NARRATIVES
TALK TO A
ADVICE
Established April 15, 1995
University of West Georgia Disclaimer
David and Delisa
13 May 2008
I am new to this site, but an old hand in the brain aneurysm site. I may not even belong here. Briefly, I was found to have a giant aneurysm of the right cerebral artery in 1998, and had clipping surgery in January of 1999. Just recently, in the last two weeks, I had a CT scan on my back, for sciatic pain, and when I got the results I also got a big surprise - the report said I had a 3 cm aneurysm on the right common iliac artery. I quickly got some anatomical pictures of this artery and was surprised by how large it is, and that it branches off from the aortic artery.
I am now in the position I was once in when I had a brain aneurysm - I'm scared, and I'm in the dark. Is there anyone on this site who has had this type of iliac aneurysm, and is it even covered under the general heading of "aortic aneurysms?" I haven't yet had an angiogram, but my GP said he would make an urgent call to a vascular surgeon, so I'm in the waiting stage right now.
Thanks for whatever information you can provide.
Update 23 May 2008
I finally got an appointment with a cardiovascular surgeon for my abdominal aneurysm, but not until July 30. However, my daughter works with this surgeon in the hospital where I had the CT scan. The surgeon agreed to look at the scan, and his opinion was that the aneurysm, which is about 3cm in size, is not critical, and is peripheral. (what does peripheral mean in terms of an aneurysm?) He will order another scan, a CT angiogram - and that is one of my questions: what exactly is a CT angiogram? I suspect that it is a CT scan with resolution, but I'd appreciate a more definitive answer.
I guess depending on the outcome of the CT angiogram (no date yet for that), the surgeon will decide if I should see him sooner than July 30. So, as the saying goes, Carry on regardless.
Update 30 July 2008
I had the CT angiogram, and it wasn't really too bad at all, except for all the water you have to drink for two days to wash the dye out of your system.
Today, I saw the surgeon, who gave me the results. I have an aortic aneurysm, quite low down in the abdomen, and a second aneurysm where the right ileac artery branches off the aortic artery. The surgeon said the aortic aneurysm could be left alone for awhile, but not the ileac aneurysm, which is quite large. He says if he has to fix the one, he may as well do both. The "procedure" will be done by installing a Y-shaped stent, to fix both aneurysms. A smaller artery coming off the ileac will have to be sealed off with coils. The surgeon says the artery on the other side will do the job for it. All of this will be done while I'm conscious, as is done during an angiogram. It will be a one-day stay at the hospital (the Hamilton General, the same hospital where my brain surgery was done), and recovery will be short. I am impressed by this doctor - a vascular surgeon - whose name is David Szalay. When I asked him, he said he's done hundreds of cases like mine.
So, in the midst of this news, there are some good points. The surgery will likely be done at the end of August, or in September. It is just as well my wife and I cancelled a cruise in October, since we wouldn't be able to get insurance if they knew I had an untreated aneurysm.
Update 14 October 2008
I finally had the aortic aneurysm surgery on September 8. I was given a spinal block, as well as drugs to relax me. The surgeon went in through both femoral arteries, opening both groins up, and closing the incision with staples. It wasn't a picnic, but with the medication I wasn't aware of much. The surgeon inserted an upside-down Y-shaped stent (officially called an endovascular graft) into the aortic artery and into the ileac arteries branching off from it. I was in the hospital only three days, and my incisions are now well healed. A CT scan was done a week or so after the surgery, and everything looked good. The surgeon is arranging for another scan in six months.
The link to David's Brain Aneurysm narrative It Doesn't Have To Be.
Update 7 May 2009
Last week I saw a cardiologist, who told me that the risk for surgery on the aortic valve stenosis would be more than not having surgery at the present time. The valve will be watched over time. Yesterday, I had a CT scan (CTA) of my endovascular stent, and I hope for a good result, since I am not aware of any symptoms from those aneurysms. The conclusion is, I guess, that it is now a waiting game, with the hope that nothing else shows up in the meantime.
Update 23 August 2009
When my GP first told me I had an aortic valve stenosis, it sounded as if I was, again, on the verge of eternity. However, my cardiologist does not seem all that excited. He is more concerned about my cholesterol levels - he has doubled my Lipitor to 40 mg a day, and he ordered a stress test/thalium scan, which apparently shows no serious heart problems. I guess that means the arteries in my heart are not seriously occluded. The cardiologist commented that my aortic artery aneurysm was caused by cholersterol, but I don't believe him. No one else has ever said that. So, in short, in spite of the heart valve stenosis, and the repaired AAA, I feel pretty good. I am living between doctors' appointments, and that is not such a great thing. In any case, I would like my American friends to know that all these recent things have not distressed me financially. They are all covered by Canada's health care plan. I watch what is happening right now in the States' health care efforts with great interest, and hope that it all turns out well for you. May God bless you, and keep you.
Discussion, comments, or questions: David Andrus
© Copyright 2008 David Andrus
All Rights Reserved - Fair Use
acknowledged
