Flat abs

New Lease of Life

New lease of life… My True Story by Peter Carroll

‘You are a typical candidate for operation,’ my GP smiled as if to reassure me there was some hope for the old timer yet.

The thing is I went to see him originally about a month before about what I thought was a straight forward back ache and could I have a prescription please. But one thing lead to another until I was eventually diagnosed having this huge prostrate problem, but fortunately it was benign so, rather than have an operation I opted for just the capsules.

But that wasn’t the end of it. My GP., having taken blood tests for my prostrate discovered something unusual and sent me for a further tests. ‘Peter, I have received your results and would like you to attend Torbay hospital for a CT scan,’ he said.

A week after my scan he called me back to the surgery: ‘I have to tell you, you have a very large abdominal aortic aneurism which requires urgent repair.’ He went on to explain that an aneurysm is the stretching of a weakened artery which balloons out rather like a worn motor car tyre – and in my case the aneurysm effected the aorta which was the main artery into the abdomen. If that ruptured my chances if survival would be unlikely so my GP pressed for an urgent consultation with the head vascular surgeon at Torbay hospital.

I was fortunate indeed that the back ache prompted me to do something which I hadn’t done for years, to see a Doctor because symptoms of this very dangerous condition were not generally apparent and many fatalities are incurred annually because of this. The medical profession is still unsure what prompts the condition to arise in the first place. There is also a one in four chance of mail descendents developing the condition in later life and should be advised to have a scan when they reach 50. Although it is hoped that in the near future all males in this age group will qualify for a free scan.

If an aneurysm is caught in the early stages an operation my not be required, the condition is regularly monitored and if acute swelling is apparent an operation can be carried out before the aneurysm becomes a problem.

At the age of 72 my operation was maybe considered to be a little risky although everybody I met at Derriford Hospital, some my age and some older had successful operations thanks to the expertise of the surgical and medical staff. I undertook all the necessary pre op tests to endure I was a good candidate for the major operation which fortunately I passes just above average, Fortunately I stopped smoking 3 years before so all was all set. Despite this my consultant wanted to ask for a second opinion, that of his mentor, the head vascular surgeon at Derriford Hospital., because of the closeness of my amorism to my kidneys.. That mean another CD 3D scan at Plymouth and it was decided I would be admitted into Derriford for the operation on the 27th June, 2005.

On the 6th July I was discharged – the operation had been good and the repair completely satisfactorily – a polyester tube placed inside the weakened artery after a neat cut down the centre of the artery to form a sac which , after placement of the tube, was sown double breasted over the graft to complete the operation.

This undoubtedly saved my life and gave me, and several others like me in the Erme ward, a new lease of life.

I shall never forget the sheer determination and utter devotion given of all the medical staff, their patience and always cheerful and pleasant stance, nothing being too much. This in itself played a very big part in a very rapid recovery from e very serious operation and one must give every praise to all the medical fraternity do, given the very special postoperative nursing and treatment required after such an operation.

Right down from the surgeon, the theatre staff, the trained and staff in training including, at Plymouth, some from the services not to forget the cleaners and meal staff.

A full year has now passed and the 4th of July 2006 marked Henry’s first birthday. Henry? – well you see I am now bionic and that is the name I have given to the tube inside.

Than you all those wonderful medics for my giving me a new lease of life so precious.

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About the Author

Aged 75 now retired, Have written for magazines and newspapers

The treatment of abdominal aortic aneurism by wiring and electrolysis: A critical study of the method based upon the latest clinical data …

Case of aneurism of the abdominal aorta …