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Established April 15, 1995
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David Langhurst
Born in Great Crosby (Liverpool) 1938 and had a private education in Southport. Then joined a family firm of electrical engineers in Liverpool. Drafted into the army in 1960 and trained as a photographer, which on demob (in 1962) I then carried on in the Civil Service as a photographer, married my wife Ann and now have a family of two sons a daughter and 4 Grandchildren - at the moment. I was successful with a variety of promotions and ended my career in 1997 as the Chief Photographer with the Aircraft & Armament Evaluation Establishment in Salisbury Wiltshire. I have had a very pleasant retirement and hope for many more years of the same.
5 October 2005
Exactly one year ago today (5th Oct 05) I had my Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.
I had just left home early afternoon to drive into Salisbury when I experienced a pain in my stomach, at first I thought of it as a stomach-ache, but after about a half mile the pains became very severe, I pulled over to the side of the road and immediately phoned my wife who I had arranged to meet in town, I told her what was happening and could she come straight home.
I managed to drive the short distance home and collapsed in severe pain. My wife arrived home shortly afterwards and immediately phoned 999 for an ambulance.
The ambulance took about 15mins and I was immediately rushed to Salisbury Hospital A&E. After preliminary examinations which took about an hour I was given an ultrasound scan, I was able to see the screen and it didn't take them long to find the aneurysm, and I could also see the ruptured artery flapping about. I was immediately taken to theatre.
After about half an hour, a surgeon came out and told my wife it was serious and to expect the worst.
After about 4 to 5 hours my wife was told the operation had been successful and I was moved in to Intensive Care, and a week later into the High Dependency Unit for another week. Whilst there I had to have some deep sutures redone as the wound was still bleeding.
I was sent home after 15days and since then my recovery has been remarkable. I'm 67 and the only thing I now suffer from is normal age related problems such as mild arthritis and a bad back.
My recovery was down to five lucky coincidences. 1.) It happened during the day. 2.) There was an ambulance crew in the vicinity. 3.) We are only about 20mins drive from the hospital. 4.) there was an eminent consultant cardio vascular surgeon on a short term posting from Germany (Professor Schroeder) with an excellent support team, and 5.) The excellent nursing staff in Idmiston Ward.
Update: 17 January 2007
This is my first update since my operation in October 04 and, as far as the operation is concerned everything is textbook.
However, I now find that I need a knee replacement and duly went to see the consultant surgeon. His advice was earth shattering. I expected to be told it would be quite routine with a small risk of continuing discomfort, but, he advised me that, as I had had an abdominal aortic aneurysm, my chances of developing deep venous thrombosis were quite high, this, in conjunction with the UK problems of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and now Clostridium dificile, I wonder if it's worth putting my life back on the line.
Has anybody out there had similar problems or is the consultant covering his back in case there are problems?
I would appreciate any advise.
Discussion, comments, or questions: David Langhurst
© Copyright 2005 David
Langhurst
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