Dennis The B
US Veteran
I got an email from a long-time friend late last week. It was in the form of a "heads up" for his friends.
About a year ago, he went to the doctor with back pain in the upper back. He plays a lot of golf and baseball, and he had assumed it went part and parcel to being age 65. He went to the doctor who performed a CT scan, gave him some heat therapy, ibuprofen, and sent him home. The pain went away.
Four weeks ago, he had a recurrence of the back pain, and went back to the doctor. The doctor decided to perform another CT scan, and run a few more tests. While my friend was still in the doctor's office, he was sent directly to a vascular surgeon, and the CT scans were sent to the surgeon.
It turns out the aorta had enlarged since the baseline CT scan from one year ago. He immediately put my friend in the hospital, and performed a stent procedure to repair an Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA).
My friend is receiving further treatment, and the other arteries are in good condition with no signs of aneurism(s).
I talked to my friend Monday, and told him he had virtually dodged a bullet (no pun intended).
I have experience with two other folks who died from Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms.
Another close friend, in 2005, who worked in the same office, went home, complained of back pain; sat down on the sofa, and died immediately: Abdominal Aortic Aneurism.
In 2006, my brother complained of upper back pain, thinking he had pulled a muscle after doing some work. While he sat at the kitchen table with my mom, he suddenly keeled over. My mom immediately dialed for the paramedics, who were there within eight minutes. Within that eight minutes, my brother's heart ceased beating.
The paramedics immediately started CPR. However, their efforts were already fruitless. As they continued CPR, transporting my brother to a nearby hospital (3 minutes elapsed time), their efforts actually caused more blood to spill from the aorta, into the chest cavity.
At the ER, the doctor, and nurses continued emergency treatment for another fifteen minutes. He was then pronounced dead. When my youngest brother got the the hospital the ER doctor told him that my brother was clinically dead when he keeled over at the kitchen table.
The upshot is -
Don't take back pain, especially high in the back, lightly. Neither my brother, nor my two friends had any idea that the aneurisms were there. AAA's are silent killers. Take care out there!
About a year ago, he went to the doctor with back pain in the upper back. He plays a lot of golf and baseball, and he had assumed it went part and parcel to being age 65. He went to the doctor who performed a CT scan, gave him some heat therapy, ibuprofen, and sent him home. The pain went away.
Four weeks ago, he had a recurrence of the back pain, and went back to the doctor. The doctor decided to perform another CT scan, and run a few more tests. While my friend was still in the doctor's office, he was sent directly to a vascular surgeon, and the CT scans were sent to the surgeon.
It turns out the aorta had enlarged since the baseline CT scan from one year ago. He immediately put my friend in the hospital, and performed a stent procedure to repair an Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (AAA).
My friend is receiving further treatment, and the other arteries are in good condition with no signs of aneurism(s).
I talked to my friend Monday, and told him he had virtually dodged a bullet (no pun intended).
I have experience with two other folks who died from Abdominal Aortic Aneurisms.
Another close friend, in 2005, who worked in the same office, went home, complained of back pain; sat down on the sofa, and died immediately: Abdominal Aortic Aneurism.
In 2006, my brother complained of upper back pain, thinking he had pulled a muscle after doing some work. While he sat at the kitchen table with my mom, he suddenly keeled over. My mom immediately dialed for the paramedics, who were there within eight minutes. Within that eight minutes, my brother's heart ceased beating.
The paramedics immediately started CPR. However, their efforts were already fruitless. As they continued CPR, transporting my brother to a nearby hospital (3 minutes elapsed time), their efforts actually caused more blood to spill from the aorta, into the chest cavity.
At the ER, the doctor, and nurses continued emergency treatment for another fifteen minutes. He was then pronounced dead. When my youngest brother got the the hospital the ER doctor told him that my brother was clinically dead when he keeled over at the kitchen table.
The upshot is -
Don't take back pain, especially high in the back, lightly. Neither my brother, nor my two friends had any idea that the aneurisms were there. AAA's are silent killers. Take care out there!
I made an appointment and saw the doc the next week. I was put on mild high blood pressure medicine. This is a serious subject guys! Watch your bp and get a checkup.
