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8 September 2006
I am a 62 year old female, married 45 years to a wonderful man. Other than 2 replaced hips, I had been very healthy until March 7th of 2006.
I was airlifted to a larger hospital when it was recognized, through a CAT scan, that I had an aortic dissection and an abdominal aortic aneurysm. My husband was told that he should summon our children because I was not expected to live.
Well, I did live, but it has not been fun. Shortly after I was released from the hospital, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and after a false start in the local hospital (the doctor walked out of the operating room saying he was afraid he would kill me!!) I returned to the larger hospital for my mastectomy, and then gained a staph infection.
Since our insurance is not great, it has been a struggle to decide on treatment vs. finances. Things have been looking up recently and I have started to engage in activities that are very therapeutic, and feel relatively normal.
Last week I had a follow up CAT Scan, that my husband Fred and I felt would be positive, but not so. Both the dissection and the abdominal aortic aneurysm have enlarged, so it is back to my cardiologist next week. We have both been depressed and spent the last few days crying and wondering if I have a future in retirement.
We have been told that surgery is not an option, but I would like to know of any web site that would direct us to any experimental treatment for this rare disorder? Thank you for just listening, not many people understand.
Update: 24 October 2006
Thought I would let you know that Fred and I are leaving for St. Mary's on Oct. 25th. I am due to have surgery to repair the abdominal aneurysm on the 26th. We should be back home by the end of October.
I was told that this type of surgery is one that takes very little rehab, since they repair it through a stent inserted from the groin. The Dr. also told me that medical management of the aortic dissection is still the best route, unless it becomes much larger.
Wish me luck. I will be back in touch after I return home.
Discussion, comments, or questions: Fran Phillips
© Copyright 2006 Fran Phillips
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