The Silent Killer
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
I make no apologies for the following warning about the above “silent killer” condition. My purpose in posting this is to ensure that anyone reading this is fully aware of the condition and the consequences of ignoring any invitation to attend any screening that your local NHS many offer / advise. Also to give hope to anyone in a similar position
If I can encourage anyone invited not to ignore the invitation or to discuss the condition with their health professional then I will consider it all worthwhile.
It's coming around to my anniversary, (2 years ago) when I was invited to attend my local doctor's surgery so I could have an ultrasound test to ascertain that things were all ok when she announced that she had found an 6.5cm aneurysm and that I would need a an urgent operation and she arranged for me to see the Consultant the following day! She asked if I had driven to the surgery, which I hadn't, as she said that I could not drive until I had been given the all clear by the Consultant.
I had an open AAA on the 6th May 2015 and spent 6 days in Intensive Care at Derby Royal Hospital then 6 months recovering back to my normal self, having cancelled all our holiday plans during this time too.
Thankfully, I have recovered apart from developing an inguinal hernia which I had repaired last year.
I cannot thank the team who looked after me at the Hospital and the nursing team there too enough. They were brilliant!
Subsequently, I found out that I was very near to losing my life because of this condition and consider myself extremely lucky to be posting this today, so please, if you haven't heard of this condition, look it up or if you are invited to attend a screening, please, please do it. It could save your life!!
There are plenty of links on the internet where you can find out more about it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, only posting because I care!
Brian
Comments
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Good post. Glad yours was caught in time. I lost my aunt and godmother with this almost three years ago. No symptoms then abdominal pain opened her up and closed as nothing could be done. Huge hole in my life 😢. Hubby was called for check last year and given the all clear. I agree when you are called attend.
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Thanks for the "head's Up" Brian .
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Thanks B2, sorry about your sad losses but spot on about the lack of symptoms. I've spoken to lots of people about this condition since my scare, personal and professional and the number of people who have lost family and friends to AAA astounds me and as you said no warning!
Scary stuff really
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Yes, a very worthwhile reminder to all. I had never even heard of AAA until called for a screening ... fortunately all clear.
I would also like to see organised screening for potential melanoma (skin cancer). Very easy as it simply needs a thorough visual examination by someone who knows what they are looking for. My wife spotted mine after it became quite large and ulcerated (I could not even see it myself). After referral by my GP it was dealt with very promptly by NHS. That was 2.5 years ago, but they say it is 5 years before the possibility that it might have spread becomes minimal.
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Well posted Vic! I have posted in another thread of two people I know who had aortic aneurysms and who had emergency surgery and were lucky to survive - one of my oldest (female) friends was one of the two. Men are now invited for screening, but I haven't yet seen this extended to women, although it can kill women too - and just as quickly.
I would also urge everyone to take advantage of this screening. Fortunately my OH's scan was completely normal.
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I posted about this subject on the old forum a year or two ago. Men of a certain age can request to be screened. You can check this website on screening in your area. Apparently women are much less likely to suffer from this condition but I suppose if any of the ladies have any concerns they should perhaps discuss it with their doctor.
David
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It was with a great deal of trepidation that I went for my screening, last year - and fortunately I was OK. One of the most reassuring things about this is that it's a 'one-off'. Apparently, if you haven't developed it by the time you are 65, then you're not going to and there's no need to go back, year after year.
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Can I add an important point to this in that when I recently had my scan (clear I am pleased to say), I was advised that if someone in a family had been found to have an AAA then all his/her children should also be checked, boys and girls. There is a time span as to when this should be done, but I would urge anyone who knows somebody who has had an AAA to make sure his/her children see their GP to discuss. Apparently, they now have a belief that there is a genetic link in families.
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Hi Yertiz (Brian)
Thanks for reminding us, and I am pleased to read that you have made a good recovery.
I did post on your original thread to say that my husband had the same condition, but after a couple of nasty replies, I stopped posting.
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Hi Lynnruby,
Yes, I do remember you posting last time as you had concerns about your other half, if memory is correct?
Hope things got sorted for you as it's a worry at the time.
Can't believe that others would make nasty comments, oh, actually, I can. Obviously, not affected by this condition or they wouldn't bother!
Please let me know how things are now.
Brian
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The original thread was very useful. I had not been offered screening (wrong age apparently) but after reading about it I booked myself in for a scan, which was clear, so one more hazard crossed of the list.
OH's cousin dropped dead with it at age 60 odds, but we were not aware that screening was available
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Thanks Brian.
Yes, my husband had an AAA repair operation in December 2015. It was a very frightening and stressful time, but he has made a good recovery.
His AAA was found during a scan for something completely different, so he was very lucky it was found. He was 58 years old at the time. AAA screening is done from the age of 65 in our area, so he is very lucky to be alive today.
I would urge anyone who hasn't been invited to routine screening, to request it.
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Your husband is a very lucky man indeed. I hope he has fully recovered now. It really is a very worrying time for all concerned, I remember my youngest son was in tears when he drove me to the hospital! Bless him.
I knew nothing about AAA in all honesty, until I was invited for a scan at 65, which seems the norm, (should be earlier, IMHO!)
The only downside to mine is that I developed an inguinal hernia due to the weakened stomach muscles so was opened up again last year to repair it, great!
Thinking of having a zip fitted for the next one!!
Enjoy life!
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