My AAA was discovered as I was being prepped for leg fracture surgery, fell of my MTB. Mine was already very large when found (5.2 and I am short 5' 6", 55 when it happened 4 years ago) and needed to be taken care of fairly soon. I had to wait while my leg healed enough for me to walk after heart surgery, but I kept working out, just that I had to take it way easy as any spike would have been catastrophic.

Even now after surgery, my Cardiologist tells me that there is a chance (small) the area of the aorta after the graft may swell and need to watch my BP. I work out frequently but as you, I use challenging weights but not excesive, and just do more reps. I'm also back on my MTB and do several spinning and strength classes every week. I practice proper breathing continually to ensure I am not holding my breath. I get check ups every year (Echo's) mainly to watch my aortic valve (bicuspid) but also the aorta itself, and get full scans every 5 years (groin, abdomen, torax and head) as I also had a brain aneurysm (also fixed).