- Aortic Dissection
- Interviews
Timo Söderlund's interview
How did all start?
1 october 2012 at 08:15 in the morning. I just got to work. MY aorta dissected with terrible pain, and an ambulance was called.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
6 hours after i got ill, a CT scan was made and diagnose was confirmed.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Thoracic Surgery of the heart and aorta, in open heart surgery. Bicuspid heart valve was repaired biologically, first part of ascending aorta replaced with a graft. Permanent pacemaker inserted to run the heart when i got a atrioventricular blockage during surgery. Life long medication with a mix of meciations for my conditions and diagnoses.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
The surgery - that saved my life.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Congnitive problems due to oxygen shortage during surgery. Memory loss, bad memory, less capacity to solve problems and conflicts. Can not count same way as before. Changed memories. Changed perception of life and reality.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
I am retired, and sit at home most of the time. We cut most of the social life outside our family. We can not party or hold dinner like before. I go to sleep at 20:30.
What things have you stopped doing?
Sports, running, skiing, chopping wood, gardening, working. All physical activity that i did before - is replace with slow walks with the dog. No adevenurous trips any more. We do not fly in aeroplanes. We travel almost only to places near hopitals with thoracic surgery capacity to handle my diagnos if we travel.
What do you think about the future?
I think i live not many more years. But i hope i use the years i have well. We can not plan more than 6 months ahead.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
The first years as married, 30 years ago. Then a few years in my carreer before i got ill. Then the last 2 years, when i accepted beeing ill.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
chop wood, cut the lawn, and carry stuff around. Have sex like we used to before i got ill.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Very Limited and careful, but probably as good as it can be under the circumstances.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Ask for help. Talk to a psychologist if you get sad. Dont try to talk only with your spouse. They get tired of hering about the illness, since they live with it daily. Try to eliminate things that takes to much energy. Choose people and friends who give energy, and avoid those who get you sad or ill. You are seriously ill as it is. Make a plan for a time ahead. What do you really think is important. Do it.
