• Welcome to Autism Forums, a friendly forum to discuss Aspergers Syndrome, Autism, High Functioning Autism and related conditions.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Private Member only forums for more serious discussions that you may wish to not have guests or search engines access to.
    • Your very own blog. Write about anything you like on your own individual blog.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon! Please also check us out @ https://www.twitter.com/aspiescentral

What is an aneurysm?

Yeshuasdaughter

You know, that one lady we met that one time.
V.I.P Member
I know a little bit about many cardiac and pulmonary conditions. I even worked in a lab making guidewires for angioplasty.

But an aneurysm, I know next to nothing about, except frightening images from tv dramas. I have a 4 cm aneurysm on my descending aorta. Is it as bad as it sounds? I am very very frightened of it. I can't sleep. It makes me cry. I don't see my doctor until Wednesday. All I want is big strong trusted arms around me, and a soothing voice. I'm so scared. I know nothing about it. I can't find much on the internet. And what I do know, is from dramatic fictional storylines.
 
Wikipedia is your friend!
An aneurysm is an outward bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also be a nidus for clot formation and embolization.
 
I’m so sorry you’re in the middle of a medical crisis. I don’t mean the physical part; I mean the emotional and fear and panic part. Just reading you words sends me to times I have felt the same. It’s horrible.

An aneurism is a spot in a blood vessel where the walls of the vessel have become thin. The walls kind of bulge out at the thin part. Because the walls are thinner, they could break and the blood would escape.

It can be corrected with surgery.
 
@Yeshuasdaughter, my personal story is a little different but, perhaps related. I have 25-50% blockage in my left anterior descending artery (in the heart.) This puts me at borderline high risk of a heart attack (along with the blockages in two other cardiac arteries.) Regular checkups with your doctor (GP and cardiologist for me) will become part of your life going forward. Your aneurysm seems to be one of the more common presentations - I cannot give you ideas on the frequency of the “bad stuff.” Perhaps what I can give you is the acceptance. We both have (possibly) life threatening health conditions. As I understand it, neither of us can do anything to reverse this. We continue living, checking with our physicians as recommended, and try to live our best lives. My thoughts are with you.
 
@Yeshuasdaughter

So sorry to hear that but

1) count yourself twice blessed because most people learn about an aneurysm when it breaks and is too late and

2) it's very treatable with modern medicine and you'll be better than before.

The stories in the internet are scary because of 1). It's scary when it breaks but because of 2), not terrible if discovery early. It's truly lucky to find one early.

Don't delay care. Have your doctor treat it quickly. Depending on the location, the treatment is not even that invasive.
 
My mother had an AAA. It is caused by suffering from high blood pressure, which is the culprit for CKD. My mum was a heavy smoker.

Gradually, your kidneys lose their function to filter out toxins, so you can only survive by receiving a transplant or being put on dialysis.

I don't know the cause of other aneurysms, but I think it can be genetic too, as was the case with the late singer, Laura Branigan. If it runs in the family, you need to be aware of this.
 
Guys, careful with the info.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for a host of things. Smoking is a risk factor for an aneurysm.

You are talking about an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Different things. Different risks. Different situations.

No need to scare @Yeshuasdaughter
 
Don't you just love getting old? My guy friend is moving in, and l am already guessing the odds of which one of us is leaving first. I am actually betting on myself. Stay strong, don't let this beat up your very determined spirit to live. Your daughter needs you, and she needs all your love. You just go to the doctors, find out the logistics, ask the questions for treatment options, and make the best informed decision, and take control of this.
 
It's really scary. Especially telling people. They get this scared look, or a shake in their voice, and they ask, "What's an aneurysm?" I don't want to scare anyone. And I don't want to have surgery or anything awful. I just want to share playful joy and love with those who are closest to me.
 
Whenever I hear the word aneurysm I think of the kind that causes blood vessels to burst in one's brain, resulting in severe debilitation and/or death. I read that getting a sudden severe headache (known as a thunderclap headache) can be a symptom.

This can be terrifying to people with health anxiety when even normal everyday sensations could be the symptom of a horrible disease. For the past 4 years I've kept thinking I have covid because I don't know If I'm tasting food normally or not. Now I know for a fact that bird flu will mutate and kill millions of humans and animals by November. We can forget about having turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We can forget about having toilet paper again, too.
Politicians are evil, humans are morons, the planet is doomed. Have a nice day.😶
 

New Threads

Top Bottom