Waiting for Aneurism operation
Posted , 5 users are following.
I found out 3 months ago that I had a 7 ctm aneurism in my aorta, saw a consultant who told me after a CT Scan that it was in the wrong place for an Endovasular OP and it was either an open surgery or a new technique called Fenstration where the op is far more complex and a lot longer under the anesthetic, I am now waiting for a letter from the Freemans Hospital in Newcastle from their specalist , if the answer is he can't do it because of other complications it means open surgery and I stipulated I do not want that because at my age, (I'm 78) I think it might kill me and even it not I learned it is a terrible op and takes months of recovery feeling extreamly tired and weak and never really going back to normal, I am very depressed it's constantly on my mind and my wife feels the same so it is causing a hell of a lot of sadness and despair, Are there an one out there who can put our minds at ease and perhaps have either of these operations and are in the same age gap as myself, would really appreciate it, thank you, James
0 likes, 13 replies
sec2709 james16105
Posted
James, I'm 71 years old and will have ascending aorta aneurysm repair and replace aorta valve in Houston, Texas next week. I don't think your age is as big an issue as your overall health in general. We both know that it will take longer for us to heal than it does a 30-50 year old......but.....we can heal. I'm not sure how much we should be able to do at our age anyway! LOL We must also know the alternative, which is not good! If the aneurysm dissects, the doctors will still preserve life and you'll have to go through the process anyway......if it ruptures, then it's all over. I'm going for elective surgery because there will not be as much damage to the aorta....dissecting will cause more damage. Get info from everyone you can, various doctors, etc., pray about it and then you and your wife make the decision. It is a tough decision! My thoughts are with you. Keep me informed. Others will respond on here too.....
Guest sec2709
Posted
My prayers are with you. My surgery is 5 months old. It is a lot but you sound like you have a positive frame of mind and you've done your homework. Let us know how it goes when you can. We will be here..
Praying for an uneventful surgery and a total recovery!
sec2709 Guest
Posted
Thanks, Gigi
There is another warriror in Houston now that I hope I can visit while there this week. Hopefully, I'll be home in a week.....Will report as soon as I can....again, thanks!
james16105 sec2709
Posted
Hi sec, thought I'd let you know I saw my consultant on Thursday 10th Nov and he told me I'm suitable for the Fenstrated Keyhole surgery of which I'm really pleased to know it will not be the horrid open surgery, the only snag is he can't do it until Feburary, one reason is the stents they insert have to be tailor made just for me, I showed my concern regarding the time I have to wait and he said as it stands I will be okay and not to worry but it's on my mind night and day that it could burst, I am experiencing painful back aches especially first thing in the morning and I would like to start back excercises but am scared I aggravate the aneurism, I do take 40 minute walks but recently the weather has been lousy with a lot of rain and wind. I don't know weather it's my imagination or not but I seem to be able to feel that that part of my stomach getting slightly bulkier; but there again it could just be me. how are you now, I hope you are recovering really well. Gigi2007 this is directed to you also, thank you both James
hijimhere james16105
Posted
Hi James 7cm is well beyond the standards in place here in the UK - you should ask for a written explanation with mortality on previous operations of this other technique. I am 5 years into sueing the hospital who did my operation. my hospital failed to recognise the urgency of salmonella Sepsis (food poisoning that had become infectous harming my veins and arteries. My view is that the procrastination together with the we can't procede with a normal operation fails to recognise how acute the aunurism is and that it should be dealt with immediately - have you contacts that would allow a second opinion? - have you check your insurance will effectively cover the intervension. In usual operations recovery would merit 7/10 days in hospital then a care plan. Mine went wrong but I survived. I do not understand why a stent inserted in the artery is a problem. I would recommend a second opinion as soon as. Good Luck James
Guest james16105
Posted
Hi James
I had "open surgery" in May 2016. I understand your fear as it sounds a lot like the fear I had. I was scared, sad and anxious.. Granted, I'm not 78yrs old, I'm 57yrs old and female (not that gender makes a difference). I was terrified and inquired about Endovascular surgery as well but also like you, I was not a candidate. My only option was "open heart". My experience is, yes it's a hard and painful surgery in the beginning but it does get better! There will definitely be changes in your life but gradually it can and will get to a new normal. I do get tired faster but not as fast as a couple months ago. It's been 5 months and it has been challenging, some days are better than others (anxiety and depression will still visit you from time to time) and it requires a lot of patience and understanding that your body needs time to repair itself and it will. You also need a good solid support system. I won't get into specifics now (as we are all different) but if you have questions, I will gladly answer them according to my experience. I hope this helps but the bottom line is, this surgery is very invasive and painful, the recovery time is different for everyone but the main thing I hope you take away is..survival is not only possible but probable and there is life, quality life afterwards! Learn as much as you can about the procedure, risks and recovery Also, make sure your surgeon has done a lot of open surgeries including the new procedure you talked about. It's a lot to wrap your head around but digest it one fork at a time! You will be ok.. you and your wife, take care and TRY to relax.
james16105
Posted
something with this web site, it won't let me reply to each individual so this is for of you who very kindly sent me messages of which very much appreciate I am having trouble typing this out, it keeps stopping, Oh' it has started again , thank you sec for your kind and wise words and I hope your op goes really well, let us know please,
thank your gigi for your very helpful reply, you must have gone through hell, because of my age I'll be very reluctant to have open surgery and might just take my chances of it not bursting, I have heard of men with a 10 ctm aneurism and it had not burst, I really am terrified of open surgery and it after effects,
jimishere, thank you for your message, this op I am hoping for is a very long complex op where besides fixing a graft and stent to the Aorta they have to also insert grafts to the artieys, , once again thank you all so much. James
derrick02146 james16105
Posted
In so cases, the mortality rate is as high as 80%
I dont know about anyone else, but it scares the crap out of me
I guess all you can do is get everything in order before you go for the OP, say cheerio to the wife, kids, friens, if it goes wel, no harm done, if it dont, you have said your farewells
Sorry to put a downer on people here, but I am no different from anyone else, I have this triple A thing
james16105 derrick02146
Posted
Hi Derrick, I think it depends on how healthy and fit the person is, odds on dying from a Endovascular Op are very low and even open surgery have good odds so don't believe everything you read as accurate, it's not.I'm having the Fenstrated Endovascular Op in Feburary and I have every faith that I will come out of it alright, but I must admit I would not feel quite the same with open surgery especially at my age, I'm 78, how old are you Derrick, James
derrick02146 james16105
Posted
I'm 66, just,
and I have no idea about my Aneurism, I went for a scan thing, I didnt know what I was looking at, they told me to come back next year, in May (I wont be able to do that then, I will be away travelling)
I am only going by what I read from various hospitals aronf London, its on their websites (I wish I could find the link for it again, I'd post it here)
What is a Endovascular Op ?
What is a Fenstrated Endovascular Op ?
I have been trying to lose my gut, lots of exercise, diet, but it dont seem to go down, I dont know if its this Aneurism pushing my stomach out or the diet and exercise isnt working (I cant get any information about if it is pushing my stomach out or not, but I used to have a six pack and a flat stomach, its not my lower stomach, its just belown my ribs, about the sternum area, any thoughts ?
derrick02146
Posted
OOOPS, forgot to say about my fitness, I go down the gym, 4-5 times a week, use the rowing machine, running machine (I just walk on the incline on it though, 16 % incline) squats, 100 Kg's
I use weights, bench press, cable machines, dumb bells, barbells most stuff in the gym really
I dont have high blood pressure, my doctor put me on statins, but my C level is 4.9, I am not type 2 diabetic, I weigh in about 84-85 kilos, I dont know how fit I am, but I can do something in the gym younger blokes cant
I am not the oldest bloke there, but very close I think
james16105 derrick02146
Posted
Hi Derrick, An Endovascular Op is a bit like keyhole surgery where they insert stents and grafts up through your arteries to where they are needed and they take over the blood flow from the damaged artery, A Fenstrated Endovascular is the same technique but they also graft the arteries leading to the kidneys. I've also got a bloated stomach, I was told it's the damaged ( artery aorta ) which is pushing against the intestines and shoving the stomach out. Derrick, just how big is your aneurism? the reason I ask is because of the amount of exercise you do, it will agravate the aneurism and could make it worse, you most definately need to talk to your consultant about what size it is and ask about the exercises and if you should be doing them, my aneurism is 7ctm and I've been told to do a lot of walking or cycling but thats all until I have the Op in February. I can't stress the above enough. Keep us informed. James
derrick02146 james16105
Posted
Hi James
I have no idea how big my aneurism is, they just said, its fine, dont worry about it (which dont really tell me buggerall)
That clleared that up and the differet types of operations though, not sure which I would choose, but I doubt I would have a choice when it came down to it
Now I know why I look like a fat bloke and stomach exercises arent working for me, no matter what or how many I do of anything
I think I mentioned the exercise I do
I warm up on the rowing machine, I do 6000 meters which takes about 30 minutes, depending on how strong I feel
Then onto a cable machine (for chest)I do 4 sets of 10=1 repetions, going up in weight from 10-20 kilos (each cable)
Onto an incline bench, flyes, 4 sets of 10-12 reps, weight 17.5 upto 25 kgs, increasing weight with each set
Onto legs then, squats, start off light, 50kg, then increase to my max of 100 Kg, 4 sets, 8-10 reps
Then arms, bicep curls with either dumbells or barbell, 10 reps, various weights up to a max of 20kg per arm, 4-5 sets, minimum rest time
I finish up with planks, leg raises, open legs, then the running machine, but I just walk i=on that with an incline of 15% for 20 miutes, but it makes my legs ache, but I push through it to competion
As a warm down I'm back on the rowing machine for 10 minutes, nice slow regular rows
I have a protien drink and half a liter of water before I leave the gym, I wear ear phones during my time in the gym, so no one interupts or talks to me, I can get it all done in just about an hour and a half
Sometimes I vary my workouts, I might do a different exercise or more sets or reps, I use a heart monitor, just to check my heart rate, I have had it up to 170, but I like the feel of the blood pulsing through my body, I dont feeel distressed or anything, yes I am out of breath but not gasping
I try and get to the gym at least 4 times a week, but its not always possible, even though I am retired, things come up to interupt my week or days
I enjoy going to the gym, its the only company I have, even though I dont speak to anyone, my wife is working and on shift work with various start and finish times, she sleeps a lot