Aortic Aneurysm: Lucky Self Diagnosis

Lucky Self Diagnosis

23 February 2005

I am an Englishman aged 68, a light smoker, living in Vancouver Canada and have recently gone through an abdominal aortic aneurism operation.

I discovered this condition myself while lying in bed. My left lower abdomen area felt hard and I could feel a strong pulse there. I knew this was not right so I went to the clinic where the doctor identified it correctly. I then had an ultrasound and subsequently a CT scan, all in a fairly quick period of time. After visits with my doctor and the vascular surgeon (who had a very good reputation) I was booked in to Lions Gate Hospital for the 13th December.

The operation was supposed to be fairly simple but actually took 6 hours, plenty of blood loss and replacement, as the 8 centimeter aneurism was high and large. The surgeon said it was like a french loaf!

I came round in the ICU and was instantly aware, feeling no discomfort and apparently very cheerful according to my wife and others who visited. The next few days were as expected, with an epidural for control of pain an with accasional morphine injections when really required, I made it through and was able to walk out of there six days after the surgery. I now have a very neat scar all the way from the pubic bone to the sternum, about 11 inches.

The next few weeks I slowly recovered with no drugs apart from Tylenol #3 which I used sparingly. My main problems seemed to be constipation and the accompanying strain, loss of appetite which I tried hard to overcome, massive weight loss from the operation and consequent weakness and the dreadful taste of food from the lingering effects of the anaesthesia.

Now, two months later, I'm walking a mile or more, driving, shopping, doing mild tasks and generally getting on with things and no smoking either. I'm still very thin, not that I was fat before, and it will be a year or more before I can get my muscles back to what they were. All I suffer now is the occasional twinge from my stomach muscles, especially when the car goes over a bump, and bouts of gas which is to be expected as my insides adjust themselves to the new conditions.

All in all, not a pleasant experience but not to be feared, just endured. It is basically two months when you are out of it, six months of getting stronger etc.,after which it will hopefully be a fading memory.

Discussion, comments, or questions: Miles Fenton