I am a 54 year old female with peripheral vascular disease, COPD. I'm a 32-year smoker, trying to quit. I have a history of heart disease and have chronic degenerative disk disease from my neck to my tail bone, along with spina bifida occulta. I have constant aching pain in both my legs, grinding hip pain and I'm dizzy when standing or walking any distance. My doctor has me on Plavix, Crestor, Lisinopril and Trilipix, as well as an aspirin regimen along with several other medications including Metformin for my diabetes. I'm a recovering alcoholic with 3 1/2 years of sobriety and my liver is finally healing. The harder I try to quit smoking the more I want to drink, so I go back to the cigarettes. My doctor has informed me that I have a 100% blockage in my right leg, and approximately 80% in my left. I will probably lose both of my legs if the smoking cessation doesn't work and if the medications fail. I am on Medicaid and they don't cover cessation products so each time I quit, it's cold turkey. I use a wheelchair for outside activities and try to walk as much as I can inside as long as I have things to grab hold of in case I fall. My attitude is fairly good and no history of depression so I'm safe there.

I have severe pain in both calves and numbness in both feet. At night, I have relief by dangling my legs over the bed. Sometimes, I have to sleep in a reclined position to alleviate the pain. I cannot walk any distance the pain becomes unbearable and I just have to stop and rest. I had testing done and will receive angioplasty in the very near future.

My Doctor just put me on cilostazol 50 mg take one pill for two weeks and then take 2 pills. My left leg and foot swell and my feet are numb all the time and they get very cold and it goes up my left leg. He also is having me go for therapy 3 times a week. I don't know what that is for as I have not started yet.

I found the information very helpful because it describes what I have had for at least a year but wasn't concerned that it was anything serious. First just the toes on one foot would turn blue and now both are turning blue, off and on during the day. I plan to have a vascular scan. I identified with a majority of the symptoms, now. I'm concerned. I'm 69 and as I look back I can remember at 19 a family Dr. saying I had poor circulation and my veins were close to the surface. That was 50 years ago. One symptom that I identified with is the buttock pain amongst others. I never could figure that one out, it really was puzzling, at times it felt debilitating. I've blamed walking or stress, tightening my butt muscles. I've been a walker most of my life. Very healthy inclined to ignore small things.

My 63-year-old husband who smokes and lives a very sedentary lifestyle had his first onslaught of PVD pain last week. He came in the living room, grabbed his right calf and began writhing and groaning in pain. Doctors discovered not only an occlusive clot, but 3 aneurysms in his right leg. His surgery will be 4 days from now. He's on IV Heparin now and will be on Coumadin the rest of his life. The pain was sudden, acute and very frightening to both of us.