
As I was a long term smoker, my doctor wanted me to have a CAT scan on my lungs to check for cancer and other lung problems. Well the scan came back with no cancer or other lung problems.
Happy Day!!!! Not!!! They did see an aneurysm and ordered an abdominal MRI to get a better look and check on the size.
FAST FORWARD
Yesterday I had an appointment with the chief vascular surgeon at MUSC. It seems that these Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms are all to frequent in long term smokers and are rarely discovered unless the doctors are looking for something else. My aneurysm is 7.5 cms in diameter or about 3 ins. ( very bad and large )
Luckily mine was discovered and will be dealt with in the next couple weeks or less. Waiting on scheduling. Not looking for sympathy or anything but do want to let you know this is something for smokers to consider having checked out. If these aneurysms go unchecked and burst, the result is 98% death do to bleeding out.
So this is a public service message to all, please take this seriously!
Mike
Drink