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On April 10th, I had the Hernandez Jugular Bi-Pass. I am doing amazingly well. Every day I recognize an ablility that was lost is now found. An example would be chasing after my dog when it got out of the yard. She is a collie -husky cross, a good size and a fast runner. Yes I was able to catch her not by using my words but by my legs. No falling, no stumbling no being out of breathe. I realize how fortunate I am for this procedure to be working. I think or know part of this was because I did not have multiple procedures and no stents giving Dr. Hernandez something to work with. Yes before the procedure my hands, feet , legs were all numb. My vision was doubled and to drive I wore a patch.Not the safest and I definitely had a gaurdian angel on my shoulder when behind the wheel. I was also having difficulty with my heart taking up to nine hits of nitro a day and the most horrible heaches. That is all gone away. Do I second guess my decision, no it has given me back the quality of life I was missing. I know longer wake up with the dread of whats going to go wrong with me now. I wake up and embrace the day looking forward to more improvements day to day.

It is good to hear of improvements, & I hope that your bypass will last. I caution everyone who inquires about jugular bypass that it is early and that no CCSVI patient has yet had a successful graft that lasted beyond five months.

CECE this is not true I had a vein patch in January on the other side, that side was tested and is has paton which means its working great. The graft is over the five month mark. I guess I am the first in so many ways! Again this could be that I was fortunate enough not to have severe damage to my veins from multiple previous procedures. For me third time was the charm.

We haven't heard much from people getting patches, only from people getting full grafts, which have not yet been successful. It is fantastic to hear that the patch has been working. You're right, someone with severe damage wouldn't be able to get a patch, they'd have to have a full-diameter replacement vein graft. It should be possible now to avoid severe damage by seeking angioplasty from an IR with conservative techniques. We have been through so many changes in CCSVI over the last 2 1/2 years, it makes me wonder what the next 2 1/2 years will bring.

I agree caution is really needed. This is major surgery.

I have decided to live with my clotted left jugular until I know that all the complications of Jugular bypasses and any treatments related to veins have been optimised.(clotted 2 years ago)
At present I am doing ok but I think its because my dr and I have finally found a blood thinning regime that works (aspirin and Arixtra combo both low dose) so far so good. Before the combo I was really struggling with the clot.


Happy you are doing well though D. I hope it continues for you.

I have the same problem . My left giugular vein is clotted .Fortunately I have good collaterals . I have done the second procedure at Dr Sclafani 10 days ago . unfortunattely the clot is very hard and Dr Sclafani couldn't do anything about it .
I am thinking the by-pass too . I was wondering where can I find stories of patients that have done something like this?

There are some videos on youtube and there have been many partial vein patch and full bypass patients posting over at CCSVI Locator.
I follow Mike's blog, he's the one who had ten or so angioplasties and then a vein graft that didn't take, and now is still looking for options for that left jugular. He recently talked about an option with the collateral for his left jugular, that they could wait for that collateral to form into a full vein and then gradually balloon it over 3 - 6 procedures to get it to be full-sized. That sounds like the gradual maturation that's been discussed here for hypoplastic veins. I don't know if that would work or if it's been done before. http://msmikejuices.blogspot.com/
Wishing you good luck with whatever you attempt.

I had a bypass and initially it seemed successful. I live in Canada and had problems one week after surgery with Coumadin. The incision/by-pass was oozing and I had an INR that peaked at 11.8. This resulted in a hospitl stay of 5 days to ensure my trachea was back in place, it was pushed over by 2 cm to the right. The vascular Dr that I saw wouldn't do anything to save the graft. He felt that it would just collapse anyway. He said he had no opinion on whether it was a valid surgery, just that he didn't see the vein staying open.

This is real surgery and depending on where you live may indicate the care you might receive if you have problems. I do want to make it clear that the medical staff I dealt with personally were all very caring and considerate. Some even had questions. The only issue was trying to save the graft and when the options were laid out, the graft was on its own.

Really sorry to hear it, munchkin.

thanks, it really was a bad situation and anyyone who considers this surgery must have some real follow-up once they are home.

Wonder how are you feeling these days since surgery. I just had my first post operative MRI and am excited for the results. Radiologist said it looks good.... by the way munchin how are you doing. Remember it takes time for the healing process any improvements? For post operative care Canada really sucks.Almost didn't get the Mri as they were afraid I had a stent or metal material in my neck but fortuneatly I carry my documentation of procedure and I the care I recieved.

Glad to hear you have had an MRI, was it your GP who ordered it?
I'm doing alright, the swelling in my neck has pretty much gone away, and the scar from the surgery is fading. The follow-up with the ENT specialists was good, he felt everything was healing the way it should and has ordered an U/S to see if they can confirm that the graft survived. So, being Canadian I'm not sure where it will go from here. If the results are inconclusive they are supposed to order either a CT or MRV.
My own symptom changes are very strange so I think the graft still has some flow. Dr. Hernandez only did a 7 mm graft from my IJ to my EJ.

It was my GP who ordered the MRI. He is 100% on board with the surgery I had. Everytime he sees me he is amazed at the improvements and how much it has changed my life. I have seen alot of the GP as he is documenting all of the changes since the surgery. This doctor I have been with for the last 22 years since 1990 so he has see the good bad and ugly of all the issues I went through. He wanted to give me 6 months post surgery for the MRI., as he said the surgery of that magnitude will take time to heal so he didn't want to jump the gun by having it done too early. I am at my 7months as of yesterday! Hope all goes well with you.

That's so great to hear. My GP is the one who is most supportive as well. I'm glad you are doing so well, it is all about blood flow.

deirdrec how are you now? How many months have pased after the surgey?
I haven't done anything yet . I am thinking about Dr Spangolo in Italy. He has already done 45 surgeys and until now they are succesfull all except one , but I am afraid to do something like that .
I read stories about people that re-clotted and I cannot afford this possibility .
I aspect to hear something happy .
thank you