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Personal Stories: Bill Hancy-told by wife |
Bill (age 65- no history of high BP) was relaxing at home New Year's
Eve 2007. Got up to shave (8:00 pm) and began to have pains in his
back kidney area. They became so intense he almost went down to his
knees. He kept thinking it was some severe muscle cramp. No
position eased the pain. The pain then radiated up his back to the
shoulder blade area and continued to worsen. He and I thought it
was possibly gallbladder - called a friend so said "no way". Pain
in the back can also be heart related. After much coaxing Bill gave
in to a trip to the ER.
We checked in, sat down, Bill got more uncomfortable and I thought
he was going to pass out. You can imagine how full the ER was at
10:30 p.m. New Year's Eve. I went to the nurse and said "I think he
is going to pass out". They immediately got him a bed and checked
his BP. Action began. Then a CT scan of the abdomen/pelvis, much
movement by the doctors and another CT scan of the chest area. Now
that I've read the reports, both showed the Type B (Descending)
Aortic Dissection.
We live in a small town SE of Dallas. After several calls to area
hospitals - everyone said "this is too big for us - send him to
Dallas". Parkland hospital in Dallas said "bring him on". They
have the top trauma/burn center in Texas. So they loaded him on the
helicopter, I watched him take off wondering if I would make it to
Dallas in time. I had never driven in Dallas and I couldn't believe
how adrenaline can help you do things you never thought you could.
By the time they had stabilized him for takeoff - it was around 4:00
a.m. So God opened the roads for me, no traffic, and I made it
straight to the ER in record time - never got lost. Felt like
someone else was driving the whole way!!
Bill was eventually moved from ER to SICU where he stayed for 5
days. Working to get the right set of BP meds to keep his BP below
120. They wanted him off all the drips and taking pills before they
released him. He did suffer temporary renal failure but we learned
it was from the dye in the CT scans. Before any future CT scans he
has to be prepped with a Sodium Bicarb Dextrose drip. They did
this before later CT scans with no problem to his kidneys. He
suffered no organ damage via the AD. He is so lucky.
The dissection is from his left subclavian artery into the bilateral
common iliac artery. Pulse in legs, feet, etc are excellent. One
doctor said thed issection is in the shape of a cone - narrowing as
it continues down.
He was released to a telemetry room for 4.5 days -- he was released
to go home January 9, 2008. That first week home was so
uncomfortable. He had been told to do NOTHING for at least two
weeks. And believe me he isn't. We could hardly sleep - not being
hooked up to the monitors and having a nurse at your beck and call
was a bit unsettling. But today is Sunday, January 20 and we are
relaxing. He is on a low fat, low cholesterol, and less than 2 gram
sodium diet and it is really helping too. In fact his blood
pressure was so low the first week that we had to get with the
lead cardiologist -- he suggested we stop taking the last of the BP
meds they added and see how he does. He has done great since. The
light-headiness is gone and some of the weakness has lessened. The
last two days he says he's beginning to feel like a real person
again. He stays in the recliner most of the time - his mind is
totally on healing and doing NOTHING. The BP has stayed below 120
everyday. His diastolic and pulse are low but acceptable.
Our first doctor appointment is Tuesday, January 22. We've never
been to this cardiologist in town (the only one) -- if he hasn't
dealt with an AD before we will probably continue to look in another
town.
Thanks to all who answered questions for us during that first week
home. You are life-savers for the caregiver. Now we want to know
how long does it take for the dissection to heal (scar over). Some
say it doesn't, some say it does. To all AD members: please
continue to provide input on your recovery -- you give the rest of
us hope. Bill and I wish you blessed days and look forward to
giving you continued positive input on his recovery !!
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