Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Hi,
A TAA was found about 7 years ago after experiencing a pain beneath my left shoulder blade when working out. It has fortunately remained fairly stable at 4.3 to 4.5 depending on the measurement system, MRI, Echo , CT etc. Not big enough to trigger surgery, which is good, and identified as stable, which helps with travel insurance apparently. Two years ago, an echocardiogram showed some mild to moderate left ventricle regurgitation. Just recently a repeat echo showed that has increased to be considered "moderate- not quite severe ". I deal with a lot of fatigue. I worry that the aneurysm is contributing to the regurgitation issue. On watchful waiting . Typically I'm fairly healthy (other than chronic rheumatoid arthritis and a few other life things). Physically fairly active, but that goes up and down. I appreciate finding this group with whom to share, learn and support. Jennifer

On a trip to the hospital for xrays and tests etc. My doctor a month or so later said I had abdominal Aortic An#######sm He said nothing else , eventually months later I was called for an ultra sound. The word abdominal appears different from what you folks are talking about. Is my issue away from my heart and near abdominal or does my guy just not know really. My next trip was off to hopital for injection of chemicals in the arm and scan. Forty years ago my doc then said he didn't want me to have any more Xrays I had far to many with all that I had experianced. That doc is gone I wonder what to do when I have been sent for Xrays all the time. Short story is this problem closer to gut then heart. Regards James Fraser.

I am not certain I understand what your history has been. I can tell you that the aorta is commonly divided into sections: a part that comes out of the heart and goes toward your head (the ascending aorta), a part that arches over to the next section (the arch) , a part that comes off the arch and heads down towards you abdomen (the descending aorta) and a part that runs through your abdomen (the abdominal aorta). Here’s a description: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/17058-aorta-anatomy. Any part can contain an aneurysm. The type of surgery that’s required to repair an aneurysm can be different for the different sections. My understanding is that the abdominal and descending aorta typically require a less invasive surgery than the ascending aorta. I am not sure about the arch.

If you have an aneurysm in your abdominal aorta, it should be monitored. It sounds like your doctor is keeping track of it. The injection and scan I’d guess is a CT with contrast. As I understand it, that is commonly used to determine the size of the aneurysm. There is typically a size-based threshold for surgical repair. Also as I understand it, modern x-rays use much less radiation than they did 40 years ago, but the number of x-rays you are getting per year is still something your doctors should be tracking.

Good luck!

I was diagnosed with a thoracic aneurism in 2022 @4.0 cm. Last scan in 2023 shows 4.3. A 3 cm growth in a year. For right now my cardiologist says we just watch it - and check it once a year. I don’t know if that is right or wrong. He is a great cardiologist but I feel a bit dismissed when I ask about the aneurism. I am now 70 years old and have had undiagnosed back pain for at least 2 years (mid back) and pain in my shoulder and neck when I am overly active. I have “normal to slightly high blood pressure until I get overly active (a treadmill test is a good example) when my blood pressure will bottom out. I haven’t been able to complete a stress test in 2 years. An angioplasty was done and nothing of significance was found. Cardiologist wants my BP to run a little high. But I am reading that for the aneurysm your BP is better low. I am so confused. And scared.

Hi. I’m a 58 year old female from North Carolina. I had a recent CT scan that incidentally found abdominal aortic, PAD that doctor didn’t tell me about. I have seen aortic aneurysm results from a scan several years ago but no one told me. The recent finding however I’m concerned about since I looked further into what they are and what they can do if they get big enough. Abdominal pain sent me to the ER countless times, intense pain, specifically belly button the past several months that feels like a big rip or tear but not finding the source.

Sounds like it might be a good idea to get a second opinion.

Thank you so much for your response.

Hi!
I understand the fear that comes with this condition. I want to say though that 4.0 to 4.3 is only .3 of a centimeter . Was your aneurysm measured the same way both times or were they different like a CT scan and an echocardiogram? Echocardiograms usually measure them smaller 4.3 is still considered moderate not severe meaning the odds of it in any year rupturing or dissecting are pretty low. I think you might wanna look this up, but I think it’s less than one percent or around one percent. if you’re having pain though, I would not do the activities which cause it. Try to eat really clean and kerp your your blood pressure and heart rate lower. do a lot of walking that helps with the anxiety and it helps with your cardiovascular system. It won’t hurt your aneurysm but getting stressed can be the worst thing for your aneurysm so just try to be as peaceful as you can. when I was diagnosed with mine, I spent a lot of time in prayer and finally, I was able to give it to God and just do my part to keep everything Under the recommendations .

Can you fly with an aneurism (4.3).

I’m interested in learning about how much of a difference the ECO and Contrast CT measurements can be? Did you have both done and would you be open to sharing the difference of the two?
Thank you