about aeortic dissection

My mother died from aeortic dissection 3 weeks ago, no one in my family ever heard anything about it, my mother seemed fine to all of us, then on Saturday Aug 2, she was rushed to the hospital and died in less than 3 hours, was it possible she could have been having any symptoms the week up to her death and not telling anyone, or does it just hit you that fast without any warning.  I dont understand, they call it a rare disease, but how long was she living with it, and if she would have been tested for it could they have saved her, she was one week away from being 73.

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I am very sorry to hear that.  If you remember, this is what John Ritter died from (from three's company), my college roommates mother died from and my uncle just had an aortic replacement to prevent.  It is true that they are rare, but no that rare.

It can happen with no warning and it can happen with symptoms leading up to one big event -- it depends on the situation.  It is common in people with bicuspid aortic valves, Marfans syndrome.  Anther important risk factors is hypertension.

Most aortic dissections start out as aortic aneurysm. It is sometimes picked up on a chest CT, MRI, chest xray, or echocardiogram.  If she hadn't had any of these studies, it is very easy for it go undiagnosed.  She probably lived with an aortic aneurysm for years but the dissection likely occured within 24 hours of her death.

You and your family are in my thoughs and prayers.

[kat4]

razor24,

I am so sorry about your Mom.

My grandfather died from this in his early 70s, without having mentioned any problems to anyone before hand.

You probably know that when someone passes way, it is easy to drive yourself crazy with what ifs...

[roblenh73]

I am very sorry about your mother.  

I suffered from an aeortic dissection (caused by an aneurysm) and nearly died in August of 2006. I had to have emergency open heart surgery. This was shortly after the birth of my second child ( I was only 32 at the time).  I was told that I was one of only a handful of survivors as this is rare.  

I honestly can say that I did not have symptoms beforehand that were that noticeable to raise any concern.  In hind sight, I realize that I was short of breath and was having dizzy spells about a month before.  I explained them away.  The dizzy spells were simply becuase I stood up too fast and the shortness of breath was caused by my allergies.  Maybe had I realized that these were signs of a heart problem, I may have gotten a check up.  But I had also been back and forth to several docto visits because I had just given birth.  So naturally I figured nothing was wrong with me.  It all happened so quick and beleive it or not, it was not horribly painful.  The initial shock of the situation was scairy but once I got through that, everything was very peaceful. I would like to say that she didn't suffer, because I didn't but I know everyone is different. I hope my story was of some help or comfort to you. Again I am very sorry for your loss.

~Robin Lenhart

[CYNDI0318]

A related discussion, heart pain was started.