Being the sole caregiver I am finding all this out about my dad. He has been open about all of his medical needs (a little too open). I have complete access to his medical records and Dr.s My sister is a nurse and she as well. We lost mom last year on the operating table (yes I do blame the Dr., should not have operated on her). Dad is healthy for the most part. Had rheumatic fever at a young age and has an enlarged heart. He said he has a aneurysm on his heart. Nothing they worry about but he ha not had major surgery that I am aware of. He wants his knees repairs. I will take w all the Dr.s but I really don't want to go through what I did with mom when I know I should have talked her out of the surgery.
the diagnosis of an aneurysm in the heart is very scary but the fact is that they are very common and only a few cause dramatic problems. They are rarely diagnosed without other symptoms. once diagnosed they need to be monitored and if they reach a certain size need treatment which these days can be done minimally invasively or simply by putting a stent in via an arterial catheter. The stent keeps the artery open and relieves pressure on the weakened walls. Rheumatic fever is a very scary diagnosis. my dad had it during WW11 when he was in the army and there after the whole family expected him to drop dead at any time. He lived a perfectly healthy life and died at 82 eventually from heart failure but not till he had survived two hip replacements. My Cardiologist says my heart conditions are due to having rheumatic fever as a child which was news to me!
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