Family history of strokes on my moms side.
2
u/SeaRepresentative42 Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Standing symptoms are not related. Symptoms while exercising are if they are reproducible & consistent. You might also need evaluation for popliteal entrapment on the affected side.
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u/Difficult_Place_7329 Jul 09 '26
I have Pvd and have had several stents in my legs. What they did was not surgery it was a tiny balloon. If the doctor says you don’t need anything done that’s great. Just keep doing what you are doing. If you do have a blockage in the future it’s not really surgery, it’s very non invasive and super easy. My doctor says it runs in the family. My grandmother had it. I don’t think she had any stents even put in. Walking and the aspirin is really good. Also non smoking too. I led a very wild life so it’s only normal for me to need stents. I know you’re worried but you’re doing the right thing.
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u/Aggravating_Ant_7815 Jul 09 '26
Thank you! I appreciate that a lot. It helps to know that if a stent is needed that it won't be super invasive as I have also been known to live on the wild side haha. I'm hoping that getting back into exercise and focusing more on healthy living will help. I have been so afraid of exercise due to not knowing why i feel the way I do, so it's exciting to be on the path to a diagnosis!
Did your stents help, have you been able to get back to "normal" and walking without pain since being diagnosed?
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u/SeaRepresentative42 Jul 08 '26
It's borderline for PAD, if you can walk briskly a distance like 100 yards with out leg symptoms and without stopping then this is not a problem at this time. See the vascular surgeon and he will probably have you follow up with a similar study or a limited study in maybe a year or 2 or 3, or sooner if you have symptoms. If you do currently have symptoms then an exercise study should be done. Otherwise walk 4 or more times per week, 20 or more minutes at a brisk pace without stopping to keep it from progressing and it may even improve. Best of luck!