Last week my husband was diagnosed with a suspected Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and tomorrow he has a scan to see how big it is., and whether or not he will have to have surgery. He is very healthy and fit apart from a tendency to high blood pressure which is under control, so he should come thru the surgery well if that's the option. I searched the web for really good information on this 'killer' and found everything he needed to know so that he is well informed before he sees the Doctor again on Wednesday. It surprised both of us that an Aneurysm on the Aorta is very common and undiagnosed until routine physical examinations are done of the belly...they are slow growing but once they reach 5.5cm's they can rupture and death occurs within minutes...it is more common in men than women for some reason, and from age 55 the risk increases of having on somewhere along the artery. My husband has been so proud of his good health and fitness so this has knocked his confidence somewhat...he walks a lot,does not smoke or drink and watches his diet...well I watch it for him! He's 77 but looks only in his 50's! So next time the Doc seems to be poking around your abdomen a bit much, he is feeling for the 'pulsation' of an Aneurysm. The scan is not funded by the Health service and costs $180 we are told... but that's ok...we were going to be going down to Nelson for 7 days in 2 weeks time so are dipping into our spending money for the scan....if he needs surgery we won't be going anyway as he will be in Hospital very quickly to save his life, then a goodly 6 weeks to recover....anyone out there in grownups Land had one of these?

Yes Pusslil I have I am four Months out from the operation,and just starting to come right.It takes time and Patience.It all depends on the operation your Husband has.Key hole Sugery is where only a slight cut is used.I hope your Husband has this one.I was found to have my anuarism too close to my Kidneys so had to undertake the Major cut.That starts from below the breast,all the way down past the belly button.All in all 40 staples to show for my efforts.A good web site is MED LINE.this site takes you on over the step by step of the operation. Please keep us up to date on your Husbands Operation.This is known as the silent Killer,and as you say,if not caught early,death can occur. I wish you and your husband well during this time,and will be thinking of you both.

Thank you Ramona for your reply. I feel silly now as the scan showed no sign of an Aneurysm BUT... found a Cyst on one of his kidneys instead, so we now start the whole process of which kind etc etc all over again! Yes I knew what the operation meant and what they do; that it depends on the site and size of the Aneurysm...it'a almost the exact same proceedure I had for my blocked Illiac and femoral arteries 2 years ago, except my cut was across the belly and I am so glad that hubby does not have to go through this... debilitating is one word to decribe it...they tell me there is still the risk of the grafts failing and I suppose even an Aneurysm for me too along the way as I age. I would not wish this on anyone, but at least I can walk again!

Pusslil,I am pleased your husband doesnt have a anuarism.I am not sure what the cyst on the Kidney entails,but I am sure Bobbity may be able to give the answers.

Pussil..what a worry for you both..I expect the first thing is a piece taken for close examination to find out if it is benign or not. only then will a decision be made as to treatment. Did he have some symptoms

that sent him to the doctor Pussil? Tell him to keep his spirits up... S

o Ramona..you look a bit like a road map? What a time you went through. I'm so glad you're OK now.

It was a cerebral aneurysm caused my stroke (I was 37 years old at the time) I was a smoker and was also under a lot of stress at the time my aneurysm ruptured. During the course of their investigations, the medical folks detected 2 more aneurysms, which could have caused future strokes, had they not been surgically clipped. Nasty beasts, aneurysms, where ever in the body they occur. All the best to your husband, Pusslil - for all that we complain about our health system here in Godzone, we have some very fine surgeons, so should an op be necessary, your beloved will be in very good hands.

my goodness Gran..that was so young.
i hope there were no lasting physical effects?

I got off very lightly indeed, Bobbity - no physical effects to speak of and only very mild symptoms of any sort - short term memory problems, a tendency to open my big gob and shove my size 11 foot right in it - but, working, as I do, with other brain injury survivors, many of whom are quite severely disabled, that "there but for the grace of God go I" feeling is my constant companion.

well I think many of us have had unknown cerebral accidents then gran..how many of us suffer short term memory loss and foot in mouth disease..haha..
Yes I agree that would be a great reminder of what might have happened to you. A good thing to be reminded...
i'm so glad you got off lightly.

My apologies for not coming back in here before now...life took off at speed and here it is almost Christmas! My husband got a clean bill of health and the Kidney cyst s nothing to worry about after all so we had our Nelson Holiday without worry...thank you all for your replies!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you Pusslil,and I am pleased everything has worked out well for you both.I do miss Nelson now and again.17 yrs ago was the last time I have seen it.

Oh thats so great Pussil !!! happy days indeed.