CCSVI today in Tampa

FastBenz · Post by **FastBenz** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 1:53 pm

Went in today with Dr Arslan.
Found both jugulars 90% blocked. Did angio. one vein is now 30%, other is now 75%. Decided to not do a stent and see how I did with much blockage opened up. Cog fog, gone. Vision better. hands now warmer and less numb.
I hope this continues.

Cece · Post by **Cece** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:01 pm

Congrats, FastBenz! Those are great improvements. Do you happen to know how big of balloons or what pressure he went up to?

garyak · Post by **garyak** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:02 pm

good luck-what is your plan for followup assessments and post-procedure meds?

PCakes · Post by **PCakes** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:09 pm

Congrats!!! ..was the azygos imaged?

FastBenz · Post by **FastBenz** » Fri Nov 19, 2010 4:42 pm

My Azygos was checked and had very little issues so they had not ballooned it.. 30 days of Plavix is my treatment. Then baby aspirin after that.

I am not sure of the balloon size and pressures. I am supposed to do a follow up in 4 weeks. They want a Doppler done as well but I can have that done close to home in West Palm Beach. I am going to ask for videos and info though.

Procedure was about 2 hours, 2 hour recovery, then headed to hotel. They recommended I stay local overnight to be sure everything was ok. They had a very friendly staff and everyone was wonderful. I especially enjoyed that that they were light hearted and rolled with punches on my sense of humor.

Best of all. Everything was covered on my insurance!

Nunzio · Post by **Nunzio** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 1:24 am

Great to hear you had the procedure done and you are already experiencing improvement. We have a lot in common; I am from WPB, I own a fast Benz ( a SLK to be precise) and I am going to have the procedure done by Dr. Arslan in 2 weeks.
Did they enter from the left side to check for M-T syndrome?
Best wishes of continued improvement.

Blaze · Post by **Blaze** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 5:52 am

Great news Fast Benz.

Nunzio, I will be thinking of you on December 3. As you know, we have similar issues involving our transverse and sigmoid sinuses in our brains, so I will be following your outcome very closely. Please keep us informed. Good Luck!

FastBenz · Post by **FastBenz** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 7:25 pm

They entered through my right leg.
Had first few nights of sleeping through the whole night. Unbelievable! I hope this keeps getting better! I have to say I am feeling pretty damn good!

I love the CLK's Nunzio. I have the E55.

FastBenz · Post by **FastBenz** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:43 am

Seems like my hands are getting better. There is not much numbness left other than my fingers. I really hadn't tested out heat tolerance. But I do notice when I go out while it is sunny I "feel" it less. Makes me wonder if there was a better stent out there how would I feel. One side is 75% and other is 30% down from 90%.

Nunzio · Post by **Nunzio** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 2:15 am

I had my procedure done 2 days ago by Dr.Arslan who is very knowledgeable and kind. He agreed to enter on the left side (Zamboni style) and look at the iliac and renal veins. Renal veins were just fine, left iliac had a blockage with a small flow bypass trough the iliac-lumbar vein but was considered non significant and was not treated considering my azygous vein was just fine too.
My right Jugular vein was totally collapsed and considered beyond treatment at this point.A catheter could be considered in the future.
My left Jugular vein had a 30% narrowing in diameter at the level of the lower valve and was dilated with a balloon.
Immediately after the procedure I had more strength in my right arm and I was able to cross my right leg over the left which I could not do for the last 5 years.
My walking was also significant better.
Today I lost the gain in strength of my right arm but my lower extremities are still fine.
Overall it was a positive experience and I felt no pain during the treatment.
I would not have any problem repeating the procedure as often as needed.

I am going to be on Plavix for a month and then on baby aspirin to prevent clothing.
Hopefully I will continue to improve in the next few weeks.

CCSVIhusband · Post by **CCSVIhusband** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 4:56 am

Nunzio wrote:I had my procedure done 2 days ago by Dr.Arslan who is very knowledgeable and kind. He agreed to enter on the left side (Zamboni style) and look at the iliac and renal veins. Renal veins were just fine, left iliac had a blockage with a small flow bypass trough the iliac-lumbar vein but was considered non significant and was not treated considering my azygous vein was just fine too.
My right Jugular vein was totally collapsed and considered beyond treatment at this point.A catheter could be considered in the future.
My left Jugular vein had a 30% narrowing in diameter at the level of the lower valve and was dilated with a balloon.
Immediately after the procedure I had more strength in my right arm and I was able to cross my right leg over the left which I could not do for the last 5 years.
My walking was also significant better.
Today I lost the gain in strength of my right arm but my lower extremities are still fine.
Overall it was a positive experience and I felt no pain during the treatment.
I would not have any problem repeating the procedure as often as needed.

I am going to be on Plavix for a month and then on baby aspirin to prevent clothing.
Hopefully I will continue to improve in the next few weeks.

I'm just speculating here ... but isn't this situation where an MRV and doppler come in handy as diagnostic tools.

The situation with the right jugular is the one I'm referring to. Wouldn't an MRV show if one even existed ahead of time ... or why it might be 100% collapsed. (maybe it just never developed all your life - I don't know, again I'm speculating). Did they see any flow in the doppler US?

Glad you got some results! Hopefully there are a lot more to come!

Another CCSVI liberatee, and believer.

Please tell us Nunzio ... do you think it's placebo?