Dave & Kate
What a Strange Night!
12 September 2004
On January 14th, while hanging out and surfing the web, I felt a very strange feeling in my chest and felt extremely dizzy and experienced what I thought was instant heartburn. It did not feel like a heart attack. I called my partner/ladyfriend, Kate, in Massachusetts (I live in the Annapolis, MD area) and explained what I was feeling. I called her because two years earlier she had helped me recover from brain surgery (yes, brain surgery) and she has medical training. She suggested I go the the hospital and check it out, she didn't know. Just what I didn't want to hear, or do for that matter.
Thinking back, I was lucky the pain was not THAT bad, it was constant. The tightness also was in my neck, shoulders and lower head. Things didn't get any better....I tried vomitting and burping the feeling away (maybe I had too much dinner....no way. I called my sister (a nurse) and asked what she thought. She agreed with my partner - what the heck, best bet, go get checked out. By the way, my blood pressure was something like 90/50 or so. Very odd, but Thank God. So, I drove myself to the hospital 20 minutes away to get the special Heartburn relief. Right.
No one was waiting as it was after midnight mid-week when I finally went. I explained to the doctor what was going on, then got checked out. The doctor asked if she sent me home, would I go to sleep. "No way, to much pain for that" was all I could say. A CT scan was suggested and done. She came back shortly after saying they were going to fly me to Baltimore. That's only a half hour or so from where I was. I knew Malox wasn't going to help, this was some kind of serious. A dissected aorta???? What is that?
I was told this was a very serious problem, but not how serious. I know I should thank John Ritter in a special way (I have). I do believe his death brought a special awareness to this problem. I also thank the doctor for ordering the CT scan. I would not have made it through the night. I arrived to Johns Hopkins around 4 AM and felt like I was part of ER (the one on the gurney unfortunately) on TV or something.
I was basically alone as this was going on, talking with my family about what was happening and looking forward to seeing them after the operation. Scared? Much? I thought of my children and life and just tried to consentrate on surviving this thing. Here's one for that.
All I can say....everyone involved were absolutely fantastic. The staff at Johns Hopkins are the best in the world. I had always heard that, they now have my vote. That isn't to take away from anyone else, believe me.
Much more happened during recovery and now, but that is all a different story.
It has been 8 months since the operation, I feel very good, all things considered. I am working, playing (somewhat) and living much the same life before all this. I know I am one lucky dude. Yes, I have concerns, and finding this area on the web, has been great for me. I enjoy all the stories, truly. I have been reading them all day. This is a support I have been looking for. I don't believe people can really get it when explaining the whole aorta aneurysm dissection thing. I know here everyone can, in some form or other.
I will have questions, concerns, etc. Sometimes I get scared, what was that feeling?, what's going on in there? Amazing how a little problem like an assending aorta dissection aneurysm that did rupture while I was on the table can pull priorities right into proper perspective. I am moving back to Massachusetts to be near my children and partner along with many friends, etc. I just wanted to get the basics of my story out there.
Keep the faith, all.
Update: 25 July 2006
Everything is going great. I feel great, my blood pressure is under control, I have been going to the gym and feel like I never had any problem at all. This isn't to say I'm not careful, I surely am. I am lucky I have a strong heart, etc, etc.
My only input is to trust your doctors and do as they recommend. It may be a tremendous life change, so what. It is probably a good thing. Make the change if need be and enjoy life the best you can.
I am sure I will be writing another update in 2+ years. : )
Kate's perspective on Dave's dissection.
© Copyright 2004 Dave Crook
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