|
  
|
 |
|
ECP: INTRODUCTION
ECP: PATIENT TESTIMONIALS
What the Patients "say":
Al Bisignano smoked 3+ packs of cigarettes a day for 30 years. He had to have quintuple bypass in 1985 and has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Over the past few years he found it more difficult to breathe and
had no energy for doing everyday things. He became very cautious
about participating in any activity because it would produce angina.
Even walking very short distances would give him angina and shortness
of breath.
Since completing his ECP treatment 10 months ago, 73 year old
Al says he is now walking every day with no pain or shortness
of breath. He also notes that he had a new Rx filled for nitroglycerine
prior to starting ECP therapy 10 months ago, but has not yet had
the need to take even one pill from the bottle. Al is feeling
great, is more energetic, is doing handyman chores around the
house and even better, is enjoying dancing and being able to live
a normal life again.
John Bartolomeo is a 55 year old teacher who had a
MI in April, 1999. CPR was initiated and he was shocked more than
10 times. The doctors in the hospital were pessimistic about his
recovery and stated that the chances for John's returning to a normal
life were minimal. John did recover however, and because he did
not want any interventional procedures, he signed himself out of
the hospital against the doctor's orders and into the care of his
own cardiologist, who recommended External Counterpulsation.
John is now back teaching full time and feels he has a new "lease
on life", thanks to ECP therapy
Ray Picher had bypass surgery in 1980 and an angioplasty in 1990.
Despite aggressive medical therapy, even minimal activity would
produce shortness of breath and pain in his chest. At the age
of 76, Ray had absolutely no energy. He thought he was coming
to the end of his life and would no longer be able to do the things
he enjoyed.
Since having ECP therapy, Ray has had no angina or shortness
of breath. He now walks 1 1/2 miles, five times a week and mows
the lawn. Ray says "I feel great and am very happy with how ECP
has helped me. You could say it has given me back my life."
Though only 50 years of age, Akshay Patel suffered with chest
pain, shortness of breath, fatigue and the frequent need for nitroglycerine.
His ability to work was very limited due to the onset of one or
all of these symptoms. He had 4 arteries that were blocked, and
it was recommended that he have at least an angioplasty for symptomatic
relief. However, Akshay did not want to have any invasive procedures
until he had exhausted all other options, one of which turned
out to be ECP.
It has now been over l year since he finished his ECP course
of treatment and he says, "I amis delighted with the fact that
I can now climb stairs (even up to 7 floors) with no shortness
of breath or chest pain. I no longer need to take one of my medications
and the others have been cut in half by my physician. My use of
nitroglycerine has dropped dramatically...I have not had to take
ANY since having ECP therapy!"
|
 |  |  |
