Aortic Aneurysm

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Discussion

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Anyone got any experience with abdominal aortic aneurysms?

Looks like the missus may have one. Classic symptoms, went to the GP yesterday and he thinks she has and has referred for a ultrasound scan.

She's 41, slim, non smoker.

She's been struggling with back/stomach pain, can feel a pulse in her stomach etc.

If it turns out to be one, I believe it depends on size/rate of growth will decide on course of action.

Anyone had it or know anyone who's had it? Length of time to recover etc?

Dogwatch

6,225 posts

222 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
It's supposed to be a man's thing, we get an automatic call up for an ultrasound at 65 to check for this. Most unfortunate if this is the case.

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
Dogwatch said:
It's supposed to be a man's thing, we get an automatic call up for an ultrasound at 65 to check for this. Most unfortunate if this is the case.
yeah, doc said that it's normally fat men with bad diets over 65. He described it as "interesting"

gasman712

55 posts

138 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I'd be amazed if a 41 yr old woman had a properly symptomatic aneurysm (which if it is the case, is a medical emergency and needs urgent repair). If your wife is slim enough then it is quite possible to feel a normal aorta.

NeilC4S

146 posts

235 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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I agree with what gasman says. If she is slim then a normal aorta can be felt easily. I remember making the same call when I was a very junior doctor.

Neil

motco

15,941 posts

246 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
quotequote all
gasman712 said:
I'd be amazed if a 41 yr old woman had a properly symptomatic aneurysm (which if it is the case, is a medical emergency and needs urgent repair). If your wife is slim enough then it is quite possible to feel a normal aorta.
Certainly. My wife is very slim and I can feel aorta easily.

The_Doc

4,881 posts

220 months

Friday 5th February 2016
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gasman712 said:
I'd be amazed if a 41 yr old woman had a properly symptomatic aneurysm (which if it is the case, is a medical emergency and needs urgent repair). If your wife is slim enough then it is quite possible to feel a normal aorta.
this

I've felt my wife's, nowt wrong with her aorta, as I said to the bloke in the pub


{fnarr}

dave_s13

13,814 posts

269 months

Friday 5th February 2016
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Is she otherwise fit and well, not unusually tall, facially "normal, not overly bendy, arm span longer than her height???

I only mention as I saw a chap the other week that we think might fall within the marfanoid habitius, one cause of sudden death is aortic rupture.

It's very, very unlikely but it was a new one on me.

Very unlicky if she does have something wrong in that area but it's much much better to know about it than not.

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
Is she otherwise fit and well, not unusually tall, facially "normal, not overly bendy, arm span longer than her height???

I only mention as I saw a chap the other week that we think might fall within the marfanoid habitius, one cause of sudden death is aortic rupture.

It's very, very unlikely but it was a new one on me.

Very unlicky if she does have something wrong in that area but it's much much better to know about it than not.
she is normally fit and well, not tall (the opposite in fact).

Currently booked in for a scan next Thursday, will see if any cancellations. Shall report back.

For those saying it isn't, any guesses as to what it could be?

Cupramax

10,478 posts

252 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
My dad had an aortic aneurysm, lets put it like this, you wouldnt want it to burst like his did. He survived thanks to the wonders of the NHS but not entirely 100%, was left with vascular demetia as a result.

FlyingMeeces

9,932 posts

211 months

Friday 5th February 2016
quotequote all
Is she stretchy/bendy/double-jointed/hypermobile?

Skin unusually prone to scarring?

I think a healthy-seeming young person with an aortic aneurysm has got to be an amazingly unusual occurrence, hopefully it ain't that at all and just the aorta being noticeable like others said.

I get mine checked every so often because I have a genetic condition that increases the chance of problems, no sign of issues every time so far, hope that's the case for her too.

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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Quick update

Had a scan last night and as predicted the consultant said its not an aneurysm. He was inconclusive, but could certainly feel the aortic pulse through skin in her belly.

The pain is coming from the bowel he believes but that scan was not able to say what it was. Back to the drawing board, £300 already spent on fees

zeDuffMan

4,055 posts

151 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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Is the pain coming from anywhere specific? If you break down the abdomen into four quarters which area is it coming from? Front or back?

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
zeDuffMan said:
Is the pain coming from anywhere specific? If you break down the abdomen into four quarters which area is it coming from? Front or back?
Front (although she has pain in her back too), top right (or top left if you were looking at her facing you)

zeDuffMan

4,055 posts

151 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
Kudos said:
Front (although she has pain in her back too), top right (or top left if you were looking at her facing you)
Gallstones maybe? Although I'd imagine the GP would have thought about that.

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
zeDuffMan said:
Gallstones maybe? Although I'd imagine the GP would have thought about that.
Possibility. Awaiting call back from doc with some more ideas!

bayleaf

285 posts

99 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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Kudos said:
£300 already spent on fees
Touching.

dave_s13

13,814 posts

269 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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bayleaf said:
Kudos said:
£300 already spent on fees
Touching.
Why are you paying for it. I'd assume the NHS would be pretty hot with getting something like this ruled out.

Let's hope it's something trivial anyway, good luck to you both.

Kudos

Original Poster:

2,672 posts

174 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
quotequote all
dave_s13 said:
Why are you paying for it. I'd assume the NHS would be pretty hot with getting something like this ruled out.

Let's hope it's something trivial anyway, good luck to you both.
Thanks.

We went private as was a ridiculous 2 weeks wait to see a GP which would then have no doubt led to a many week/month delay in a scan. From initial phone call to consultation then scan was 8 days.

anonymous-user

54 months

Wednesday 10th February 2016
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Cupramax said:
My dad had an aortic aneurysm, lets put it like this, you wouldnt want it to burst like his did. He survived thanks to the wonders of the NHS but not entirely 100%, was left with vascular demetia as a result.
Exactly what happend to my Father, except he didn't survive - OP please take this very seriosuly.