PAGE HEAD
Having
a pain tolerance can be a good thing.
But in Gary Begley’s case, his high tolerance for pain
almost cost him his life.
Last fall, the Vietnam veteran, who lives in Pawleys
Island, began experiencing a recurrence of abdominal
pain that he thought was due to a bowel problem
diagnosed shortly after his military stint.
“I just didn’t feel right,” Begley says. Sitting or walking
was painful. Still he went about his routine, continuing
to take beach walks and do chores. When running the
vacuum cleaner became too painful, he decided it was
time to go to the emergency room for help.
After a CT scan at Waccamaw Community
Hospital, he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic
aneurysm.
The condition is characterized by an enlarged area
in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel
that supplies blood to the body. If it becomes too
large, it can burst, causing life-threatening internal
bleeding. Causes include tobacco use, hardening of
the arteries and an infection in the aorta.
Begley experienced one of several symptoms that
can indicate a potential abdominal aortic aneurysm—
deep, consistent pain in the stomach or side of the
stomach. Other symptoms include back pain and a
pulsating sensation near the navel.
Within weeks, he underwent
an endovascular aneurysm repair
with Robert Brockman, MD, of
Surgical Specialists of Waccamaw.
The outpatient procedure involves
inserting a thin tube into the leg and
threading it to the aorta. A graft that
provides additional support is then
put in the site of the aneurysm.
“Dr. Brockman was thorough
and pleasant,” says Begley. “He
explained what would happen in a
clear manner, which put me at ease
considering it was my first surgery.”
Begley was back to his normal activities in less than
a week. “It was so easy, and the recovery time was
short,” he says.
“Endovascular aneurysm repair technology
makes it now possible for patients to undergo a
complex repair with significantly faster recoveries,”
Dr. Brockman says. “Most patients are able to be
discharged the morning after surgery and resume
normal activities that day.”
Lifesaving surgery
When a simple stomachache was anything but
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Locksmith Rhoda McClain (see page 2) knows that it’s always
a good idea to have a backup plan—for your house keys or your
health care. We’ve hidden a tiny key somewhere in this issue.
Tell us where you found it, and you could win a $100 Visa gift
card. Save it for a rainy day—or splurge on a special treat! Visit
Find-a-key
Dr. Brockman (right) congratulates Gary Begley on a
successful outcome.
