Aneurysm

[eytonxav]

Nemo, can't offer you any advice other than wishing you get treated quickly and this all works out well for you. DW had a few family members die from aortic aneurysms, and this has always been a great fear for DW since she thought this could be an inherited trait, so she has had checks for it in the past and so far no indications.

 

[Nemo2]

Nemo, can't offer you any advice other than wishing you get treated quickly and this all works out well for you. DW had a few family members die from aortic aneurysms, and this has always been a great fear for DW since she thought this could be an inherited trait, so she has had checks for it in the past and so far no indications.

It's good that she gets checked, and, as I understand it, (which is probably not very well), it can definitely be hereditary.

My father, (who was 38 when I was born), lived to be 67, (he had a bunch of brothers, most of whom died in their 50's, AFAIK from strokes/heart attacks.....although smoking was ubiquitous at that time and may have been a strong contributing factor).........I didn't really give it much consideration until my early 30's...and then I listened to the words of Eubie Blake: "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

Ah well, game's not (quite) over yet.

 

[ShokWaveRider]

How long did it take you to get the MRI? Here, ( in FL, USA) I feel they would want to address it immediately. We do not have to wait for CT Scans and MRI's. In our case We DO need to pay a premium for them over our regular insurance and get authorization first, although the doctor does all the paperwork and applications. The Insurance companies DARE NOT take a doctor's recommendation.

 

[Moemg]

DW suggests we call the Dr.'s office in the a.m. (although it's unlikely we'll get to speak with him directly....although his nurse might be available), and ask whether, in his opinion, we should wait or visit the Emergency and hopefully get the ball rolling.

Appreciate your input, thanks.

That is excellent advise .

 

[Nemo2]

How long did it take you to get the MRI?

We visited the Emergency in a smaller town, (pop ~ 15,500), about 25 miles from here, since the wait times to see a doctor are often shorter.

Requisition for MRI was submitted June 13, and I underwent the procedure July 05, so basically 3 weeks......DW & I were both quite astounded that the wait period was so short...we were anticipating a much longer interval.

 

[Sunset]

How long did it take you to get the MRI? Here, ( in FL, USA) I feel they would want to address it immediately. We do not have to wait for CT Scans and MRI's. In our case We DO need to pay a premium for them over our regular insurance and get authorization first, although the doctor does all the paperwork and applications. The Insurance companies DARE NOT take a doctor's recommendation.

My Doctor will say I need a test or procedure, and then I have to get permission or approval from some insurance company clerk (who probably gets bonus based on $$$ saved).
This non-doctor will then proceed to evaluate if my doctor is correct or not.
Looks like we don't need medical schools anymore .

 

[ShokWaveRider]

My Doctor will say I need a test or procedure, and then I have to get permission or approval from some insurance company clerk (who probably gets bonus based on $$$ saved).
This non-doctor will then proceed to evaluate if my doctor is correct or not.
Looks like we don't need medical schools anymore .

This does NOT happen in a single payer system, at least not the ones I am familiar with as insurance companies as such are not involved. The Doctors make the final decision and then bill the single payer accordingly. Also they are NOT FOR PROFIT as healthcare should be.

This simply makes so much sense. But of course the insurance companies would not like it. (No contributions for you! )

 

[Nemo2]

Back from the local Emergency, (went in ~ 11:15 a.m. out by 01:15 p.m. - which reinforces a previous theory that persons 'of a certain type' flood the hospitals around 01:00 a.m.); saw a great doctor who quickly explained that, for an aneurysm where mine is, they won't operate until it's considerably larger, due to the fact that the risk from the operation is greater than the risk from the aneurysm for anything smaller.

Future CT scans will be ordered.

 

[LiveBelowMeans]

My dad went in for a scan of his throat for an unrelated issue and the radiologist noted his aortic arch was 6.2?mm/cm?. My dad is a tall guy and was otherwise in great health. The experts recommended he go under the knife as a precaution. We had long discussions with the surgeon before agreeing as this was a gamble. The doctors have no way of knowing whether your vessel will burst. They are using statistics. Open heart surgery to replace the arch with a Dacron tube and replace the valve with a biological valve. In the end, after a difficult 10 hour surgery with some complications and a long recovery, he is fine. Not sure I would have gone thru with it if it were me....

 

[W2R]

Back from the local Emergency, (went in ~ 11:15 a.m. out by 01:15 p.m. - which reinforces a previous theory that persons 'of a certain type' flood the hospitals around 01:00 a.m.); saw a great doctor who quickly explained that, for an aneurysm where mine is, they won't operate until it's considerably larger, due to the fact that the risk from the operation is greater than the risk from the aneurysm for anything smaller.

Future CT scans will be ordered.

What a relief! I am so happy to read that you will be OK for now. WHEW

 

[imoldernu]

Hey,,, Nemo2.... good news. Glad it worked out for you.


Just got back from the hospital where I picked up my own CD copy of the CT scan I took yesterday. 135 pictures of stuff that goes on in the chest, and the specialist's analysis... :

CT CHEST WITHOUT CONTRAST 7/20/2016

HISTORY: Aortic root dilatation.

FINDINGS: Noncontrast imaging of the chest was performed. Comparison is made
with 11/23/2015.

There is dilatation of the ascending thoracic aorta. Maximal transverse
diameter measured at the level of the horizontal portion of the pulmonary trunk
5 cm distal to the aortic valve plane is 4.6 cm. This is unchanged from the
prior study. There are calcifications in the aortic valve. Some
calcifications are seen along the wall of the aorta. Dense coronary artery
calcifications are present.

Lungs are clear of nodules or infiltrates. Calcified granulomas are seen. A
few scattered bullae are present. Limited images through the upper abdomen are nremarkable.

IMPRESSION

1. DILATATION OF THE ASCENDING THORACIC AORTA TO A MAXIMAL DIMENSION OF 4.6 CM.
THIS IS UNCHANGED FROM 11/2015.
2. NO ACUTE PULMONARY PROCESS APPRECIATED.
3. DENSE CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATIONS AND MILD AORTIC VALVULAR CALCIFICATIONS.

Same comments as the last time.

We live to fight another day...

 

[Nemo2]

Hey,,, Nemo2.... good news. Glad it worked out for you.

Not so fast! Where yours is ascending, mine is in the arch which is, apparently, considerably more difficult to repair........time will tell.

Now, we have to obtain precise dimensions to see if I can still qualify for out of country medical insurance......if not, it's vacations in Canada from now on.

Glad you're doing well though!

 

[imoldernu]

Keep us informed... best to you...

FWIW, here's what the scan image looks like... #107... Taken from the CD.

 

[Dreamer]

I am sure that you feel better now. Hopefully it will stay the same size. Hoping that you can continue traveling outside Canada.

 

[Dreamer]

Glad to hear that yours stayed the same, Imoldernu.

 

[kcowan]

Our Family Doctors (if you can get one) are (generally all) General Practitioners.....if you want/need to see a specialist you require a referral...can't knock on their doors.....ah, bureaucracy.

and BTW you need a new referral after 6 months has passed and you are lucky enough to be still here.

OTOH if they are convinced that you are really sick, no problem getting care. My son is getting great care for his cancer treatments in Ontario. (Of course, age may have been a factor?)

 

[kcowan]

they won't operate until it's considerably larger, due to the fact that the risk from the operation is greater than the risk from the aneurysm for anything smaller.

Future CT scans will be ordered.

Same with my artery blockage. Watch and hope for the best. Take an aspirin and lay down.

 

[Nemo2]

Same with my artery blockage. Watch and hope for the best. Take an aspirin and lay down.

You & I have both had a good kick at the can, and it's coming sooner or later; but, as the boy from Ottawa wrote, "Regrets, I've had a few;
But then again, too few to mention."

 

[kcowan]

Yes he even got some guy from Hoboken to sing it!

Me, I prefer MJs "Gone too soon"!

 

[NW-Bound]

Knowing little about aortic aneurysm, I looked on the Web and learned that it can grow enormous, and as large as a kidney if the following diagram is correct.

Yikes!

Another Web page says it can be as large as 8 in. or 20 cm. Holy mackerel! Nemo's 4.2 cm one is just a baby aneurysm.

 

[Nemo2]

Knowing little about aortic aneurysm, I looked on the Web and learned that it can grow enormous, and as large as a kidney if the following diagram is correct.

Yikes!

Another Web page says it can be as large as 8 in. or 20 cm. Holy mackerel! Nemo's 4.2 cm one is just a baby aneurysm.

Yabbut, that's abdominal.....mine's in the 'arch' just below the heart where all the feeder tubes meet: http://static.wixstatic.com/media/6...1/61d8b4_1eb312ef6aa3414f929f4f503cb3a351.jpg

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/424904-treatment#d19

Aortic arch aneurysm repairs

Cannulation for arch repairs varies among groups. They include the femoral artery, right axillary artery, and ascending aorta. Hypothermic circulatory arrest is required for arch repairs; the safe period of arrest to avoid neurologic injury is 30-45* minutes at 18°C (64.4°F), but some advocate a shorter period of 25 minutes. Antegrade cerebral perfusion to minimize neurologic injury is thus advocated. Others advocate cooling to 11-14°C (51.8-57.2°F).

(*The patient is apparently clinically dead during that time.)

 

[redduck]

FWIW, here's what the scan image looks like... #107... Taken from the CD.

Attached Thumbnails
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Imoldernu:
I think your Doc was playing a joke on you. It looks as if he snuck in a Rorschach (sp)? picture onto your CD. I see a woman with a nice set of breasts, spreading her extremely long arms (maybe they are wings) or it might be a man with unfortunate breasts. I also see the outline of Alfred E. Newman's face (ears included).

 

[NW-Bound]

Yabbut, that's abdominal.....mine's in the 'arch' just below the heart where all the feeder tubes meet...

Below, or above the heart?

Ugh! The "plumbing" is definitely quite complex there. It's amazing that surgeons can deal with that. These guys deserve to make beaucoup money.

 

[Nemo2]

Below, or above the heart?

Above...sorry temporary confusion on my part.

Ugh! The "plumbing" is definitely quite complex there. It's amazing that surgeons can deal with that. These guys deserve to make beaucoup

Amen to that. Truly amazing......on numerous sites the caution "This is an operation you don't want to undergo" abounds.

I presume that there are multiple surgeons involved.....something like an 8-10 hour op, the patient being 'dead' for as long as it's (relatively) 'safe', with the body temperature deliberately lowered.

It's also amazing that the patient mortality rate is so low......somewhere in the region of 2-4% depending upon where you read.......DW and I agree that, if it's about to blow, (with 100% certainty of death), I'd go for the op even if they had a 99% mortality rate.

 

[aja8888]

Below, or above the heart?

Ugh! The "plumbing" is definitely quite complex there. It's amazing that surgeons can deal with that. These guys deserve to make beaucoup money.

Yes, quite so. My BIL's heart transplant was quite the thing last year as we got to see some of the photos taken during the process and the new heart beating (video) before they sewed him up. Quite amazing!