I had a ruptured AAA aneurysm, anyone else?

I am the daughter of an AAA survivor, my dad. He had it end of September 2015. The surgery saved his life however he contracted a nasty infection (unfortunate side effect of open surgery). Two months later he was moved to Liverpool heart and chest hospital as the surgery that needed to be done to remove the infection from his graft (which also spread to his lungs aortic valve and esophagus) was so specialist only this surgeon could do it. He was in intensive care for 2 weeks after that op. He had to be fed by an ng tube for a month as the infection made a hole in his food pipe which needed time to repair.

He has been home for a month now and doing well. Just happy to be home. He does struggle getting changed and bending down due to his scars but reading your story has given me hope that as time goes on he will get stronger.

I'm wondering if anyone here had to take a PAD test? I'm scheduled for one at my next visit to the doctor. Did anyone have to wear the wound vac after being discharged from the hospital? I also wonder if anyone else is experiencing numbness and pain in their leg and ankle. 

In addition to the physical problems...I am an emotional wreck. I experienced some delusions while in ICU and they had to restrain me. I feel that my soul is still grieving over this sudden change in my lifestyle. I am currently seeing a psychiatrist so that has helped calm me but I still cry almost every day. Is anyone else here grieving?

Hey there... I'm in New Zealand. I had a ruptured AAA in September 2014. Fortunately I survived. I was diagnosed twice days before the rupture with Gastroenteritis. Due mostly to the factor I was 34 and had never drunk alcohol or smoked cigarettes. I was playing competitive sport and lived an active lifestyle as well. The stomach pains and lower back pain were like nothing I had ever experienced. And it just continued to gradually get worse till one night I just lie down or stand then that's all I remember of that night or anything after that for approximately 4 months.

Unlike most that have posted my life has completely changed. I was in an induced coma for 3 weeks and hospitalised for 6 months after. There were a lot of complications as a result of the rupture. Due to compartment syndrome in my legs, infections and foot drop. I'm unable to walk without crutches or walking frame. And suffer from neuropathic pain in my feet and lower legs. Also due to loss of bowels, I now have to use colostomy bags. As well as taking 38 pills a day that include painkillers, antibiotics, heart rate pills as well as blood thinner injections.

But... as I look back it's been a journey of slow and gradual improvement. As I read through a diary my wife put together from the night I was hospitalised (I've always been a journal writer). It broke my heart reading that my life was hanging by a string and the pain it caused my wife at the time but the faith she had that I'd make it through as given me the same hope that one day I'll be able to get back to a life similar as possible to the one I had before. The trials that followed being told that I may need to amputate both legs, needing life long dialysis to being told that I'd never walk again and would be wheelchair bound. Those small victories give me hope cause somehow by God's grace I've overcome them.

Little did I know that it wasn't the end and that a monster called depression would soon enter my life. Something Imore working through right now.

It's great to read through everyone's posts and being able to relate to them and how they are doing now. Gives me more hope that it can only get better

Hello James,

This thread is a bit old but I just now found it.  Glad you made it through your aaa rupture OK.

My event was in Nov, 2011 (age 61 at the time). I was playing golf with some friends when the pain hit me in the abdomen. I collapsed and my friends called the ambulance. I remember flashes of consciousness and a lot of pain until I finally woke up in the ICU after the EVAR surgery. I was home in about a week, but the recovery took a lot longer than that. I was in great pain for about a month as my body was recovering from all the blood. After that, it took about 6 months to get back to pretty normal activity and about a year to regain my strength and endurance. Since then I haven't had any issues related to the AAA. I go each year for a CT scan and all appears to be fine. Now I just have to deal with all the other issues associated with getting older. Hope all is still well with you.

Those of you fortunate enough to survive a rupture, PLEASE take care of yourself. It is a gift beyond measure, so treasure it, and yourself. 

I had an emergency EVAR done in March 2016, I'm 54. I'm about to go in for my first annual CT Scan.  So far everything's been pretty good.  I quit smoking, haven't had one since the rupture. Now I have congestive heart failure, so I'm trying hard to get my HBP under control. I'm exercising 6 days a week and I'm trying to eat better. I'm still pretty big but the weight's coming off. Loss 20 since Nov 16.  Did you or any of the other survivors develop a big mass at the bottom of your belly?  Mine was huge and lasted for a few months. My doctor was hoping it would be reabsorbed but it ended up turning into a big infection. I had to get it cleaned out and wear a wound vac for about 8 weeks. Now I have this hanging mass of skin. I should say, when it ruptured, I was 6'4" and 315 pounds and my aneurysm was undiagnosed. Since I had quit smoking, I gained about 20 pounds. I finaly got that weight off. Now I'm trying to get under 300.  It's nice to have others to talk to about this.

My Dad died from a triple A at age 61. Ironically he had a Doctor Appointment the day of his wake. It's been 28 yrs since he passed. I pray he did not suffer. He was working in an office alone when it occurred. That bothers me he died alone. But it's wonderful to hear you survived a triple A. My sister as a weak spot on the main aorta of her heart. She takes medication for it. I'm wondering if it's genetic. I was checked by my Doctor and he says I'm doing fine. Are you able to live life the same as before the Triple A? Wishing you the best of health and happiness.