Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: CLKD on October 11, 2015, 07:34:15 PM

Title: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 11, 2015, 07:34:15 PM
My spelling might be 'out' on this but from 65 years, men are being offered an ultra sound scan to check that they don't have an aneurism growing.  Try to encourage your men-folk to go for this exam..  It can burst with fatal results.  It can be monitored and if necessary, there is a successful operation to seal it if present.

DH has a family history of AA, his brother's scan earlier this year was clear. 
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: ellie on October 11, 2015, 07:37:04 PM
What about women CLKD?
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 11, 2015, 07:37:57 PM
I haven't heard of it affecting ladies - must have a look-see!
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: honeybun on October 11, 2015, 07:38:12 PM
Done and clear.....well worth getting it done.
It took five mins and the results are given there and then.

It's more common in men Ellie. They are certainly not offering it to women in Scotland.


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 11, 2015, 07:40:01 PM
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/repairofabdominalaneurysm/Pages/Introduction.aspx

doesn't mention women, other than that they aren't offered the ultra sound before age 65  ::)
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: ellie on October 11, 2015, 08:04:08 PM
I sat with a dear friend while she passed away from it . :'(
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: Taz2 on October 11, 2015, 08:12:04 PM
I've lost two male friends to it and another one was left disabled due to blood loss - life only saved due to the fact he was in hospital at the time visiting a friend.
Sorry about your friend ellie.  :hug:

Taz x
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: countrybumpkin on October 11, 2015, 08:24:52 PM
It's so rare in women that they won't screen for it. The biggest risk factor is genetics in men. If your father had one and his father had one then you have quite a high risk that you will have one as well. My uncles family have been blighted by this for generations.  Uncles grandfather dropped dead in his 60's but in those days they didn't know why, then my uncles father did the same but pm showed what it was. My uncle was diagnosed with one at age 70 ( before screening) but his never got big enough to need operating on although close and he died of something else at 82 but his son who is now 63 refuses to get screened!
I packed my husband off at 60 for a private scan much to his disgust that thankfully was fine.
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: honeybun on October 11, 2015, 08:36:15 PM
My hubby complained about going but I insisted. We got a good explanation of how if one showed then if it was small it would regularly monitored.
Thankfully it was fine.

So sorry about your friend Ellie.


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: Joyce on October 11, 2015, 09:45:35 PM
My neighbour died from one suddenly last summer. He knew it might happen one day, so carried on as normal.  He lived to a good age. Can't see my hubby getting it done. I could nag until cows come home. Says when his time's up it's up & he'll be happy he's lived his life according to his rules.
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: Dancinggirl on October 12, 2015, 09:29:47 AM
I do agree about getting scanned or tested for this.
I was shocked when my neighbour developed this.  She is only 57, slim, very fit, excellent diet etc. so basically really low risk of aneurism.  She had a strange back ache and thought she had pulled something - she cycled off to the hairdresser and while there the pain radiated through to her abdomen.  They called an ambulance but when they turned up she felt she didn't need to go to the hospital so they advised she see her GP to be checked over.   Fortunately she saw the right GP as he quickly realised what it was and phoned casualty to fast track her when she arrived and she was on the operating table within a very short time. She was lucky to have seen this particular GP as he had worked with a surgeon that did this type of operation all the time so knew exactly what this was - possibly another GP might have sent her home telling her to be in touch if is wasn't better in the morning!! Apparently her aneurism had started to burst but had healed itself to a certain degree so she was really lucky.   She could have gone home and died.  The 7 hour operation went well and she is fit and well now.  All her family are to be scanned as it was clearly hereditary - how scary to be born with this weakness!!!
As we keep saying on MM ' Life is short ' - we never know what is going to happen so live for today. DG x
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: thorntrees on October 12, 2015, 11:48:36 AM
I encouraged my DH to go when he was 65 and got the letter with an appointment. Took about 5 mins and got the all clear right away. Not sure he would have gone left to his own devices but glad he did now-men!!
One thing less to worry about and that can only be a good thing.

Thorntrees
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 12, 2015, 02:08:20 PM
Crikey Ellie - how did that happen  :-\ ……..

As for 'time is up', well I subscribe to that to a certain degree, however, if there is a scan that will show something that can be healed then obviously time isn't 'up'!  Cubagirl - ask him how he would feel if you dropped dead in front of him from something that could be screened and treated  ;)

Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: honeybun on October 12, 2015, 07:47:32 PM
Is your hubby going to try and be seen earlier if there is a family link CLKD.
Better safe than sorry I think.

I know my hubby wouldn't have gone without encouragement....well me telling him he had to go  ::)
Typical man....never happens to them...until it does.


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 13, 2015, 02:29:58 PM
I have suggested it but he can't see the artery in his belly area.  Apparnetly  ::).  His GP is aware but I may suggest again that he takes up the offer sooner (2 years away now)
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: honeybun on October 13, 2015, 04:02:58 PM
How on earth would he be able to see it  ;D


Honeybun
X
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 13, 2015, 04:14:25 PM
The vein pulsates apparently  ::)

"Sometimes a doctor feels the bulge of an aneurysm during a routine examination of the tummy (abdomen) … " which is how F in L's aneurism was found.

from NHS info: "or during a routine physical examination when a GP notices a distinctive pulsating sensation in your abdomen".
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: countrybumpkin on October 13, 2015, 04:31:50 PM
Ah but only very big ones tend to show up as a visible pulsing, a friend of mine had one that even his GP could not feel on examination it was discovered by chance when his GP heard a heart murmer and sent him for a echo of his heart and they also did his aorta. His was big enough to have gone bang at any time but they could not repair it till after his heart valve operation so it was a very very worrying time until he got it repaired. 
Not that I am wanting to scare your husband but his relying on that info might not be a good idea ;) 
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on October 13, 2015, 06:02:49 PM
 :thankyou:  any information is helpful.
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: honeybun on October 13, 2015, 06:39:30 PM
That seems so random to be honest. If it could be detected that easily then there would be no need for a scan. If there is a family history then you should ask for him to be checked.

Sounds like avoidance to me. Men are good at that.

Honeybun
X
Title: Re: Aortic aneurism
Post by: CLKD on November 18, 2015, 05:27:13 PM
Sir Bruce has had a procedure apparently  :-\