Glenda Figuerres-31

Name: Glenda Figuerres
Email: glendafiguerres@ymail.com
Age at time of Dissection: 31
Type of Dissection: Descending
Date of Aortic Dissection: 9 July 2009
Tell Us Your Story:

Iam a licensed teacher here in the Philippines. I used to teach in a top performing college of nursing in Manila. However, last year just after I attended a leadership seminar in the college I used to work in, I experienced stabbing pain from my chest to my back. I thought it was a stroke for my family has a history of heart ailment.
My Mother died of heart ailment when I was 5. Unfortunately, I have other family members who died of heart conditions too. My eldest and closest sister died of cardiac arrest when she was 34, and her daughter who has a congenital heart ailment died at age 17.


My niece experienced misdiagnosis. When she was younger, she was diagnosed with rheumatic heart ailment and was treated with Penicillin for years. Later, we found out she didn’t have the infection and what she really need is a surgery to repair her valve. But, the second opinion came late; she passed away few weeks after the second diagnosis. I experienced the same, not only once but 3 times from 3 different Filipino doctors. Most of them diagnosed me with ordinary muscle pain and dyspepsia. As a result, it took me a week of painful, restless nights before I received proper treatment. Good thing, my friends and my boss encouraged me to consult another doctor, who found out that my condition then was nearly fatal.

I was diagnosed with Aortic Dissecting Aneurysm. A tear was found in my aorta down to my abdomen and bulges were detected that were feared to rapture in the future. According to my cardiologist, medication management is the best treatment at this time. Surgery is another option but he said I would only have 30% chance of surviving. My ailment has affected my whole life in a snap. I can no longer do things I used to do; I was restrained from doing activities that may raise my blood pressure. It was not easy to shift from a very active life to a life with limited actions.

After my confinement, I can barely walk. I was advised for a complete bed rest for 6 months, together with medications, I was able to recover, but then my actions are still limited for I get tired easily. After a year, I was asked for another set of lab tests, the results showed that my tear has increased in size. However, my cardiologist said that I could go back to work after a year of rest. All the while, I thought I am on my way to full recovery for I could walk, dizziness disappeared, and most of my pains were gone. At that time, I really miss working… teaching. I also became uncomfortable depending on family members for my needs. So I decided to work at home as an on-line English tutor for Japanese. It helped me a lot in regaining what I love to do and my worth.

Last November 2010, I had my regular check-up with my cardiologist. I inquired about the surgery, he suggested before. He told me that the surgery will be still too risky, so he thought it will only be needed when one of my bulges will about to rapture for the surgery might cause my death or paralysis. I then asked him, what if it will be performed abroad; for sure hospitals there have better facilities. He laughed at me! Saying, I won’t be able to find a surgeon who could perform it successfully. My condition is so severe, that my chances of living will be very, very slim.

He also added that I should be contented that I am still alive, that pushing for an aggressive treatment will just put me on a higher risk of dying. I definitely disagree with him… I think living just for the sake of being alive is meaningless… for me it will be better to take every chance that I have to live a normal life again, though at the back of my mind, I am so scared of the consequences, but
how about my dreams? I want to teach in classrooms again, to help my family, and to have a family of my own, but when and how will that happen? I still don’t know.

Thanks for stopping by to view our stories. Please help me keep the site going by shopping at Amazon.com-It’s very much appreciated. Brian Tinsley founder of AorticDissection.com (please book mark the link once you get to Amazon.com for future purchases!)

No related posts.

Tagged as: Philippines