If I take option 1, will I develop a dislike for pork products?

So I went to the Doctor yesterday.  The Cardiologist Swanky-raccoon.  It's been too long, and I slightly got chastised for it, until I reminded him that the physicians assistant said he'd call me, and he never did.

So Dr.S. took about 15 minutes to review my charts, and then laid it on the line.  The cleaning out of my arteries in both legs has failed. He said that normally when this procedure is done, the patient sees an improvement immediately and can even go as long as 2 years before needing it done again. I can't even go 2 months. For some unknown reason my veins and arteries in my legs do not want to stay open. Both legs have once again completely clogged and this is why it hurts so much when I walk.

So he gave me two options of the next steps.  Option 1 is to have a bypass done in my legs. Basically they will cut my legs open and replace the clogged bad veins with nice new veins. The only problem is: since I don't have enough veins in my left lower leg to supply my left upper leg, they would have to use artificial veins. (Remember I had a quadruple bypass in 2004 and they stole veins from lefty to put in my chest.)

Option 2 seems a bit better. Dr.S. is going to check with the people who make the stints, and find out if they make a stint long enough to go from my hip to my knees. Yep, it's not a small part of the vein clogged, it's the whole damn thing!   This procedure would be less invasive. It would basically be the same thing they have done before and Dr.S. assures me that I can even go back to work the next day if I don't do any heavy lifting.

If the stints don't work however, then I am still stuck with a bypass. I didn't really cry, but got a little misty eyed when he talked about it. I basically told him that I just don't understand. I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't do drugs (medication excepted).  Other than a poor eating habit, I don't understand why I'm falling apart. He told me that while my diabetes, and poor eating habits don't help, it's not just that. I just have a weird body. He said that it is very rare to have someone who has this type of aggressive PVD.  So I guess if I want to look at a small thin silver lining I can say I am pretty unique.

I am trying to make an improvement in my lifestyle. I have been working on my eating habits, and taking ALL my medications at the correct times. I am looking into getting back into water aerobics with Stef, and once in a while trying to walk around the office floor at work. But now that I know what's happening.... I have to wonder how long I have had PVD.  I mean, I have NEVER been able to do a lot of walking or running. Even as a Teen, it was very hard to do GYM.  I always thought it was because I was lazy, but now I wonder, what if it was the start of this problem?  What if my fatigue, pain, and such was because of PVD?

I was telling Beth about this, and she asked what kind of veins they would use. Plastic, Pig, or Cow?  I laughed and said I was sure it would be pig.  Can you imagine if I started oinking like a pig?  HAHAHAHA, that's when I had to wonder, if they gave me pig veins, would I develop a dislike for Bacon, and Ham?