HELP! I need advice

[Georgia]

My father-in-law is meeting with a surgeon this week; he's asked me to go with them because I "know what questions to ask." The problem is, his issues are vastly different than mine. So I'm hoping some of youse guys can advise . . .

He was diagnosed last year with an abdominal aneurism and scheduled for surgery on 3/12 to fix it. They did a CAT on 3/9 and found 2 more - one "at the top of the aorta" and one "behind the heart." Now, of course, they're talking a different procedure entirely, and the vascular surgeon has handed him off to a cardio (one with pretty good credentials - head of cardiothoracic surgery dept. at our local (SIU) med school).

Anything I should be particularly looking for? Asking? Because I really don't have a good idea where the problems are (because my father- and mother-in-law didn't get very specific information and DON'T have the medical record) I'm not too sure where the additional aneurisms are and what the pitfalls are.

I'd appreciate any advice you can give me.

Thanks.

 

[bethanne]

Hi Georgia,
I really do not have specific questions related to his condition but even the general ones that you probably had when you went your procedure are good ones...

What are the risks of the procedure...
How long can you expect to be in the hospital...
What is expected recovery at home...
What should you keep an eye out for (symptoms) between now and surgery date, etc.

Just having another person present with dr. visits can be comforting...

Also, the website for the hospital where I am planning to have my AVR done was very informative. You can look up the procedure and they give you the step by step... I do not know if your hospital offers this as well. Here is mine if it helps http://68.89.62.229/cgi-bin/hmdim/h.../procedure.do&channelId=-1073818946&action=EN


What has been the most helpful to me is learning the lingo so I am not so overwhelmed when talking with docs etc.

Hopefully someone with more experience can offer more...

 

[Ross]

Has he been diagnosed with Marfans? I can understand the ascending and decending aortic aneurysms, but not behind the heart. Something isn't right about that statement. I wonder if what they see is or could be false images.

Specific questions to ask, I really don't know. I think I'd ask how they plan to repair these, but they may not know until they're in there.

The surgery is just like the rest only a little more risky and with a larger chance of post surgery stroke. Not trying to scare you, just trying to be honest.

Anyone else?

 

[KathyH]

I would ask how often that surgeon has seen this and how he plans on doing the repair. I don't know what hospital he will be going to, but I would want one of the best in the country.Will he replace the entire aorta? Sounds like he must have some kind of weakness in the vessels to have 3 aneurysms- Like Ross said, ask if he has Marfans. Oblviously he needs surgery, I would want to know what the size they are. It's good that you are going to be able to go with them, I'm sure they are overwhelmed. I hope everything goes well.
Kathy H

 

[Granbonny]

Georgia

Georgia

How old is your father-in-law? They found an abdominal aneurysm in my Dad several years ago. Last year (exactly 1 year ago) ..one of his new doctor's wanted him to go to Montgomery to see a specialist..It had grown..but they told us..at his age ( will be 90 in Oct) he probably would not survive the surgery. Just leave it alone..He is still very active...and we never discuss it anymore. I think he has forgotten about it.. He just sees a doctor now for b/p pills about every 3 months....I look for him to fall off a ladder one day..more than I worry about the aneurysm. Bonnie

 

[Georgia]

Thanks folks

Thanks folks

He's @75 years old; very healthy until this. I'm going to ask about Marfans - he's quite tall with long legs and arms. This doc is pretty well-respected; but I think they should go to CC - do not pass go, etc. We'll see what he has to say about the CAT.

Jim's sister died of an aneurism (brain) at age 44; so now I worry a bit about the rest of the sibs; Jim's doc is working on getting approval to image him to check for them due to family history.

Thanks for your input. I'll let you know what the story REALLY is after we talk to the surgeon.

 

[Tom F.]

Being tall and long arms and legs might indicate Marfans but who knows. It seems that there might be aneurysms of both the ascending and descening aorta. It seems that the decision has been made to fix the abdominal aneurysm, so I would ask the size of the other two and whether they warrant surgery at this time. They might not. If so then start to explore the timing of the surgeries, and whether they can be done at once. To me that seems like an awful lot to do at once, but I may be wrong. For me that would be the starting point.

 

[Granbonny]

Georgia

Georgia

Age 75 is still considered young. My hubby will be age 74 this year..and very active. My brother-in-law had an abdominal aneurysm removed..did well..but a year later. Had one to burst on his aorta..and died 72 hours later. That was 14 years ago. Don't know why they didn't tell him to come back for more scans.. follow-ups.... He was 6ft.8 inches tall. Hope he will get some good news. Bonnie

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi georgia!
i haven't been around much and was so sorry to read about your father in law.
please let us know what the doc said and how things are going.
stay well, sylvia

 

[Georgia]

Hi, guys - Sylvia, congrats on surviving the scare with your daughter. And have one on me for getting such good news.

Father-in-law will have the thoracic aneurism fixed first. Apparently his vascular surgeon was incorrect - has only one in the descending aorta (what the issue was with the ascending, I don't know. I asked the surgeon, and he said he thought it was a misunderstanding); but it's bad, and the abdominal can't be fixed without the chest being done first. And Ross, you're right, they won't do them together - thorax first, then abdominal.

I was glad I wen to the MD appt - everyone (Mother- and father-in-law and my husband) was dithering. No one wanted to schedule surgery or make a decision. When the doc left I finally looked at everyone and said "You need to get this surgery scheduled or decide you'll just go toes up pretty soon". They said OK (honest - no discussion - I guess they just wanted someone to tell them what to do). Nurse came in and surgery's scheduled for end of April.

Thanks everyone for your help. It'll be good to get this going.

 

[Marge]

<< I finally looked at everyone and said "You need to get this surgery scheduled or decide you'll just go toes up pretty soon". >>

Good luck to to your father in law. Georgia, your in laws are lucky to have you. Sometimes this is just what is needed. Everybody needs somebody to take charge when they're dithering.

I had my husband to perform this essential service. I glad I don't have a tape of the conversation (too embarassing) when I was dithering over the phone with my surgeon's nurse about setting a surgery date, and my husband got on the speaker phone and said "SET IT"!!!!!

 

[nadi]

I am sorry to hear about your father in law. I will keep your family my prayers.

 

[SHerrin Hutt]

Hi Geogia,
My mother had a surgery last August that was an aneurysm of the aorta at the back of the heart. She was cut from the top of back around to the front to belly button. A total of 38 inches. She was cut almost in half. She has never been the same since. They sent her home after 12 days in the hosp. She was home 2 days and her heart stoped and she was put back in the
hosp. for another 3 wks. It took 6 mos. for the wound to heal.My mom was 72 at the time of sugery and had smoked all her life up till surgery.

 

[medtronic of borg]

tuff one

tuff one

this sounds like to me to be one of those caseses that is going to be very complex!!! The best advise I can give you is to trust the Dr's. If they have passed them to another it is for a dam good reason. I'll be keeping an eye out to see if this turns out ok.

Med

 

[Georgia]

Thanks again for the interest. They said that the incision for the first surgery will cause a lot of pain.

Things are cranking along - probably faster than Floyd would want just now! Know how that feels!

Will keep everyone informed; it is complex and will be interesting.

Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.