November 14, 2025
At 65 years old, Tammy Naquin of Golden Meadow, Louisiana, never imagined the dull ache in her left arm could signal a serious problem. “I thought I had just pulled a muscle,” she recalled. “I didn’t have any chest pain at all.”
During a routine visit, Tammy’s primary care doctor was suspicious that her shoulder pain could be a sign of atypical angina or chest pain from decreased blood supply to the heart muscle. Concerned, her doctor referred her to the Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) in Thibodaux, where she met Dr. Ayush Arora, interventional cardiologist and vascular specialist.
A series of tests revealed something unexpected: A 90% blockage in Tammy’s left anterior descending (LAD) artery.
“He [Dr. Arora] stopped me from having a heart attack by putting in a stent,” Tammy said. “Everything went well, and I didn’t have any complications.”
She remembers being surprised to learn that patients remain awake during the stent procedure. “I thought they would knock me out,” she laughed. “But I didn’t feel a thing. It wasn’t painful at all – I was just scared at first. The team made me feel comfortable the whole time.”
After the procedure, Dr. Arora continued Tammy’s care and began investigating the chronic pain and swelling in her legs – symptoms she had lived with for more than ten years. Testing confirmed the diagnosis: chronic venous insufficiency, also known as vein disease. This common condition occurs when the veins in the legs cannot properly return blood to the heart.
Vein disease often develops because of “leaky vein valves,” also known as venous reflux. These valves normally act like one-way gates, keeping blood flowing upward toward the heart. When they become weak or damaged, blood can leak backward and pool in the legs, causing veins to swell, discolor, and ache, like in Tammy’s case.
To help improve her circulation, Dr. Arora began performing different treatments on Tammy’s legs.
He started with the VenaSeal vein closure procedures, a treatment that uses a medical adhesive to seal the faulty vein and reroute blood flow – one leg at a time. “My swelling has gone down so much,” Tammy shared. “This will be my third and final procedure on October 29, and I’m already feeling so much better.
She also uses compression therapy at home to maintain blood flow and prevent swelling. “It feels like a massage,” she said. “It helps with my circulation, and it feels so good.”
Tammy says her entire experience at CIS Thibodaux has been exceptional – from her first visit to her ongoing treatments.
“From the time you walk in, everyone is smiling and eager to help,” she said. “Alex Naquin did my EKG and made me feel comfortable, and Renee Nelton was so thorough with my leg ultrasound. They take pride in their work and treat you like family.”
Through CIS’ Cardio@Home program, Tammy also receives 24-hour monitoring and care from her dedicated nurse, Christine Courtney, LPN. The program allows patients to be monitored around the clock from the comfort of their own homes. “Christine checks in on me and is always available if I have questions,” Tammy said. “She’s an excellent nurse.”
Today, Tammy says she feels stronger, more informed, and incredibly grateful. “Dr. Arora is a very good doctor – kind, soft-spoken, and he asks a lot of questions to really understand your symptoms,” she said. “No one had ever told me about these issues before. He’s helping me get better every day.”
Her message to others is simple: don’t ignore subtle symptoms. “Even if it doesn’t seem serious, get it checked out,” she said. “I thank God my doctor sent me to CIS. They saved my life.”
Request an appointment today with a CIS cardiologist.