Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julia on January 23, 2010 at 1:48am

Dear Missmylove,
I lost my sister to this horrid problem on December 12, 2009. It was a shock beyond belief! We are still stunned a month later. I do so feel for you! My heart is broken...I cannot imagine what yours feels like. I must show this site to my brother-in-law who is on the same level of grief as you. I've buried both of my parents and other dear relatives, but having my dear sister die in this shocking way is the worst I've experienced (and I pray will always be the worst). I won't go on any more unless you care to chat. I am not even sure you are still on this site. Anyway, God bless!
Julia

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on February 7, 2010 at 10:33am

I just lost my Dad, Christmas Eve 2009, from Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. I am devastated beyond belief and cry daily for him. Thing is he was an emphysema sufferer and would tell me that the grim reaper would struggle to get him. He was fighting the emphysema, he really was. I bought him a gift for Christmas and he would text me and say that it is burning a hole in his desk and I would say Dad, you have to wait for Christmas. When I went into his flat after he had died, all his Christmas presents were still there, unopened, next to the Christmas tree I had sent him.

He was such a strong man. Early morning Christmas Eve he sent me a text to say he was in great pain, that he had called an ambulance and that he thought it was his appendix. I am told that he walked to the ambulance, he even walked into A&E and shortly thereafter collapsed. They told me after the post mortem that it was an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

This daughter is still devastated..................... It was so quick.................. and I miss him so much.................

Permalink Reply by Julia on February 10, 2010 at 11:49pm

Dear Flowerpot,
I am Julia with the entry right before yours. You truly have my deepest sympathies. I must inject some realty here. I hope you and any siblings are tested for this. My other sister and I have talked to many other doctors. One wants us to see a geneticist, and others want us to have ourselves immediately tested as they have found a genetic component to this problem. Some say it has to do with the amount of collagen in our muscles. My sister was able to bend her fingers back to touch her wrist. She could also bend her thumb back. She was quite proficient in yoga positions. The doctors say that many of these people are said to be double jointed. In actuality, this is a lack of collagen in the muscles. If there is a lack of collagen, the muscular layer of the aorta can be weak, making these people more susceptible to aneurysms and aortic dissections. The best thing I can tell you now is to please get yourself checked out. One doctor said to get an MRA. Another said to get an ultrasound or a CAT scan. And from what we hear, the sooner the better. My sister and I have appointments on 2/25. We are starting with our cardiologist. There are things they can do now. Check out John Ritter's web site. All that being said, I feel for you. I buried my father in '95 and my mother in '08. I still ache for them both, but we must move on. Not to, would be a disservice to them! However, a day does not go by that I don't think of them, "talk" to them, miss them and ask their help. Almost two months since my sister's passing and I cannot think of her in the same way as my parents. My other sister and I cannot grasp the fact that she is gone. Good luck to you. I will pray for you. I check this site so if you want to chat please respond. But please, get yourself checked!
Julia

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on February 17, 2010 at 1:29pm

Hi there

Thank you for your kind words - I seem to have been able to pick myself up a little and the days of tears and heartache are a little less now.

Yes, I have already approached my GP about the chances of my having an aneurysm and he told me I was too young for it (am 46). However, last week I tried to make an appointment for a 'life scan' but due to my work situtation and life scan's appointment schedule, I dont think they will be able to schedule me in (they run their appointments consecutively and I can only get there by 2:30pm). I work as a 24 hour live-in carer, so am restricted to 2 hours off per day, between 2 and 4pm.

Yes, am aware that there could be a connection and yes, have always believed that I am double-jointed and have always been very supple and good at yoga. Thanks for telling me this, now I am even more aware and more determined to get myself scanned.

I am also very sorry for your loss................... how old was your sister.

My own sister passed away ten years ago on 13 March - suicide.

And just so you know, my name is Julie!

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on February 17, 2010 at 3:47pm

I am really worried now..........................

When I think about it, I sit cross legged on the floor most of the time - that is my most comfortable position.

Dont want to sound like I am a hypochondriac, but I know one of the symptoms is cold legs and my feet are cold - they have been for a while................

I just dont know if this is too much for my little mind to handle just after the loss of my Dad.............................

What were your sister's symptoms?

Permalink Reply by Missmylove47 on February 22, 2010 at 2:34am

Dear Julia,

Thanks for your reply. Sorry that I haven't replied back sooner, Have been almost 4 months since my husband passed away, and I still having such a hard time without him. I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved sister. Your brother in law most be devasted like as I do.

How old was your sister?

Did she experience any symptoms before her death?
I would like to hear from you. My prayers and thoughts are with you, and your brother in law.
God bless you both!

Permalink Reply by Missmylove47 on February 22, 2010 at 4:00am

Dear Flowerpot,

I am so sorry for the loss of your father, just before the holidays. My heart goes out for you.

My husband John, passed away almost 4 months ago, on October 26, 2009, due to this devasted condition called 'Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm'.

It happened so sudden and unexpected at 5:00 am. He was sleeping and woke up feeling a terrible pain in his lower back. Also his legs were getting weaker, and he was very pale like a ash, he was sweating, but conscious he was talking to me and my daugher all the time. I placed him in my car as fast I could, and drove to a nearest local hospital, it takes only 5 to 6 minutes from my home. When I arrived at the E.R the nurses came with the stretcher, and found him without pulse. They tried to bring him back but it was too late. I couldn't believe, how fast it happened!!!

I noticed while I was driving him to the hospital, I was talking to him but he didn't answer me. He died inside my car in the front passenger seat. Is very hard to accept that, just 15 minutes earlier, he was talking and walking. I remember when I was placing him in the car he did complain about feeling dizzy.

I was devasted and still having such a hard time with his death. I miss him terribly and cry every day. Earlier in the day he passed away, it was Sunday he was just fine we watched his favorite football team together on TV all afternoon. Nothing was wrong with him. He was an Veteran, so years ago by routine test they found that he had this terrible condition. After that, he was checked once a year or every 6 months(lately) to control the size of the Aneurysm.

My husband aneurysm was big about 6.2(very big) 7.0 is the maximum. But the doctors at the Veteran Hospital, refused to perform the surgery on my husband, due to his very poor health condition, according to the doctors was to risk and he could die from a massive stroke during the surgery. The key was to control, his diabetes and blood pressure very close. Which we tried, we was taking about 15 different medications plus insulin, also he was on dialysis treatment 3x times a week(4 hours each) due to his kidney failure about 2 years ago. He had so many healthy problems including, quadruple bypass heart surgery, diabetes type I, abdominal aortic aneurysm, blocked carotid(which caused him a small stroke a year ago) Congestive heart failure, severe sleep apnea(he used a mask to sleep with) diverticulitis, poor circulation in his legs and low extremeties, causing him so much pain in his knee and legs, and lost of balance. He was on physical therapy a few times. Lately he was using a roller walker and couldn't walk too far, without feeling weakness and pain on his knees, legs and lower back. He was on medication for pain prescripted by his doctor.

He just turned 72 years old before his death, in the same month. Did hurt me to watch him suffering. I did everything to make him comfortable. I took care of him myself. His last hospitalization was in the end of July 2009, his dialysis catheter got infected, he developed sepsis(infection in the blood) very dangerous condition, it can kill a person. After stay at hospital for almost 2 months he did back home, begining of September 2009. Me, and all doctors were surprised, how fast he recovered and bounced back. Then at end of October 2009, he died just like that. He faced death so many times and always made it, but the aneurysm can kill a person in minutes, due to massive internal bleeding. He died fast...no suffered!

I miss him so much, he was my husband for 10 years, we were soulmates, he was my love, part of me is gone with him. The only comfort I have is knowing that my honey is no longer on pain, or suffering. He is with our Dear Lord, resting in peace. I still in love with my husband, wishing I could back in the past and change things, I miss being a family again. My faith in God, and my daughter keep me going. I am 47 years old. God is guiding and holding my hands througth this very difficult time in my life.

Yours too flowerpot, I understand your pain...you father didn't suffer, and he is with God watching over you. Be strong have faith, take day by day!
I will be praying for you, God bless you!


Flowerpot said:

I just lost my Dad, Christmas Eve 2009, from Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. I am devastated beyond belief and cry daily for him. Thing is he was an emphysema sufferer and would tell me that the grim reaper would struggle to get him. He was fighting the emphysema, he really was. I bought him a gift for Christmas and he would text me and say that it is burning a hole in his desk and I would say Dad, you have to wait for Christmas. When I went into his flat after he had died, all his Christmas presents were still there, unopened, next to the Christmas tree I had sent him.

He was such a strong man. Early morning Christmas Eve he sent me a text to say he was in great pain, that he had called an ambulance and that he thought it was his appendix. I am told that he walked to the ambulance, he even walked into A&E and shortly thereafter collapsed. They told me after the post mortem that it was an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

This daughter is still devastated..................... It was so quick.................. and I miss him so much.................

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on February 24, 2010 at 12:59pm

Hi Missmylove!

You and I are nearly the same age!

I am so very sorry for your loss. I know that it was very quick for my Dad, and I am sure he is sitting there now saying 'What Happened?'. I know he has his hands out in that questioning manner. Being an emphysema sufferer, my Dad would always say to me that the Grim Reaper wouldnt find it easy to take him and he always said that when the Grim Reaper came, he would make him sit and wait while he had his last six beers. But he didnt get that chance, or maybe he did, I dont know. My Dad had been on antibiotics and cortesone for the previous 7 weeks due to what everybody thought was a continuing chest infection which had him out of breath on many days (obviously we now know that it was possible his heart due to the aneurysm). He hadnt had beer for many weeks prior to his death and joked with me that 'it was going to be a dry Christmas' because of the antibiotics. Well 23rd December he clearly had a few beers and this was with his Cleaner (I know this because she told me she had had a beer with my Dad the night before). When I was cleaning up his flat I found 8 empty cans of beer, so maybe he did make the Grim Reaper wait. My Dad always had a joke in him and always something up his sleeve, so maybe he did make the Grim Reaper wait.

I just know that it was too quick. He was ready to fight but he wasnt given a chance.

Another thing that really gets me going is that the NHS (in UK) introduced a policy last year where all men over the age of 65 have to be screened for AAA. Only thing is that this policy was and still is being introduced and my Dad wasnt in one of the 'catchment' areas.

I miss my Dad such a lot

Permalink Reply by Julia on March 30, 2010 at 3:20am

Flowerpot said:

Hi there

Thank you for your kind words - I seem to have been able to pick myself up a little and the days of tears and heartache are a little less now.

Yes, I have already approached my GP about the chances of my having an aneurysm and he told me I was too young for it (am 46). However, last week I tried to make an appointment for a 'life scan' but due to my work situtation and life scan's appointment schedule, I dont think they will be able to schedule me in (they run their appointments consecutively and I can only get there by 2:30pm). I work as a 24 hour live-in carer, so am restricted to 2 hours off per day, between 2 and 4pm.

Yes, am aware that there could be a connection and yes, have always believed that I am double-jointed and have always been very supple and good at yoga. Thanks for telling me this, now I am even more aware and more determined to get myself scanned.

I am also very sorry for your loss................... how old was your sister.

My own sister passed away ten years ago on 13 March - suicide.

And just so you know, my name is Julie!

Permalink Reply by Julia on March 30, 2010 at 4:04am

Dear Julie and Missmylove,
It has taken me a while to get back to you both, however, I lost my mother-in-law this morning to cancer. My husband and I have been busy the past months with her. We are sad, but are so happy for her and the horrid way she suffered. I bring this up because of my beloved sister that I lost. My sister was a 3 time cancer survivor, survived a hysterectomy, hand surgery, wrist surgery and too much more to remember. She was 64 when her aortic dissection took her. despite her history as you see above she was in good health. She and her husband wintered in Florida, however, home base is New Jersey. We shared a home at the Jersey shore, her apartment was above mine. During the winter we called one another often, staying on the phone for hours sometimes watching a tv show together or playing computer games . SHe was the same with our other sister. She was calling me often the 6 weeks she was in Florida, so much so that on that tragic night I decided to beat her to the punch and call her first. It was 10:30 PM on a Friday night. My brother-in-law answered and told me he could not talk because my sister was sick and he had to take care of her. I made him tell me what was wrong...he said she was sitting on the sofa and she asked him what his heart attack felt like. She was experiencing severe chest pain. She went to get up and immediately went to the floor, her right leg giving out. Her pain was moving up to her jaw. The 911 operator told her husband to give her an aspirin. He called me from the ER and said they suspected her reflux problem. His next call to me from the ER said they were taking her for a CT scan. I told him to make sure to tell them that she had a hernia. His next call, minutes later was to tell me that the ER doctor came running out telling her husband that he didn't need to see anymore. He was assembling a team to operate. Now I was freaking out. After every call I received, I would call my other sister and also our dear cousin in Florida, who said she would be at the hospital by 7AM to be with them. My husband was looking up flights for my other sister and myself to fly out in the morning. By now it was midnight. The next call I received was her husband, in total panic, telling me that the surgeon came in and told them my sister was dying. He actually said that to her! He said he would try to save her but she would probably loose her right leg and one and possibly both of her kidneys. My sister told him to go ahead and operate. She looked at her husband, and with a big smile said, "I'm dying!" I asked my brother in law to please find a way for me to talk to her. He took his cell back into her room in the ER and called me. I got to speak to her, telling her that our cousin would be there in the morning and that I and our other sister would be there by the time she got out of recovery. I teased her a bit then reassured her she had been through worse and she would handle this easily. I wanted to get my other sister on 3 way calling but someone walked in the room and she had to go. By now her right leg was extremely swollen and was as hard as a rock. She was trembling. 20 minutes later my brother-in-law called me crying telling me that "We lost her". I was screaming, my husband holding me up. He managed to tell me that she asked him to get the nurse, he went to the door, called them, turned and looked at her, her eyes opened wide and she died. They worked on her for 10 minutes to no avail. Thank God their friends were there to give them a ride home. He was not alone and my sister was surrounded by people that loved her. I thank God I was able to talk to her. I had to call my other sister, my cousin and my sister's grandchildren at 1:30 in the morning to tell then of her death. It all took 3 hours. We will never fully recover from this. She was our big sister. She was 64 but was a young 64 who had fought many health battles and won...all except this one. Our only consolation is that cancer did not get her. That is my dear sister's story. My other sister and I had had an echo so far and they are fine. Our next test is a CT scan with contrast. My sister's GP wants us to have an MRA. (No tubes for me!) We ahve spoken to many doctors, especially ones who knew her. They all insisted we get tested immediately. They also said with the dissection occurring in her ascending aorta, there was no way to save her at that point even if they did surgery. The surgery would have immediately killed her due to lowering blood pressure.
Well, I am all typed out! Our hearts are still broken and we will never grasp it. We just want her back! My heart goes out to you both, well, what is left of my heart! But we must go on, if for nothing else, but to honor their memory. Bless you and yours!
Julia

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on March 30, 2010 at 11:45am

Julia said:

Dear Flowerpot,
I am Julia with the entry right before yours. You truly have my deepest sympathies. I must inject some realty here. I hope you and any siblings are tested for this. My other sister and I have talked to many other doctors. One wants us to see a geneticist, and others want us to have ourselves immediately tested as they have found a genetic component to this problem. Some say it has to do with the amount of collagen in our muscles. My sister was able to bend her fingers back to touch her wrist. She could also bend her thumb back. She was quite proficient in yoga positions. The doctors say that many of these people are said to be double jointed. In actuality, this is a lack of collagen in the muscles. If there is a lack of collagen, the muscular layer of the aorta can be weak, making these people more susceptible to aneurysms and aortic dissections. The best thing I can tell you now is to please get yourself checked out. One doctor said to get an MRA. Another said to get an ultrasound or a CAT scan. And from what we hear, the sooner the better. My sister and I have appointments on 2/25. We are starting with our cardiologist. There are things they can do now. Check out John Ritter's web site. All that being said, I feel for you. I buried my father in '95 and my mother in '08. I still ache for them both, but we must move on. Not to, would be a disservice to them! However, a day does not go by that I don't think of them, "talk" to them, miss them and ask their help. Almost two months since my sister's passing and I cannot think of her in the same way as my parents. My other sister and I cannot grasp the fact that she is gone. Good luck to you. I will pray for you. I check this site so if you want to chat please respond. But please, get yourself checked!
Julia

Permalink Reply by Flowerpot on March 30, 2010 at 11:46am

Hi there

A quick update - I went and had a scan done yesterday and am clear!

Love

Julie

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