Tough Question

[heartyone]

Hi all,

I have a tough question. My 50 year old wife suffered and nearly died from a dissecting aortic aneurysm, with damage extending up into the branches. She survived and is recovering, with a mechanical valve and Dacron aortic arch and branches. She is recovering beautifully, having been very fit and healthy before this event. When ever she goes to the doctors, I go along too. There is a question that's been on my mind but I would never ask with her present, maybe someone here can help me out. This is an awful question, but here it is: Is this going to greatly compromise her life span? I am so afraid that she's living on borrowed time each day.

Also, she is on Coumadin P/T INR 2.5-3.5 and insists that she is going to ski this year. I know that contact sports are out and that's not a problem for her. She doesn't see that skiing is a contact sport. I know the risk is that if you get an injury to your trunk you may bleed out an organ--but is this like a definite thing? If you get a ski pole to the kidney, will you undoubtedly have a bleeder?

Thank you for any help you may offer.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Heartyone,
Welcome to this Great Site!
I am glad to hear your wife is doing fine after surgery. I too had an aortic aneurysm repaired on the arch with a Dacron Graft and a St. Jude mechanical valve installed in April of this year.
I am 52 and feeling better than I have for years. I have known about my aortic valve since I was 6. I am also on coumadin and as far as skiing I would recommend that she wear a helmet. I will find out at the end of the month if I get to go back to work. I am a career firefighter and if the Dr's. release me I don't think I will have anymore problems to face than before.
As far as a compromise to her life span, well I don't think any of us know for sure how long we will be around but I know I am still going to live my life to the fullest.
Again, Welcome!

Dave
______________________
Surgery: 4.21.03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[Nancy]

Hi heartyone-

And welcome to this terrific site. I'm a caregiver also.

My husband has not had an aneurysm, but he's had just about everything else under the sun. His body's tried to jinx him about a hundred times, but so far he's beat the devil.

He had 3 valve surgeries, 2 lung surgeries, has a pacemaker, has congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hemolytic anemia, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension and several other things. All of this from rheumatic fever that he had as a teenager. He wasn't supposed to live beyond 50, but he had his first valve implanted when he was 47, and he's now 72, and still walking around.

So, if your wife has had things repaired and she feels well, things should be fine. No one knows how long they will live. The most important thing is that these things can be taken care of and doctors can work miracles, thanks to the times we live in.

Years ago, your wife and my husband wouldn't have had a chance.

There are several people on the site who have had aneurysm repairs.

Can't help you with the skiing issue, but others will, I'm sure.

So live each day as a gift and enjoy your life and take good care of your precious wife. Best wishes.

 

[Ross]

Hello heartyone and welcome to the forums

The issue of longevity- As long as she isn't predisposed to Marfan Syndrome or something of that nature and takes her Coumadin as instructed, follows her INR to make sure it stays in range, etc, there is no reason why she would not live to be a ripe old age.

The skiing- All of us have something we love to do. Everything we do in daily life has risks to it, but we can't stop living because of those risks. If we did, most would say their lives are already over.
While there are certainly less risky things to do then skiing, it's something she loves, so let her have at it. She will have to be careful and yes, there are risks. She needs to live though, so try to understand her and support her decision. Let her know that it troubles you, but you won't stop her. I think you get what I mean here.

P.S. That wasn't a tough question. We get these all the time.

 

[Granbonny]

Hi

Hi

I 'm age 63..they found my aneuryson in the nick of time. I am doing great 18 months post-op on coumadine. Just remind your wife..there are other things (simple) that can also happen.. Like tripping and hitting her head. Getting hit in head from Little league baseball, ect. so, if she wants to ski..go for it..just tell her to watch out for first-time ski people with their poles. and always look behind her for the ones sliding down the mountain. I gave up snow-skiing when my age 10 year old left me on expert slope to fend for myself. she passed me going back up on lift. Bonnie

 

[Gisele]

Hi there

Hi there

Welcome to the board.

I had been on Coumadin for more than 21 years (just taken off of it two months ago for a bleed). I have a mitral mechanical valve. Although my doctor cringes when he hears about my skiing, I am very careful. I also worked out at the gym although right now I am restricted from this.

Tell your wife to be very careful but to have a blast. I told my physical therapist after my stroke my goal was to ski again this winter, but I am waiting to hear when my valve replacement will take place, so right now I am envious of anyone who can do those things I love to do.

PS: I agree with Dave that she should get a helmet although I am guilty of not wearing one. Check with the doc if you still feel uncomfortable about this.

 

[heartyone]

Thank you

Thank you

Hi all,

I am so glad I found you. I am truly grateful for the support you all gave me on this question and for your encouraging words. This has been a difficult passage for me, but I've not wanted that to show around my wife, who is working so hard on healing and moving on.

Living each day to the fullest is certainly what it's all about, and that's what we intend to do. Thanks for the ski helmet advice, sounds like a good present to buy pronto.

My prayers are with all of you as you deal with your cardiac issues and live your lives each day.

 

[Nancy]

Hi again heartyone-

One thing you'll find as you read through many of the posts is that this site is about LIVING.

We have people here with all kinds of heart problems, some are not too bad, and some are complicated. But everyone does their very best to get through the difficult times, and live the best way they can for the condition they are in.

It is definitely a passage in life.

By the way, in the Small Talk forum, and sprinkled throughout many of the posts, you will find some light-heartedness and fun.

But basically, we all understand the nature of the beast. So glad you found us also. Hope you'll stick around and join in a lot. You can pretty much ask any question you might have.