Time has been good to me. Almost 8 years have passed since my “near death experience”. I honestly cannot believe I am still here, able to write about it.
My symptoms began a few weeks before the “event”. I describe the sensations in my chest as “knitting needles, poking and poking”. I wouldn’t really say I was in pain, but, rather, curious and minimally concerned… concerned enough to make an appointment with my primary care doctor. The appointment was scheduled for July 22nd.
Upon my arrival at the doctor’s office, I was informed that my doctor was not in and I would have to see the P.A. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. In any case, the doctor “examined” me (without even listening to my chest) and hooked me up to an EKG machine. I passed this test with flying colors! I still felt weird, so I insisted on a CT scan. I think he agreed to schedule one just to shut me up, but, nonetheless, a CT was scheduled for the morning on next day. The radiologist, (whom I knew well) promised to read them as soon as he could, but insisted I should not worry.
I still was not feeling well on the morning of the 24th of July, so I stayed in bed. My 10 year old daughter was also feeling sick, so my husband agreed to take her to the doctor. The “knitting needle” feeling was continuing and I also began feeling light-headed. Well, when my husband and daughter returned, I stood up, and had the “attack” I though would kill me. It really felt like someone was ripping my heart out of my chest! I screamed that I was having a heart attack and my husband then called 911. My poor daughter was freaking out! Unbelievably, I was able to call my sister, Paulette, who is a nurse; my eldest sister and my brother-in-law to tell them what was happening. Paulette asked me to look at my toes to see if they were white. Just then, the EMT’s arrived, and after many stupid questions, determined I was having an anxiety attack. Being that I was on summer vacation, I told them they were crazy and that I was not anxious. I also told them what Paulette h ad asked…my toes were white even when squeezed.
So, off I went to the ER at our local Heart Hospital. Of course,the ER staff asked me the same stupid questions and performed cursory exams. The ER doctor, who knew my sister, didn’t seem too concerned. She kept telling them to look into aneurysms (my dad had abdominal aneurysms which ultimately let to his death at age 53), but they refused to check. A gastro-enterologist, pulmonologist and psychiatrist came in to see me, and could not agree on what was wrong. Finally, after several hours of not answering his pages or his personal cell phone, my primary care doctor (and family friend)came in,and ordered a CT scan with contrast. I managed to drink a little contrast and off I went. I was later told that the radiology tech came back, white as a sheet, and informed them I had a 9 cm. aneurysm on the ascending aortic arch. That diagnosis only took 15 hours!
I was air-lifted to Houston, into the care of Dr. Joseph Coselli. He performed the aortic repair surgery and saved my life. He is my angel! I now have a Dacron graft… huge tubing that I still can’t believe is inside me. Unfortunately,I also have a total dissection of the descending aorta and 2 aneurysms, 1 thoracic (4.5 cm) and 1 abdominal (4.3 cm.)
Four years after my surgery, I had to have the left carotid stent removed because it was traveling into my brain. I also have a stent on my left femoral artery that should be in my right carotid artery. Weird! Dr. Coselli was perplexed, to say the least when he read the scans.
So, that brings us to today. I am still alive, working full time and surrounded by my family. My daughter is now 18 and wonderful. She and my other family members have been so supportive. I am so grateful to them. It is such a gift to be here, 8 years later.
However, not a day goes by without a mix of concern and fear. Knowing I have the total dissection and aneurysms weighs heavily on my mind. Whenever I have chest pains or back “twinges” I worry about them bursting. I wish…I wish… My next CT is in October, and we’ll check the status then. I pray there is no change and that I can continue to live and work and watch my daughter grow.
Thanks for “listening”. I have waited a long time to get this off my chest.
God bless.
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