Aneurysm screening....

[Lisa]

Not that this necessarily has anything to do with being diagnosed with Crohns', but I thought I'd share.....

My Mom was diagnosed a few years ago with a splenic AND aortic aneurysm...the aortic one is checked every 6 months for changes, and the one in her spleen had a coil put in it to block it. No big deal (unless something happens, right?).....

Well - did you know this can run in families? Turns out my Aunt (Mom's older sister) also has an aortic aneurysm.....AND her son (my cousin) recently died at @51 from what was originally thought to be a heart attack, but an inquiry determined it was from a ruptured aneurysm! :eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2:

So, Now I'm waiting to hear back from my GI's office, who is working on scheduling an ultrasound for me for screening purposes.....keeping my fingers crossed! Thankfully I have insurance that will cover this, and I don't have to jump through hoops with my primary office...as I prefer to get tests such as this done though the hospital where I see my GI. Keeps records all in one place!!!

 

[Scipio]

Good luck to you. I hope everything tests out as normal.

I had a splenic aneurysm that ruptured back in 2002. I collapsed with sudden-onset pain and low blood pressure. It took about 8 hours in the ER for them to finally diagnose it, which was followed immediately by emergency surgery to stop the bleeding and remove my spleen.

Now, 16 years later, I have a an aortic aneurysm located very near the heart. My doctor has it examined every 6 months, and so far it is stable or growing only very slowly. It is a little bit smaller than the size where they start to do something about it.

Add it to the list along with Crohn's and Afib as one more of my chronic health problems.

 

[Beach]

You likely saw the news, if not the other week the FDA warned Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause aneurysms.


FDA Warns Certain Antibiotics May Cause Aortic Aneurysm

https://ktla.com/2018/12/21/fda-warns-certain-antibiotics-may-cause-aortic-aneurysm/

 

[Beach]

If it might be helpful, read today this mention on a theory for the cause of aneurysms. It was an interesting article overall in that it highlights the difference in how cardiovascular disease is treated between the causes of stokes and heart attacks even though the two have the same underlining cause.

https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2019/01/15/what-causes-heart-disease-part-61-strokes/

excerpt:

...An interesting question, and I have seen different views on this is whether a small blood clot travels to the brain where it gets stuck, but does not completely block the artery, so it does not cause a stroke, but it creates an area of damage – which is then repaired – that leaves a weakness in the artery that balloons out – an aneurysm.

Anyway, the most common cause of a stroke is that large atherosclerotic plaques form in the main arteries that supply blood to the brain (carotid arteries). These plaques usually form around the base of the neck. A blood clot then forms on top of the plaque, then breaks off and travels to the brain, where it gets stuck – as with atrial fibrillation – causing a stroke. The effect is the same as with AF, but the underlying causing is completely different....

 

[Lisa]

Thanks...good news, I had the screening ultrasound done on Monday morning, and it came back clear!!!

 

[Beach]

Wonderful to hear! Glad the scan came back clear.

A number of years ago I had a heart CT scan done. It came back with a high calcium/plaque score. So as a result I do what I can to prevent a heart attack or stroke.