On May 8th, I suffered an Aortic Dissection that I had no idea was coming. I am a self employed plumber and was working by myself in a vacant house in Exeter, ...Read more
On May 8th, I suffered an Aortic Dissection that I had no idea was coming. I am a self employed plumber and was working by myself in a vacant house in Exeter, NH. While waiting for the water department to show up, I got this terrible taste in my mouth, then a pain in my chest. I knew something was wrong , so I took my cell phone from my pocket and called 911. I sat on the deck and waited and the ambulance arrived within a few minutes. I was taken to Exeter Hospital where they diagnosed me and called for an Air Lift to Massachusetts General Hospital. I underwent an 8 hr surgery to repair the aortic valve and repair the dissected ascending aorta. I survived the surgery and Spent three days in intensive care and 9 days in the Cardiac Unit. I was told that only about 2% survive this kind of event, most don't make it to surgery. Is there someone else on this site who has experienced this?
Helen Gorman My experience was not so severe, I was already in the hospital being prepared for a stay in rehab whe ... Read more
Helen Gorman My experience was not so severe, I was already in the hospital being prepared for a stay in rehab when the darkness fell . Iwas in cardiac arrest! I was fortunate to have immediate CPR. I'm currently in rehab, waiting the return of my cardiologist and whatever comes next in the repair of my aortic valve.I've been told the percentage of those surviving CPR is not inspiring. wish you good health, joy and happiness.
Shannon Gray Thankful you have made it through... how very frightening. We all know of John Ritter and Alan Thicke ... Read more
Shannon Gray Thankful you have made it through... how very frightening. We all know of John Ritter and Alan Thicke who had aortic dissections... I did not have an aortic dissection but my aorta was enlarged (aneurysm) but was found in time to have surgery before it dissected. Thank you for sharing your powerful story. Wishes for an uneventful recovery and good health.
Marie Myers You are indeed a very lucky guy! I can only imagine how intense an experience you had. Give yourself ... Read more
Marie Myers You are indeed a very lucky guy! I can only imagine how intense an experience you had. Give yourself the time and patience to process it all, and heal totally!
Mike Roskowinski That is amazing Doug. I did not have such an experience. My aneurysm was detected on an echo and I ... Read more
Mike Roskowinski That is amazing Doug. I did not have such an experience. My aneurysm was detected on an echo and I had it fixed 2 months later. You are one lucky man!
Herb Greenberg You are among the VERY lucky. Better than winning the lottery! My brother's brother-in-law died of a ... Read more
Herb Greenberg You are among the VERY lucky. Better than winning the lottery! My brother's brother-in-law died of a dissection. Made it to the hospital, repaired, but never made it out of the hospital. Many of us here are lucky in a different way - in the sense that we know we have expanding aortas, so we hope to catch it before dissection. Curious - did your docs mention whether you have what is known as a bicuspid aortic valve? There is often, but not always, a relationship.
Barbara Wood Wow Doug, you are a lucky man! Best wishes from a fellow New Hampshire(ite?). Best wishes to Helen as ... Read more
Barbara Wood Wow Doug, you are a lucky man! Best wishes from a fellow New Hampshire(ite?). Best wishes to Helen as well!
Civita Fahey Wow Doug you are so luck. My brother in law had an aortic dissection and he didn't survive. I wish yo ... Read more
Civita Fahey Wow Doug you are so luck. My brother in law had an aortic dissection and he didn't survive. I wish you the best from your neighbor in Topsfield Mass.
Rob Scilingo I am new to this site as well Doug. But, I can tell you that the support you will get here is top no ... Read more
Rob Scilingo I am new to this site as well Doug. But, I can tell you that the support you will get here is top notch. No other site stacks up to this group of folks in here.
Tracy Fallu The support and patient experience is superior.
Catie B Welcome, Doug! Oh my, did you have an aortic dissection?
Doug Barker thank you for your responses & encouragement. Yes Catie, I did have an Aortic Dissection on May 8th. ... Read more
Doug Barker thank you for your responses & encouragement. Yes Catie, I did have an Aortic Dissection on May 8th. Was air lifted from Exeter, NH to Mass General in Boston, MA where I underwent surgery (10 hrs) and was told after that most people don't even make it to surgery, and early on, the survival rate is only 2%. But here I am, 3 months later and doing great!!!
Catie B Doug, I'm so thankful to hear they were able to get you to Boston ASAP and that emergency surgery and ... Read more
Catie B Doug, I'm so thankful to hear they were able to get you to Boston ASAP and that emergency surgery and fine care brought you through! Awesome!! I had surgery on a gradually expanding aortic aneurysm and my valve in 2016 and understand the seriousness of your condition. I'm glad you found the forum and wish you the best!
I am from: East Kingston
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