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The silent killer

terryb18

terryb18

Gone but not forgotten R.I.P.
If anyone gets invited to have a screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, can I please urge you to go, and not dismiss it because you cannot be bothered or you don’t have time because it could save your life. Basically it is a swelling in your Aorta artery that you don’t know you have, because there is no pain or any symptoms whatsoever, it just grows and grows till eventually it bursts and then the chances are its bye bye. Three months ago I went to such a screening and was diagnosed with an aneurism that needed urgent attention. The outcome is, I am now writing this after coming out of hospital yesterday a week after a major operation to repair my Aorta. I am feeling weak and in a bit of discomfort but I know that apart from a 14 inch scar I will get back to near as normal as before. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and doctors at Heartlands hospital for the dedication and wonderful and professional care that I received, I truly believe that I would have had less than 12 months left without surgery.

Terry
 
Great news Terry and superb advice.

Glad you are recovering well from the Op.
 
Terry thank you so much for the advice and I am so pleased you are on the way to a full recovery. Jean.
 
Thak you for this posting Terry. My husband should be getting his invitation next year as he turns 65, I had mentioned it to him and he almost dismissed it. He has just read your posting and has now decided that he will have the scan as soon as it becomes available to him. I am pleased to hear you are making a good recovery and will be back to normal soon. Thank you again.

Shortie
 
Sorry to here that Terry and i wish you a speedy recovery . My niece,s Fatherinlaw was in Heartlands last week he had had an op several years ago and had a stent fitted which has slightly moved. He is about 90 now. Thanks for giving people such sound advice.
 
Hi Terry glad to see you are on the mend and the problem has been fixed. Just take care and take it slow.
Michael had his scan last year and thankfully he is fine. For those unsure it's a scan similar to scanning a pregnant mother. It just takes a few minutes and they tell you there and then if you are OK. My usual joking husband came out from the scan and pronounced that the baby is fine! The people in the waiting room laughed and it lightened the atmosphere. The advice go and have the scan it only takes minutes and could save your life!
 
Terry, thank you for alerting everyone about your aorta aneurysm, it really is a silent killer...my son had his done last year he is 46 and luckily his was caught by having to have a MRI every six months due to another health issue, at first the Drs were'nt to concerned as it was small in size, but after 12months it was obvious it was really starting to grow rapidly so he had a stint put in and everthing is fine, went in on a Friday and was home Sunday, the wonders of modern medicine is breathtaking ...Brenda
 
Terry, I am so glad that everything went OK with your op, I know that at our last meet up you were really worried about your forthcoming surgery, hope you go from strength to strength.
Honest, fellas, its not clever to avoid the doctors, they are there to save your life or at least make it easier for you.
 
Hello Terry.
I'm so please the op was a success and you're on the mend. I know how apprehensive you was mate.
Hope to see you in the near future.
 
Terry, I am so sorry to hear you have had to have an operation but I am very pleased it all went well and you are now on the road to recovery. I hope that others heed your good advice about getting checked. I hope you are feeling much better soon.
 
My husband has never had an ''invite'' but he will phone our doctors first thing Monday morning. Thanks for the warning Terry and I hope you feel much better soon.
Lynne.
 
Thank you all for your replies, they are greatly valued. If just one person heeds my warning then I'll be happy, again, thank you all.

Terry
 
I actually asked for a scan a couple of months ago because my father died young of an aortic embolism.
It turns out I have the start of one. It´s very small at the moment, but it will now be monitored regularly. Everyone told me I was being paranoid because of Dad. Thank goodness I listened to my own "early warning "system
 
Terry, thank you for the advice and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I have a question: Are men over a certain age 'invited' for the scan automatically? Perhaps someone would enlighten me?
 
Wise advice, Terry. I went in for an arthroscopy on my knee, in April 2010, and the surgeon said he thought my legs looked swollen. So I was immediately given an ultrasound scan, and they found aneurisms low down in both legs. Fortunately there was no sign of an aortic aneurism, although apparently it's not uncommon if aneurisms are discovered in the lower legs, where mine were. I had the required procedures (popoteal repair, or by-pass) and was pronounced clear in July, somewhat to my relief. My GP says that a full body ultrasound scan should be a standard procedure for anyone over about 50.

Glad you're on the mend, Terry.

Big Gee
 
Yes Anthea Michael had his scan when he reached 65. They send a letter with the usual date time and where to attend.

Big Gee I don't think an ultrasound is done automatically is it?
 
Lynne I'm 81 and I've never been invited, I come under Solihull, perhaps the do not have a check up scheme. I should add I walk 5 or 6 miles every day with my dogs and consider myself lucky health wise so would not attend anyway, in the 26 years I have lived in Solihull have visited the Doctor just 3 times. I should add since I lost my Wife I have no desire to live a great age any way. Eric
 
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Thanks for that Eric, we are in Great Barr so maybe there's no scheme here either. I know you are as fit as a fiddle and long may you stay that way.
Lynne.
 
Terry, I hope you get back to full health speedily
.
Most of the posts refer to husbands being tested but although more common in men women can have it too so I think it is one of those things that
both sexes should be tested for.( in an ideal world)
 
The whole point about aortic aneurisms is that they do not normally show any symptoms. If you don't have a scan then usually the first thing you know about them is when you have a stroke - or worse. Mine were in my legs, and fortunately for me they sometimes cause swelling, which in my case was spotted by an eagle-eyed surgeon. Get a scan, and be safe rather than sorry.

Wendy, as far as I'm aware an ultra-sound scan for aneurisms is not carried out as an automatic routine. I'm sure that anyone who requests one will be given one - I hope.

Big Gee
 
I think the testing has only fairly recently started, I saw the poster in our doctors surgery for the first time earlier this year. My brother in law had some odd symptoms, he lives in Spain, is a bit of a hypocondriac anyway, but when the doctor finally stopped to listen to him, they found he had a large abdominal aortic aneurism. Mike was relieved as he was convinced he had cancer. He came to England - they drove, he was not allowed to fly, and had his operation privately here. One of our friends died of one, aged 51, just sat in a chair and died but I think that was not an abdominal one, but one in his chest. I believe they are more common than people think, that is why the testing has been started in order to prevent premature deaths.
 
Terry, glad to hear you are recovering well and to back up your advice to have the scan done - I know lots of people put it off for various reasons, but the bottom line is this is a killer that you may know nothing about until it is too late to do anything about, so a plea from me with my work hat on, if you read this and have not had your scan. please visit your GP to get it re-arranged, it taes so little time!!!
Sue
 
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