NARRATIVES
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Virginia Berger is a 60 year old, born in Sydney, Australia, now living in Canberra with her husband who is retired following a long career in the Royal Australian Navy. Her eldest son, Andrew and his wife, live in Canberra with three small children who Virginia minds often (no chore!) Virginia has recently retired after some years working for Australia's Botanic Gardens. Following emergency surgery for "a type A aortic dissection, commencing at the aortic root and involving the ascending aorta, arch, descending aorta and abdominal aorta to the iliacs", Virginia has made a full recovery and is leading a normal life once again. She is, needless to say, both happy and thankful.
20 August 2004
Robert Kaiser's wonderful article written for The Washington Post Magazine of 29 Feb '03, "My Telltale Heart", reached me in Australia via an American friend. I thought he might be interested to learn that his article had reached Down Under, so wrote to let him know. He in turn referred me to this website, and I have found it fascinating reading the many different accounts of aortic dissections and aneurysms of all kinds. I add mine:
I am 55 and have a history of hypertension, which has been successfully treated for many years. My father suffered from hypertension and died of coronary heart disease aged 66 (he was autopsied), but there is no known aortic disease in my family. I was at home alone on Saturday afternoon, 15 November last. Out of the blue I felt as if someone had plunged a sharp dagger into the base of my neck. I was flabbergasted at the excruciating pain. I had a drink of water but it brought no relief. Within a couple of minutes the dagger began to rip down my chest, right to my lower abdomen. I knew something was very seriously wrong and that I was in trouble. My vision started to go, with a strong aura surrounding the area of my vision.
My husband was out in a boat in the middle of the lake. I had just seen my next door neighbour (a psychiatrist - probably helpful under the circumstances) return from golf. I locked the house and went next door. I was in a lot of pain. My wonderful neighbour has since told me he knew I was in trouble and that it was something to do with my heart. He told me, however, that it was probably a spasm in my larynx! He drove me quietly and calmly to Canberra Hospital, not by the quickest route, but by the smoothest and straightest roads. We chatted about a big football match to be played that night and about his children. Things were under control. There was no panic.
My neighbour put me in a wheelchair at the hospital and wheeled me straight into the Emergency ward, right past the triage nurses. He was not about to fill in forms or have me wait. I was seen immediately by a young (at least I thought he seemed young - they all do these days) medical Registrar. He listened to my chest, called a young intern over, got him to listen then said, "Do you hear that? I think it's an aortic dissection." A CT scan confirmed this diagnosis. In retrospect, I think his quick diagnosis was one of my best pieces of luck.
I was told that the one doctor at Canberra Hospital who could perform the required operation had just embarked on what was anticipated to be a long operation. As Robert Kaiser pointed out in his article, "the risk of death for those who survive the dissection itself rises sharply as time passes". The Registrar started phoning around - to Melbourne and to Sydney. Finally a surgeon was located in Sydney who was able to perform the operation.
The Emergency Helicopter was called and I was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital where at midnight a wonderful surgeon, Dr Manu Mathur, began what was to be a nine-hour operation. My notes state that I had 'a type A aortic dissection, commencing at the aortic root and involving the ascending aorta, arch, descending aorta and abdominal aorta to the iliacs.'
After about ten days in hospital I returned home, the three and a half hour drive with my husband being, to my mind, the worst part of the whole experience. The first couple of weeks were pretty awful as I was on a drug regime designed to lower my blood pressure considerably. I passed out nearly every time I got up and it took a bit of fiddling with the drugs until that was sorted out.
During the first couple of months at home, I had about six strange experiences. I felt as if someone was squeezing me very tightly under the arms and I lost all feeling in the left side of my face. I have now had it confirmed by the cardiologist that those were mild strokes.
Now - eight months down the track I am almost completely back to normal. I was exceedingly fit when this happened and I attribute my marvellous recovery to my fitness. I work part-time, I mind my grandchildren two days a week, I spend two days a fortnight in Sydney visiting my mother. Life is full on. I am well and happy.
I am going to Sydney soon to have some genetic testing to establish whether or not I have Marfan's Syndrome. The main feature of the syndrome is a weak aorta. I don't have any of the other symptoms except that I am tall (5'10) and my two sons are 6'2 and Marfan's is a tall person's syndrome. It's genetic, and although there is no evidence of it in my family in the past, it could be a mutant gene. Anyway - it's worth being tested just to hopefully eliminate it as a cause of the aortic dissection. My sons have been examined and have had echocardiograms taken. They seem to be OK.
I have two sons and they, together with my husband, were absolutely wonderful throughout this ordeal. I could not have survived so well without their care and love. My friends organised a roster and for six weeks there was a knock at our door in the evening and there was someone with a delicious dinner. This is what I have learnt, or rather have had re-inforced during my adventure: that really nothing is more important in my life than family and friends.
I hope you don't mind me unleashing my story to you. I was moved to read yours and thought that as I was so interested in your account, you just might be interested in mine. I don't know anyone else who has been through the same experience.
Good luck to you all —
Virginia Berger, Canberra, Australia
Update: 20 November 2005
Last week was the second anniversary of my aortic dissection and I thought it appropriate to send an update. I have been so interested to read the many stories that have been written over the last two years. There have been many stories of great suffering and sadness. I thought it might be good to send a happy one.
On November 15, 2003 I had a type A aortic dissection, commencing at the aortic root and involving the ascending aorta, arch, descending aorta and abdominal aorta to the iliacs. Two years on, I can truthfully say that it is now all behind me and that I am fully recovered. I barely think of that extraordinary experience now and thankfully have little reason to do so.
My medication keeps my blood pressure very low (instead of the previous 120/90, it's now usually about 112/50). I have queried that it might be now, in fact too low, but my cardiologist seems to think it's advisable. I get tired, but am not sure if that's just because I'm very busy or related in some way to the operation. I have some problem with my right shoulder which may have something to do with the stump of the graft used in the operation catching on some nerves. I can live with it. I have a slight leak in the aortic valve which needs to be watched, but nothing has changed over the last year.
Of course I have six monthly check-ups with my cardiologist, and an annual one with the surgeon who is, understandably, my hero! Apart from being a wonderful surgeon, he continues to be interested, concerned and approachable. Having read some of the horror stories on this site, I think I'm very lucky. Apart from very minor inconveniences, I'm as I was before the operation. So — this is just to say that a fully recovery can be made.
I hope all the "family" have a happy and healthy Christmas.
Virginia Berger, Canberra, Australia
Update: 16 July 2009
It's been a long time since I gave an update (Aussies have Aortic Dissections Too! 20th August, 2004) and after the last month I've had, decided that now would be a good time to do so!
It's now five and a half years since the memorable day that out of the blue, my aorta dissected. In retrospect, it took a long while to completely recover, however . . . recover is what I've done! Just over a month ago, my husband Paul and I set off on a long-awaited overseas trip. We went to London, joined a tour to visit Scotland, Ireland and Wales, back to London for some sightseeing on our own, over to Paris, then to Berlin and finally Leipzig. We were away for a month and during that time we walked miles and miles and went from early morning til night. We had a wonderful time, saw an amazing amount and I survived the action-packed month very well.
I have a leaking heart valve (which is being monitored) and that affects me to the extent that I'll avoid walking up hills if I possibly can. Apart from that I can honestly say that I think I'm physically normal for my age (60). I mind my youngest grandchild two days a week and I'm tired at the end of those days, but I don't think that's unusual - she's very active!
So, I bless the Registrar at the hospital who so quickly diagnosed me that night in 2003, and I bless the wonderful surgeon who performed the repair so successfully - and I bless my family who looked after me so well during recovery. I'm one lucky person and never forget it!
There are so many sad stories that appear on this wonderful web-site. I'm so fortunate to be able to post a happy one and hope that it may encourage some who are still in the recovery stage and wondering if life will ever be as it once was. Yes - it can be!
Virginia Berger, Barton ACT, Australia
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