I had an aortic dissection. First, I woke up with chest pains, was taken to the hospital but had not had a heart attack. I went back home and a couple of nights later, I woke up with an odd lower pack pain. I was taken to the hospital again and that is when they found the aorta dissection. So, I had symptoms but not obviously connected to the aorta. I was flown to Oklahoma City for the operation. And, you’re right, the operation and recovery really takes it out of you. I’ve been told by several people that I’m fortunate to still be here.
It’s pretty amazing to me that all that could be done on short notice way out here in fly-over country.
Man, you are very fortunate to be alive, my surgeon told me i I had the same condition as John Ritter, the actor who played on the 70s TV show Three’s Company, Ritter had an undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve and developed a 5.4cm aneurysm, he was rushed to the hospital with what was originally diagnosed as a heart attack, before they discovered it was an aortic dissection he died.
The hardest part of my recovery was the anxiety and stress, I was never in really bad pain, on day 2 in the hospital I was told I had gone into Stage 3 heart block which was permanent, the only solution was implanting a pacemaker, which on day 3 of recovery, I was wheeled into an operating room for the pacemaker.
Do you walk around now wondering if the slight discomfort you have in your chest has something to do with your heart. The wires using in holding my chest together sometimes bother me otherwise I’m in really good shape now.
Same here.
I was with a group of guys on an outing, and felt a sharp pain run down my back, then go away.
I said I would lie down for awhile, but my buddies insisted I go to the hospital.
After a scan I was airlifted and underwent emergency surgery.
They told me that without the surgery within 24 hours there’s a 75% mortality rate, so you are, indeed, very lucky to still be here.
You’re right - it really knocks you for a loop.
Ten years after my emergency surgery, they advised I undergo a second one to tie up loose ends. That hit me even harder than the first one.
I told the surgeon that there absolutely would never be a third one.
And, like you, I’m often told how lucky I am to be alive.