I am a 73-year-old male and my aneurysm was discovered in 1999 by accident. I have had an ultrasound or MRI every six months since. In March 2008, almost 10 years later, it finally passed 5 cm and I was referred to UCLA Medical Center for repair. In June 2008, I received the stent procedure whereby they enter the artery through the groin area and implant a stent to support the weak spot. I was in the hospital one day and had several days of discomfort but now everything seems alright. My blood pressure has now dropped, and I use only about 25% of the medication I used to take. I am looking forward to a long and healthy life. Mine appears to be genetic because I had a brother that also had one.

I am a 66-yearr-old male of Caucasian origin. Until Feb. 8, 2008, I had no inkling of a growing AAA. But mid-morning that Friday, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach and vomited. Then I began blacking out. My wife called an ambulance. I was diagnosed properly as having an AAA, and a vascular surgeon and his team saved my life. Now I'm pretty much back to normal. For years, walking has been my main way to exercise.

I am 68 years of age,male and in good health and was working till I suffered severe abdominal and lower back pain. On diagnosis I learned that I had abdominal aortic aneurysm,and was advised to undergo surgery immediately as the swelling was 5.5cms. I was a smoker for nearly 50 years. The surgery lasted for about four hours. Today, two years after the surgery, I am normal in most respects and go about leading a retired life.

After having a CT scan done for a back problem my internist called me three weeks later and said we have a problem. An abdominal aortic aneurysm was found in my lower abdominal aorta. Further tests showed that it was 4.2 centimeters. I was told by the specialist I saw that it would need monitoring in twelve months to see if it had grown. Needless to say, I was petrified to have to wait so long. I had my first two heart attacks at age 40, four by-passes done in 1982, and another three done in 1984. They failed in the first month and am on my second ICD. During angioplasty in 1994 on a twelve-year-old by-pass, the artery disintegrated and killed the muscle on the right side of my heart and my heart function is now at 20 percent. I feel as though I have a time bomb ticking in my body and it is very frightening.

In 1998 my father had a dissecting aortic arch aneurysm. He was given a 30% survival rate, and lives. Ten years later he has endured repair surgery for aortic arch graft, two pacemakers (which is doing 98/100% of his hearts work), arrhythmia requiring three scheduled defibrillation treatments, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair below the renal region, and two aneurysms behind each of his knees. The post op affects ranged from vocal cord paralysis to limited kidney function, slight loss of mental capacity, as in short term memory and comprehension. And we considered ourselves to be of the lucky ones coming upon the 10 year anniversary of the ruptured aneurysm that started it all. My dads quality of life has been amazingly good despite the surgeries, procedures, endless follow up and maintenance....and the waiting, while each of the aneurysms grew big enough to repair. About a month ago he became nauseous and the doctor performed a CT scan to rule out a bowel obstruction and noted and enlargement of the aorta, another aneurysm was found between the arch repair and the lower abdominal repair. This seems to be the only remaining natural aorta, and the aneurysm is about 7 to 8 cm at this time. A full scan of his aorta is set for the end of this month, and an angiogram to see that his heart is healthy enough for the surgery. Providing he is candidate for the operation, his fifth aneurysm repair will be performed.

My aortic aneurysm started with sudden numbness in both legs and severe pain in my abdomen and back. The operation consisted of five bypasses in my abdomen. After the operation, I was told it would take six months for things to settle back. It's now 15 months and I'm still not 100%. I have difficulty walking distances as pain starts again in my legs. I now use a walking stick.

My 72 year old mother had emergency surgery and was given a less than 5% chance of survival. She did pull through, however, she was given medicine that gave her a rash over her entire body and was kept unconscious for her own well being, 3 weeks later she needed another emergency surgery because the stent was defective. She suffered another 5 weeks until finally passing away. Her only symptom was a lower back ache the night prior. If I had known how much she would have suffered, I never would have allowed the surgery. The local hospital and doctor was a joke, even the nurses told us to move her once she got stronger to the State hospital, but unfortunately she never was.