I've been sick - Aortic Dissection

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Geektastic

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#2914056 14-May-2022 21:05

rogercruse:

I explain my absence from GeekZone for the past three weeks... I've been sick with a Aortic Dissection

To understand what an Aortic Dissection is and what surgery is required, please read these articles:
Aortic Dissection Symptoms, Causes. Heart Conditions - Heart Foundation

I'm happy to answer any detailed question that people may have as long as they are respectful. And I'm happy to expound and explain where necessary

Just not sure if people care or will understand that I've come too close to dying. And that they should alter their lifestyles to improve their own systems

On 9th March, I had an Aortic Dissection and very nearly died,

During the operation, they need to find and repair the 'tear' in the lining of the aorta, by hooking you up to a heart-lung machine and chilling your blood down to 16C. They then have about 30-40 minutes to make-good. Every minute over, risks further damage, They needed 52 minutes before they were finished. Those extra minutes could still mean further complications with blood clots forming and this blood landing in the brain.

Fortunately, after various tests and scans, they didn't find any and sent me home.

A got home yesterday 30th March, I'm still as weak as a kitten and might never fully recover. but the thinking is that if you can survive and improve during the next year, I could keep going for another any 20+ years.

please ask your questions....

@rogercruse Sorry - I missed this.

I had the same thing in 2006 and ended up with emergency open heart surgery of 9 hours or so.

Mine was complicated by the fact that when they cut the aorta off my heart in order to replace part of it with plastic tubing, they found I had a bicuspid aortic valve so they did valve replacement surgery at the same time.

Congratulations on joining a relatively small club of survivors. You will soon feel better although it does not always feel like it at the beginning!

Also I will warn you (in case nobody else did - nobody told me) to expect some significant emotional episodes during the 6-12 months afterwards. There is something about having a life-threatening experience like this that upsets your equilibrium - mention it to family and friends so that they can be aware and helpful.

Geektastic

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#2914063 14-May-2022 21:08

rogercruse:

shk292:

What lifestyle changes are recommended to reduce the risk of this?

I'm not too sure what lifestyle changes will ever reduce the risk to most people.... it a genetic thing that will probably get you (both my parents, my two brothers and an older sister have already been harvested).

I know that I wasn't inspecting any issues... maybe, I should have examined my own parents end-of-life options and made some changes

One thing one of the doctors mentioned to me was that anyone with heart valve issues was more prone to this (I was unaware of my bicuspid valve). My brothers all had scans after my surgery to check their hearts in case it they had dodgy valves - of course, the lucky blighters were all fine.

rogercruse

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#2914080 14-May-2022 23:19

Geektastic:... Also I will warn you to expect some significant emotional episodes during the 6-12 months afterwards. There is something about having a life-threatening experience like this that upsets your equilibrium...

Already, had some emotional episodes...

1. Immediately after the operation and for the next nine days I was on auto-pilot mode. sleeping a lot and only waking up because I had to take my medication. Then, at ten days I 'woke up' and wanted to go to the bathroom instead of filling a urine bottle. So, I got out of bed and made it to the toilet next door.

2. I was crying like a baby when I got home from the hospital and saw my 9 month old Schnauzer puppy after three weeks. He was so pleased to see me and I with him. I couldn't speak with my eyes filled with tears.

3. Each time I try to describe my near-death experience my voice gets very horse and I have to stop. Even, as I write these few lines, I'm getting a little emotional.

Divhon88

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#2914081 14-May-2022 23:44

What particular symtoms did you have and how long did you had it?

Hereditary and race wise I’m suspectable to high blood pressure and high cholesterol which at spring chicken age of 39 has started to show up. Have never smoked and drank hard last 2016.

I’m a believer in moderation of everything, light dinners, reducing sugar & carbs. I’m also inclined that rather than going hard working out why can’t I just slow down take it easy and steady to keep my body’s miles low.

Rust

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#2914085 15-May-2022 06:48

Geektastic:

....

Mine was complicated by the fact that when they cut the aorta off my heart in order to replace part of it with plastic tubing, they found I had a bicuspid aortic valve ....

....One thing one of the doctors mentioned to me was that anyone with heart valve issues was more prone to this (I was unaware of my bicuspid valve)....

Well this is disturbing, though potentially life-savingly important news for me. I have known that I had a bicuspid Aortic valve since I was 13 - some 35 years ago. I recall the specialist at the time talking to me about future risks, but being a kid at the time I didn't take a lot of it in. The only part I still recall is always having to take anti-biotics prior to any dental work due to increased risk from infection.

So now it's later in life and it seems I need to be thinking about this a little more.

Thank you, I think.

rogercruse

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#2914087 15-May-2022 07:17

Divhon88: What particular symtoms did you have and how long did you had it?

Hereditary and race wise I’m suspectable to high blood pressure and high cholesterol which at spring chicken age of 39 has started to show up. Have never smoked and drank hard last 2016.

I’m a believer in moderation of everything, light dinners, reducing sugar & carbs. I’m also inclined that rather than going hard working out why can’t I just slow down take it easy and steady to keep my body’s miles low.

Didn't have any pain or issues prior to my Aortic Dissection operation in the middle of March.

I've been on high blood pressure and high cholesterol medication for the past twenty five years (I'm 64 at the moment). High Blood pressure discovered when I broke my ankle while on holiday in India.

Sure my body weight had increased quite a bit in the past year, but I put most of the gain down to giving up work, moving in to our new house and getting a puppy & two cats. My weight always increases when I'm content.

So, to come round to discover that I was in ICU at Auckland General Hospital, and even then I wasn't in pain. In discomfort yes, but only from being in bed for 23 hours each day.

I'm now regaining my strength (all that inactivity while in hospital) and getting back to walking the dog twice a day. And working on reducing my weight.

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Geektastic

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#2914090 15-May-2022 08:32

Rust:
Geektastic:

....

Mine was complicated by the fact that when they cut the aorta off my heart in order to replace part of it with plastic tubing, they found I had a bicuspid aortic valve ....

....One thing one of the doctors mentioned to me was that anyone with heart valve issues was more prone to this (I was unaware of my bicuspid valve)....

Well this is disturbing, though potentially life-savingly important news for me. I have known that I had a bicuspid Aortic valve since I was 13 - some 35 years ago. I recall the specialist at the time talking to me about future risks, but being a kid at the time I didn't take a lot of it in. The only part I still recall is always having to take anti-biotics prior to any dental work due to increased risk from infection.

So now it's later in life and it seems I need to be thinking about this a little more.

Thank you, I think.

Ha. I know what you mean. 😳

Go and see your GP and ask to be referred for a cardiac ultrasound scan to check the valve.

Bung

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#2914092 15-May-2022 08:47

Rust:
So now it's later in life and it seems I need to be thinking about this a little more.

At a minimum get your GP thinking about it as well. It might be time to see how your valve has progressed.

Edit. What Geektastic said. I had seen a cardiologist 10 years prior about a mitral valve so was able to see the same person.

eracode

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#2914096 15-May-2022 09:13

johno1234:

Wow, that is as scary AF!

I think it might be more scary than AF. 😀

Mrs Code had AF (Atrial Fibrillation) a couple of years ago but it was fixed with the near-magical procedure, ablation.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

FineWine

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#2914168 15-May-2022 10:56

Congratulations - you are a survivor! Any damage to the aorta is extremely life threatening. Here are some stat's:

Approximately 20% of patients with acute aortic dissection die before reaching the hospital. Mortality for an untreated dissection is about 25% at 6 hours and 50% by 24 hours. Within 1 week, two thirds of patients die if untreated. Of these deaths, 75% occur in the first 2 weeks.

· What were YOUR 'signs & symptoms' that led you to believe that you were (acutely) unwell and becoming more so ??
· Did you call 111 or did you just take (or partner) take yourself of to ED or GP ??

You will also, I believe, be on an international register now of Aortic Dissection Patients and will probably get follow-up questions for the remainder of your long life. Apparently the Dacron grafts they use are very durable.

As to your mental state, there is more and more evidence suggesting the heart and associated structures have neuronic cells, brain cells, and that some are calling the heart 'A Little Brain'. No wonder those that have traumatic injury to the heart and surrounding structures have emotional bouts.

Good Luck and enjoy life as we all know it is too short to worry and be stressed over it. 😀♡😀

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

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#2914199 15-May-2022 12:31

eracode:

johno1234:

Wow, that is as scary AF!

I think it might be more scary than AF. 😀

Mrs Code had AF (Atrial Fibrillation) a couple of years ago but it was fixed with the near-magical procedure, ablation.

he didn't mean Atrial Fibrillation ... it's a ... ummm ... another word

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eracode

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#2914230 15-May-2022 14:22

Batman:

he didn't mean Atrial Fibrillation ... it's a ... ummm ... another word

Yes I was well aware of that but At Fib is also referred to as AF - and it seemed a somewhat appropriate pun in this cardiac-related thread (despite the seriousness of Roger’s condition). I was hoping it wouldn’t need explanation and is why I put 😀

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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