Judith C. Schell
In September of 94 I was diagnosed with Thorasic Outlet Syndrom. I have read the comments here from others and everyones case seems to be different. I did not have any symptoms at all until I bumped my arm above my elbow on a very sharp edge. I had two very large blood clots form and was in intense pain. My Vascular surgeon that I was sent to told me I had TOS because I had extra ribs above my collar bone on the right and left. 80% of the right rib was removed. My subclavian artery was damaged. If it weren't for the extra rib which never gave me any pain or discomfort before this I would have possibly died. It stopped the blood clots from traveling to my brain. I had a gortex graft placed in the damaged part of my artery. It has since clotted completely off from the platellets clumping together. I had another angiogram and this was reveiled. My right hand still gets cold occasionally but the Vascular surgeon said I have great collateral circulation from other vessels in my arm to provide adequate flow of blood. I wondered if anyone else has had anything to this extent and how they are doing. I have not had the left rib removed, have not had any problems with it, yet. I hope it stays that way.