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AAA surgery

  • 1.  AAA surgery

    Posted 10-05-2021 10:07
    #hello everyone I'm jon
    on august 1 2021 I had a pain on my side of my back and it was a pain no one should ever have it was like pounding non stop for two days. On the second day I couldn't take it and more and it was getting worse. So I called the ambulance they got me inside and took me to the hospital the doctor called for a CT scan from there they sent me into a room and all I remember is telling somebody please help me The pain is unbearable.It seemed  for ever lying there on the gurney finally they came in and the doctor said get him out of here he's going to die. They rushed me out to the helicopter they finally gave me something for the pain and I passed out I had a 2 Hour Helicopter flight two Portland Oregon Emmanuel legacy hospital from there I do not remember a thing. I woke up in the ICU my surgeon eventually came in and talk to me from there he immediately started drawing up what happened to me and what he had to fix he explained to me my aortic artery Behind my lungs was the size of a grapefruit down towards my leg I had another aneurysm in my aortic artery. My surgeon explain to me I am very lucky because when he open me up my aortic artery that was the size of a grapefruit bursted. I now have two graphs on my artery. The tingling this in my feet Is getting better but my bowls still have problems I hope this goes away and I can become normal. I'm still very scared on what happened but I'm slowly doing better.

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    jon klingler
    Roseberg OR
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  • 2.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-05-2021 17:48
    Thank you πŸ™ for sharing your story, I pray πŸ™ and wish the best for you.

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    Long Tran


    Omaha
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  • 3.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-05-2021 19:09
    thank you long tran

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    jon klingler
    Roseberg OR
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-06-2021 01:07
    Glad you made it jon!  Thanks for sharing.  I think things should be a little easier going forwards!

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    Ed M
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-06-2021 01:14
    I hope so it's been a while since the surgery. And thank you πŸ™ 

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    jon klingler
    Roseberg OR
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-06-2021 16:26
    Hello Jon,
    What an ordeal. Glad you wrote about what happened to you. Take heart and take a deep breath. You are healing now.
    Day by day, best wishes
    Doris

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    Doris Edwards
    Retired RN
    Dublin, Ohio
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  • 7.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-06-2021 16:47
    thank you Doris. It's has taken a while and I'm still looking for answers for my stomach problems  and feet tingling and other things it's a process.

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    jon klingler
    Roseberg OR
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-06-2021 16:57
    Yes, it's certainly a process.
     You've obviously had good doctors
    You've also been through A LOT. Hang in there.  I'm a year out from open heart and still healing

    DE

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    Doris Edwards
    Retired RN
    Dublin, Ohio
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-11-2021 15:05
    Amazing story of survival Jon I wish 
    you a full recovery, thanks for sharing your story. Diane 


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    diane stewart
    retired
    briarcliff manor NY
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  • 10.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-11-2021 16:03
    thank you Diane. After being a landscape contractor and a exmotocross racer and very active person it's hard not doing anything I'm slowly getting active again.

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    jon klingler
    Roseberg OR
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 10-13-2021 08:12
    You're amazing πŸ’ͺ.

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    Long Tran
    Omaha
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 02-08-2023 08:31
      |   view attached
    Thank you for sharing your experience Jon. It sounds like you were very lucky, glad to know you're doing better. I am new to this forum and just found it yesterday. I've been recently diagnosed with a 4.6 cm aortic aneurysm found on a CT scan because I was having back pain. I have been crying a lot trying to absorb what this means. I am 58 just had my third grandchild who is six days old. The only physical symptoms that I can feel is a pulsing pounding beat in my stomach to the left of my belly button and some back pain. I am seeing a vascular surgeon in about 10 days he practices at Oregon health science university. My doctor said if there's any change, they will do surgery right away. I have lupus and Sjogren's and have been on steroids long-term and they think that this is likely why I got this aneurysm. I already have one in my brain that they have been watching for 12 years that has not grown. I've been put on a statin and a beta blocker. Today was the first day I have not cried, finding that there are other women out there with this condition, brought me some peace. I did not feel so alone. It is touted as a man's issue when you research it very few women get it according to statistics but here I have seen the post of many women and that has been helpful. My doctor wants me to have endovascular repair and says that in 10 years or maybe newer treatments. I am on the small side, 5 6, 120 pounds, he says when you're smaller you can often feel the AAA. I was pretty active, until I fell down the stairs and fractured my foot and about two weeks later then this all started. I have gone back in my MRIs from 2014 and 2018 and I have had a doctor look at them that thinks the aneurysm was starting in 2014 but for sure was there in 2018. He said perhaps it did not measure big enough to be called quote an AAA but it definitely was a big change from 2014. I feel a little hopeless and overwhelmed. I've already had a lot of health stuff in my life and even though people tell me how strong I am I don't feel that way right now. I feel vulnerable like I can't pick up my granddaughter without worrying about it and she's 18 pounds. I worry now about being able to be active. Once my foot heals. I have generally good blood pressure have been trending a little high the last several years like 124/70 but the beta blocker is keeping it lower. I do have high genetically cholesterol but have a very high good cholesterol of 102 so my ratio is actually in the middle but that may have contributed to this ~also I don't have any hardening of the arteries or other abnormalities seen. Diagnosed when I was 30 at Scripps in La Jolla by Dr. Robert Fox, to have very aggressive Sjogren's the most "aggressive case he had ever seen and he told me I would have problems later in life. I guess this is later. I love my family and adore my grandchildren and want to be able to spend as much time as possible with them. My doctor says he thinks I am a good candidate for the endovascular repair.I am small and young and he thinks I will do relatively well, I am waiting to see what the vascular surgeon says. I noticed some people recommend going to Cleveland clinic and such, can I ask how many opinions people got before surgery? and if other people felt the pulsing in their abdominal area.? I'm thankful for finding this community, this is a scary thing to be told, when I've had no previous heart problems and just came out of right field as I am sure it has for most people here. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for sharing all your stories and experiences.

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    Mollie Carey
    Artist
    SALEM OR
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  • 13.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 08-06-2025 14:01

    Very similar situation.  Belt line pain that went ambulance, Er, CT scan, Or, Induced intubated coma, All caused by ruptured illiac aorta, reaired with graft from left leg. πŸ›Œ  ridden led to severe strain on arthritic back with bed pan and xray board. Add a large anus sore which compromised bowel movements. Back to surgery 30 days after admission for adding an illiostomy, extending my stay in ICU to 44 days. On day 45  after rwo step to sit in chair and two step back to bed, sent off to the resthome for rehab. Circulation loss in both legs and feet led to talk of amputation, that was rejected by vote of thethe  team of Drs. Let's add my chronic leg ulcer which was having a grand ole time on the lessend blood flow. Went as a  2 pack a day smoker and 4-8 ounce a day drinker,  had the easiest cold turkey one could ask for. 49  months later no booze or nicotine. Well now add the repair of 4.1cm illiac anerysm on July 6 , repaired using non-evasive coil through  belt ine incisions. Positive results are a repair of illiac aorta, a confirmed hope the coil may increase blood flow to legs and feet, and an added bonus of some significant healing πŸ˜€ for the ulcers.Doctors convince all  caused alcohol , cigarettes, and family history. Have a great day ,I am as I'm still enjoying life. Albeit a liitliit



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    Douglas D MacIVER
    HANOVER MA
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  • 14.  RE: AAA surgery

    Posted 08-18-2025 11:31

    I don't think we had the same thing, but mine was a dissection of the aorta...bank pain was mostly in upper right shoulder area and I had much general weakness...but same thing as far as the copter ride...though mine was minutes not hours.  Give yourself time, it's slow, but you'll gradually come back to being yourself again.  THe nursing staff pressured me to go to rehab which I succumbed to and will never again...my healing began and PT was better at home where I had my pup and had to as a result go up and down some steps a few times a day.  Next month it will be 5 years since it happened.  Take good care:-)  It is very scary btw, and for me ...well I still am on edge when out by myself which is often.  



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    Robin Rosner
    N/A
    Cleveland
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