My mother-in-law (age 76), who complained of back & leg pain for years, read of a mobile screening unit that was doing vascular problem testing on May 22, 2001. One test included a sonogram of the abdomen to check for aortic aneurysms. During this test an aneurysm was discovered. It was at a 6 cm. The doctor doing the testing recommended to my Mother-in-law that she see a doctor within 24-hours.
We took her to the emergency room at our local hospital where she was given a cat scan which confirmed the finding of an aneurysm. She was then sent to a vascular surgeon who decided the conventional method was best for her.
She had surgery July 3rd and was home recovering July 7th. She did great! As one of Jehovah's Witnesses she refused any blood transfusions. This was not a problem with her surgeon.
As we learned that aneurysms are inherited, my husband is now registered to have a screening with this same mobile unit. We're thankful that her aneurysm was found due to Life Line Screening coming to our town. I recommend that everyone have a screening as my mother-in-law's aneurysm would not have been found without it.