I am 45 yrs old and suffered my aortic dissection on April 29, 2002 when I was 44. I am a Business Consultant at a very large Telecom company, of which I am very proud to be a part of. I worked in Computer Repair basically all of my working life except for the last two years. I then went on to Drexel University here in Phila, graduating in 2002 and achieving my Microsoft Certification as a Systems Engineer and my CompTia A+ Certification. I am now disabled as a result of my illness, and am trying to piece my life together in this realm of the disabled to which I am new.
I am happily single but I do have a special lady in my life, and I thank God for her standing by me in this time.
I just want to let you know how glad I am that such a site as this exists. I have a Type III aortic anuerysm. What exactly is that? I am being treated by having my blood pressure controlled (Medically). I take thing like Hydralazine. Labetalol HCL, Norvasc, Cozaar and Clonidine.
When I first got out of the hospital these meds worked fine, but now (11 months later) it seems that my blood pressure is becoming uncontrollable again. Not to mention the other symptoms I am having, like being unable to do a lot of things, getting tired, feeling weak whenever I try to accomplish tasks, etc.
It is just a break to tell someone a little of how this thing feels. I feel like I must try to stay alive every day; like I feel my pressure rise in my back, then I get to take my meds, then I can feel my pressure finally come back down, only to watch it rise again all day long, then get to take the meds again, etc. Most times at night I am awake and in pain all night, therefore any sleep i get is precious to me.
Anything you can tell me that will help me would be appreciated, and if there are any support groups that I can be in touch with in my area (Phila, PA) I would be glad if you can inform me of such.