On the 5th April this year, at around 7:00 p.m., my mother called out for help. This day also happened to be Easter Monday. My father was lying on the floor in the family room, swearing like a trooper, complaining about extreme back pain. I checked his pulse rate, which was erratic and told my husband to call an ambulance. When the paramedics arrived, they had my father try to identify the seat of the pain. My father was doing sit-ups, prodding away at his back, carrying on to the extent that I had to tell him to sit down and behave. The paramedics believed he had renal colic. My mother and I said no as my father NEVER has problem with his plumbing. The paramedics were going to give him 'something for the pain'. We insisted that he be taken to hospital.
My father, was, at this point in time, an extremely fit 74 year, had a long history of extreme hypertension (160/110), liked his booze, but was not overweight and had never smoked.
Upon arrival at the hospital (the San in Wahroonga, Sydney), he was taken into the Triage where the registrar checked him over and had him X-Rayed. By this time, my father was vomiting fairly enthusiastically. The X-Ray was not clear around his left lung (showed some clouding), so he was sent up for a CT. The CT identified a dissecting aortic aneurysm which commenced from the top of the arch and spiraled into his groin!
Upon identifying this, the registrar very promptly contacted the cardio thoracic specialist who was rostered on that day - Dr. Alan Gale. Dr. Gale came in at approximately 9.30 p.m. and gave us the glad tidings - get your family in, he has approximately 2 hours to live!
Midnight came and went, my father's blood pressure was brought down by a massive infusion of drugs via a drip. Dr. Gale suggested moving him up to ICU.
Dr. Gale discussed with us including my father, the details of the operation that might have to occur, but he would not undertake whilst Dad's blood pressure seemed to be controllable. Dr. Gale explained the operation prognosis, which did not seem extremely bright.
Dr. Gale had done a lot of these procedures in Alabama, as it seems there is quite a lot of Marfan's Syndrome in that region (tall slim people of generally African American extraction - my father did not fit this bill ...short Aussie of Irish extraction). He also advised us the procedure was rare in NSW, on average 6 a year, as most people are dead before they hit the floor.
Twelve days later - no operation - even though it was scheduled 3 times - my father was shifted to coronary care, where he proceeded to entertain the ward by selling tickets for a boat cruise on the Nile (sold quite a few), interviewed staff for the position of purser (a very responsible role - as he told the nurse), was caught fishing (whilst under his bed)and generally entertained staff and patients whilst off with the pixies because of the medication.
Three weeks later, he came home!
Two days later - back at the San - because he went into shock! (Too institutionalised).
He was admitted to the Lady Davidson Hospital in Turramurra for rehabilitation. For 3 weeks, my father undertook gentle exercise, stairs, stationary bike, weights and walking until his strength built up.
Nearly 7 months down the line - my father is doing extremely well - still on a cocktail of drugs Norvasc, Monopril, Betaloc and Avropro. We all celebrated his 75 birthday on October 17 with a party of 20+ people. The only problems my father has are: tiredness (around 2.00pm he needs a nap), can't drink like he used to do, and gets very cold (the Betaloc).
However, he walks everyday with my mother, drives a car, goes lunching with his mates on Fridays and they still have a good social life!
Update 16 May 2000
It is now 1 year, 1 month and 11 days since the big event (not that we are counting) and he still surges on! So here is an update on the life and times of Jim Lynch and his great support group principally lead by my mother who deserves a medal!!
Initially, the lad was very hesitant, in fact frightened to relax and go with the flow, but this support page not only is something to read, but the occupants do in fact SUPPORT! So thank you to all who responded when I first posted the saga of Jimmy and his AA.
Jim is now living well within the limitations of the condition, and when I say limitations, it is more tiredness and the cold which affects him greatly - couldn't be his age as he is only a young chook of 75.5! My parents are back to travelling, admittedly by plane rather than car, but that is a good thing as my father's foot only knew one speed for the accelerator whether it was in built up conditions or open road - 80kms per hour. They have just returned from 4 weeks in Queensland and are heading to the Northern Territory in June.
Dad keeps his weight around 72 kgs, blood pressure is 120/70 on average, but if the TV plays up, so does his blood pressure. He goes to exercises twice a week, does 1.5km on the treadmill and gentle weights.
My mother's life has returned to a limited version of normal, she attends her bridge sessions at least twice a week, goes to U3A on Fridays and knows that Jim is OK at home.
Jim goes to the Maritime Museum (he's a founding member) - loves the fact he has a disabled sticker, so gets a park right at the door - the only advantage of the sticker as he sees it. He reads enormous amounts of war history and political novels, currently wading through an enormous tome about Maggie Thatcher, potters in the garden, still gets under my mother's feet in the kitchen, goes out with his friends on Fridays for lunch - generally - life is normal now.
So to those of you who are just entering this realm, yes you can get through it. The old boy has only had chemical intervention - rattles when he walks, but he is fine and please he is still around to drive us insane, but each day is definitely a bonus for us as well as him!
Update: 24 Apr 2003
Well here we are 4 years down the line and the lad is kicking on exceptionately well. Any down turn in behavioural pattern could possibly be described as a "Senior moment", but not something that could be attributed to his aorta with its associated problems.
Jimmy regularly attends his doctor and specialist - for blood tests and assessments - but these visits are to check BP, the odd scan is undertaken, maybe (infrequently) an ECG, but other than that, appeasr to be more social chit chat than serious business.
The lad is a serious Internet surfer - goes into withdrawals if his computer is down for any reason, anti John Howard (the Oz Prime Minister), pro-refugees, and generally a civil libertarian with a strong social conscious.
My mother is now up to her Purple Heart if not the Crix de Couer in dealing with him .... but be that it may - 4 years + 19 days down the line, we are all happy and not frightened of upsetting the boy.
Keep on the good fight all of you and thanks all for such a wonderful supportive site.
Hugs to all of you.