Aortic Ascending Aneurism - Share Growth Rate

I do not worry about the graft, at least my cardiologyst (or surgeon before him, they work together) has never given me any reason to worry. My only concern right now is the valve and how fast it will deteriorate, as of last year it is still working fine (some deterioration but not much different from when I had the surgey). Coincidently tomorrow I have my yearly echocardiogram and cardiologyst consultation, I will ask him about any concerns about the graft and level of exercises as other people have posted. I exercise regularly and with some intensity, some peole have been adviced to tone it down, but it may be before surgery, I will ask tomorrow.

Thank you for the info. I’m amazed you were back to work in three weeks!
Both of the surgeons I consulted with have told me that the risk of not having the surgery at this point is higher than having the surgery. So I’ll go for it, I’m trying not to think about the risks of the surgery and focus on what a relief it will be to not have to worry about it. It doesn’t sound like they will replace my valve as it is working fine. He has talked about either repairing the aortic root or possibly replacing it.
I’ll just be glad to have this over with.

I wish you all the best in your surgery, I would lie if I tell you I wasn’t stressed right before it, even after all the positive input from my surgeon, but the thought of having a time bomb was way more stressful, I just wanted to get rid of it. In my case the Dr told me he would have a valve ready in case after looking at mine he deemed it too deteriorated, but it turned out to be in good shape, he decided to leave it. Again I wish you the best

Well just think about sex , its a waste of time thinking about Tic Tok Tic Tok every waking moment . Maybe we should have a fuse so it burns , when it reaches 5.5 a clown pops out , Ok time for surgery and Dr Kildare . Thats absurd Elvis, Well so is death and taxes. Oh what a wicked web we weave .

Mine started at 4.2 when found and now a few years later it’s at 4.4 on last scan. Will be having another scan this week and later seeing the doctor. Previously he didn’t seem worried and thought we should just watch it. Female 69 yo

Ask your doc about the aortic index. Both surgeons I talked to said that is how they base when to do the surgery. It all depends on how big the aneurysm is and how big of a person you are. My surgeons(two different opinions) said since I am small (my aneurysm is a 4.6) say I am a ticking time bomb. I will have surgery in the next month. One surgeon said he would have performed the surgery when it was at a 4.2 since I am such a little person. It’s a tough decision that’s for sure. I just turned 70 years young. 😀

My Aneurysm is a 3.0 to a 3.9, and was told to repeat test in 3 years, but my doctor is doing it every year on me. I am due in April to get tested again. Mine has remained the same size for the past 3 years, but I am always concerned about how fast it is growing. I know the surgery is a very invasive and serious surgery. I hope in time that they find a easier way of treating a Aneurysm. I am not a small person by weight, and I am 76 years old.

Thank you for posting. How many years ago that you had 4.2 aneurysm and how many years it took to get to 4.4? Let me know what the new scan shows. Thanks again.

If I may add. I have a torn aortic aneurysm and was concerned after the cardiovascular surgeon told me that I was being transferred to a trauma hospital because of my torn aneurysm in my abdomen.

They looked and since it wasn’t bleeding, it’s safe to discharge me with instructions to follow up with my own cardiovascular surgeon. I did and he said that he’s been monitoring my aneurysm once a year. He said “I have been monitoring. Your aneurysm for 10 years. It was not torn initially but it was at 1.7 then and now it’s at 1.7. Despite the tear which he says he didn’t see it the aneurysm isn’t growing. Could it burst I asked him and he said that it could but we have ways of dealing with that.
It’s only stayed the same for 10 years since first noticed.
No more thinking that I’m a walking time bomb. I see him again in one year.

This is my story of my Aortic Aneurysm oct 3 2003, It would be great if Dr Richard Daly could read what
I have written 23 years later.
6 Feb 2024

To whom it may concern or those that will look at my information on the Descending Aortic Aneurysm that I had and was repaired on Oct 3, 2003 at the St Mary's Hospital in Rochester MN.
I would like to know if there is a correlation between a high white count and an aneurysm. While serving in the Army, my white count was high for several years. During my retirement physical at Fort Drum in 1997, my white count was between 19 and 20.
While in the service, military ran many tests on my blood and sent me to Walter Reed, they did not do a Cat Scan, Ultrasound or an MRI, they found no medical concerns to explain the high white count. So I was retired from the Army without any further investigation. I did continue to have my blood checked, and the white count remained high.
In October 2003 my wife drove me to the United Hospital in Blue Earth MN I was having pain in my neck and a lot of belching, at the Hospital they found nothing that correlated to what was happing to me, at 4pm one of the nurses said John Ritter he died of a Aortic Aneurysm so they did a cat scan and found that my descending aorta was leaking and I was flown to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester. I was diagnosed with a leaking descending aortic aneurysm. Dr repaired it with a Dacron patch, and it has been holding great for 23 years.
After researching my Military and civilian medical records back to 1991 I found that I had carried a high white count and it has been elevated for nine years. After my aorta was repaired and within weeks, my white count became normal!
I had not thought about the possible of correlation between the white count and my aneurysm for years. I applied for VA disability in 2005 and was denied because there is no proof of a correlation. I have used the Internet to find the most recent studies and any pertinent results.
My wife recently had double bypass surgery at St. Mary’s. I talked to several doctors, and no one could say that the white count was or was NOT related to my aneurysm.
Here is a list of high white counts that I have found in my Military medical and civilian medical records: a. 1991 white count 16.4 b. 1992 white count 15.5 c. 1995 white count 21.8 d. I started my retirement physical 1997 white count 19.4, 16.4, 22.1 Mar 1997 14.7 e. 1998 white count 13.5, 11.4, 15.00 f. 2000 white count 10.7, 12.6, 13.4 g. 2001 white count 12.6, 10.7 h. 2002 white count 14.4 I. 2003 14.7, 11.7 Oct 3 2003 repair of my aneurysm of the Aorta 2004 white count 8.8 k. 2005 white count 8.6 J. 2007 white count 7.2 m. 2008 white count 6.6 K. 2010 white count 9.8, 7.2 L. 2011white count 7.7 m. 2019 white count 7.7
What I am looking for is a letter, an opinion or evidence that indicates that carrying a high white count for that many years could be related to the forming of an aneurysm.

Thank You
Jim