Thanks Kari. I am close to UCLA but not convenient. As if that matters when it comes to the surgery. After many years of unresolved pain and CT after CT I have a diagnosis from a CT Angio. Really, I wonder if it's a crazy fluke or some really great technician catching it.

I want my first visit to a vascular surgeon to be someone I am comfortable with and I want to be prepared with all my questions before I go. UCSD has some great doctors and I'll call tomorrow and see if their department can help me find the right doctor.

If this is the actual problem then I will feel great relief that I am not a hypochondriac! I have a pretty good health history. About 18 years ago I had a tubal pregnancy and when they did the laparoscopy to removed it they nicked my bowel and had to open me all the way up. Periodically since then I have diverticulitis attacks that come and go. Maybe every couple of years. When I complain about this pain they say it's GERD. My only other health condition is chronic migraines and it makes any medication or change in diet very difficult. I do have Hashimotos Thyroiditis which is autoimmune. Really, what I'm trying to say is that I don't suffer from other vascular or gastro problems. My first attack with this pain was 7 years ago in the middle of the night and we thought it was a heart attack. There was no diagnosis from that 3 day hospital stay. In the past few years the pain has been pretty constant, sometimes better than others.

I love first thing in the morning when I wake up and am lying there, for just a few minutes, when there is no pain. It is the nicest thing. Then the pain washes through me.