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Ascending Aortic Aneurysm / My Terrifying Story
My Terrifying Story
My journey began with researching to find the best surgeon for my ascending aortic aneurysm surgery. The aneurysm had grown to 5 cm, and since I have Parkinson's disease, delaying surgery could have made my recovery much harder.
After careful consideration, I chose a highly skilled and successful surgeon in Orange County. My surgery was scheduled for December 3. The operation lasted about eight hours. The aneurysm in my ascending aorta was replaced with specific tubes, and thankfully, my bicuspid aortic valve didn’t need replacement, which reduced the surgery time by three hours. The surgeon told my family the operation was a success.
On December 5, it was time to remove my drainage tubes. A physician assistant came to my room and asked me to take deep breaths as she removed the tubes. The first two were painful but manageable. However, when she pulled out the third tube, the pain was unbearable.
I started tossing and turning, struggling to find a comfortable position. After open-heart surgery, you can't use your arms to lift yourself, and my Parkinson’s disease made movement even more difficult. I called the nurses repeatedly, explaining that the pain was excruciating. They assured me it was normal.
Suddenly, I noticed my stomach felt wet. When I lifted the sheet, I saw blood covering my stomach. Alarmed, I called the nurse again. Her assistant came, casually wiped the blood, and shockingly asked, “Are you still on your period?” I cried out, explaining that I was 61 years old, and the blood was coming from the surgical holes in my stomach.
As time passed, my breathing became shallow, and I felt severe pain in my upper left shoulder and back. Thankfully, my sister was with me. She ran to the nurses' station, yelling for help. A nurse finally came and, seeing my blue lips and difficulty breathing, called a "Code Blue."
My surgeon wasn’t available, but the on-call surgeon, an anesthesiologist, and other medical staff rushed to my room. A radiologist performed an echocardiogram and found blood filling the sac around my heart, preventing it from pumping. I was experiencing tamponade, a life threatening condition.
They quickly moved me back to the operating room. I was fully awake and aware of everything as they prepared for surgery. Unlike the first time, I hadn’t fasted, nor was I sedated before being taken into the operatin
About three hours later, I woke up in the recovery room with tubes in my stomach, gagging and vomiting. My family and friends watched from behind a window, relieved to see me alive.
The surgeon whispered, “You have a new birthday—December 5, 2024. You were reborn.” They told me I had been gone for a few seconds.
Reflecting on this terrifying experience, I focus on the positive: I survived. If I hadn’t been in the hospital when the tamponade occurred, I might not be here today. Life is fragile—a fine line between life and death.
I’m incredibly grateful for the quick action of the medical team that saved my life. Neil Armstrong, the astronaut who was the first person to walk on the moon, died from the same condition, tamponade. Instead of taking him back to the operating room, they took him for a CT scan for further evaluation, and he passed away.
Although my recovery is very slow & challenging after my chest being opened twice within two days; I guess I’m extremely lucky to still be here to share my story!
Thank you.
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In my story, I have not mentioned any names or blamed anyone for the incident that caused my near-death experience.
However, I would like my circumstances to be taken seriously enough to inspire changes in medical practice. Apparently, when the physician assistant (PA) yanked the drainage tubes from my stomach, it tore my heart because a very thin needle was attached to the middle drainage tube, causing the bleeding.
Leaving the thin needle in heart, acting like a pacemaker and removing it after a couple of days, is a normal procedure. However, such a sensitive task, that could cost someone’s life; should not be handled by a PA alone.
I believe at least two medical professionals should be present: one to pull the drainage tube and another to locate the exact position of the needle using an echocardiogram or ultrasound to pinpoint the location When the PA yanked the tube attached to the needle, I knew my unbearable pain was not normal. Unfortunately, nobody believed me until it became a matter of life and death.
I want to make sure that no one else goes through , not only painful but also life-threatening, experience as I did!!!
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5 ReactionsYou are very lucky and the medical staff was very negligent. You may not blame them, but I do. This should never have happened. I have to wonder what the follow up by the hospital was. Was there an investigation of the circumstances? Was anyone held accountable or was the whole thing hushed up? Best wishes for a full recovery.
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3 ReactionsI agree with Pamela78. The medical staff and the attending doctor were negligent in my opinion too. Whenever a patient expresses that much pain, they should have STOPPED IMMEDIATELY and reassessed what they were doing and why you were experiencing so much pain. The obvious bleeding afterwards should have set off alarm bells immediately. Their complacency and apparent lack of concern was shocking in my opinion. I hope you will hold the hospital accountable to prevent them from allowing this to happen again in the future with other patients. I think I would be adamantly demanding a FULL written report on what exactly happened, why, and what corrective/disciplinary measures have been taken.
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2 ReactionsI am so sorry for what you have been through. You are very lucky to be alive. I retired from nursing in March, at the age of 70. Medicine has changed so much, since I started practicing. I was taught in nursing school that pain is subjective. Pain is what a patient says it is, whenever and wherever they have it. My job was to find the source and get the patient some relief. If I wasn't able to, my job was to find someone who could, even if they yelled at me for bothering them. It angers me that your cries for help were ignored. I'm glad you had family with you.
I was diagnosed in September. Mine is 4.2 cm. I'm hoping that mine grows slowly and I never have to have surgery or when I do they will have developed an easier way.
Thanks for sharing your story. Prayers for your continued recovery. 🙏
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2 ReactionsOur Lord had His hand on you. May He continue to bless you.
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2 ReactionsI am so very sorry for this horrifying experience you suffered and I will send you my prayers and Reiki to clear your heart of this🙏🌀
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