1. < Aortic Aneurysms

Do I need a new Dr?

Posted by malcorozan @malcorozan, Jun 11 12:17pm

My history:
I'm a 46yo male always stayed physically fit, kickboxing, running, light weights physical jobs. Healthy, no major issues before this, no cholesterol issues, no high blood pressure.
I have a BAV discovered about 5 years ago by my gp. Monitored through echos every 2 years. About 1.5 years ago I started getting severe palpitations and slight chest pain felt like my heart was exploding and I couldn't breathe when I got to about 160 bpm, I narrowed it down to this eventually through the use of monitors and experiments. This was weird as I had never had this before and started suddenly. Pushed gp to investigate, got echo then stress test echo, then referral to cardiologist finally a thoracic ct that showed an aortic aneurysm at a 4.9. Also my BAV seems to be failing thus causing the symptoms.

Cardiologist says let's wait and see if it grows in a while. Ct was done Sept 11 2023. New ct done June 5 2024 shows it's grown to a 5.1. Also, my BAV symptoms have gotten worse. I can't do any cardio for more than 30 seconds without feeling the issues and I get winded walking up stairs or sometimes just randomly.

My concern is that everything I read says the surgery threshold is the 5.0 and I was basically there in September and now both my aneurysm and my valve have gotten worse, imo, and my cardiologist had this lackadaisical attitude like it's no big deal let's just keep waiting! I know I'm young for the surgery but in my mind that means I'm even more likely to thrive after and get back to normal faster.

Do I need a new dr? What do I do? Thank you l.

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houston13 | @houston13 | Jun 16 9:24pm
In reply to @23997929 "I just got my latest scan and comments from my local cardio and the specialist, who..." + (show)
@23997929

I just got my latest scan and comments from my local cardio and the specialist, who does this type of operation at the medical center in Houston (who also checks my scans). Both told me surgery is done at 5 cm. I also understand it is considered earlier if the rate of increase in the dilation is high. I realized it is important to get opinions from cardiologists that are very familiar with this condition and its treatment.

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Hi, I had my ascending aneurysm repaired in the Houston MC, by in my mind the best surgeon I could have ever found, still being monitored every year by an excellent Cardiologist, who is an expert in aneurysms and BAVs if you ever want to check with someone else let me know

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1 reply
23997929 | @23997929 | Jun 16 9:55pm
In reply to @houston13 "Hi, I had my ascending aneurysm repaired in the Houston MC, by in my mind the..." + (show)
@houston13

Hi, I had my ascending aneurysm repaired in the Houston MC, by in my mind the best surgeon I could have ever found, still being monitored every year by an excellent Cardiologist, who is an expert in aneurysms and BAVs if you ever want to check with someone else let me know

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Thanks who did your surgery ?

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1 reply
23997929 | @23997929 | Jun 17 8:17am
In reply to @houston13 "Dr Anthony Estrera https://www.utphysicians.com/provider/anthony-l-estrera/" + (show)

Thanks for the good info. I am following up with Dr Coselli at Baylor/St Lukes.

If i may ask how long was the actual surgery ? Also the time at the hospital and recovery ?

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1 reply
fjc1962 | @fjc1962 | Jun 17 8:30am
In reply to @smarsili "You definitely need a new Doctor. My Aneurysm was at 5.2cm, local thoracic surgeons both said..." + (show)
@smarsili

You definitely need a new Doctor. My Aneurysm was at 5.2cm, local thoracic surgeons both said I can wait. My cardiologist was the same based on the surgeon's interpretation. I went to Mayo for a 3rd opinion and the Surgeon there told me that the position of the aneurysm was the determining factor because it was close to a coronary artery. if it grew anymore, it could cause a heart attack.
I decided to have the surgery, it was done 3/21/24. I am doing great!! He found that the aneurysm was larger than previously determined. I too worked out vigorously prior, and always felt out of breath. I was a walking time bomb.
His words were that you did the right thing to have elective surgery rather than wait and have something catastrophic happen. Get another opinion and a new cardiologist

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Your comments are very helpful as my aneurysm is currently at 4.9 and I am on the wait and watch. I live in Florida and have been going to doctors there. But, I’m not sure they are the best for this type surgery. Where did you choose to have the surgery done?

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2 replies
houston13 | @houston13 | Jun 17 10:05am
In reply to @23997929 "Thanks for the good info. I am following up with Dr Coselli at Baylor/St Lukes. If..." + (show)
@23997929

Thanks for the good info. I am following up with Dr Coselli at Baylor/St Lukes.

If i may ask how long was the actual surgery ? Also the time at the hospital and recovery ?

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My surgery was 4 years ago, it lasted about 4 hrs (going by memory), my recovery was relatively fast, about 5 days in the Hospital, back to work in 3 weeks. I was recovering also from a leg fracture surgery ( how they found my aneurysm). Hope this helps

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1 reply
23997929 | @23997929 | Jun 17 10:21am
In reply to @houston13 "My surgery was 4 years ago, it lasted about 4 hrs (going by memory), my recovery..." + (show)
@houston13

My surgery was 4 years ago, it lasted about 4 hrs (going by memory), my recovery was relatively fast, about 5 days in the Hospital, back to work in 3 weeks. I was recovering also from a leg fracture surgery ( how they found my aneurysm). Hope this helps

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Thanks a lot. Sounds encouraging.

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smarsili | @smarsili | Jun 17 6:27pm
In reply to @fjc1962 "Your comments are very helpful as my aneurysm is currently at 4.9 and I am on..." + (show)
@fjc1962

Your comments are very helpful as my aneurysm is currently at 4.9 and I am on the wait and watch. I live in Florida and have been going to doctors there. But, I’m not sure they are the best for this type surgery. Where did you choose to have the surgery done?

Jump to this post

I had my surgery done at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Dr, Downey was my surgeon. The experience, although terrifying to begin with, was not as bad as I thought it would be. I had no pain, I was in the hospital 7 days, sitting up 2nd day, walking the 3rd. Home the 7th.
I suggest getting into the best shape of your life before surgery, I worked out 3-4 days a week before this was discovered. Could have been catastrophic, but doing the elective surgery saved my life.

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1 reply
malcorozan | @malcorozan | Jun 18 6:21am
In reply to @smarsili "You definitely need a new Doctor. My Aneurysm was at 5.2cm, local thoracic surgeons both said..." + (show)
@smarsili

You definitely need a new Doctor. My Aneurysm was at 5.2cm, local thoracic surgeons both said I can wait. My cardiologist was the same based on the surgeon's interpretation. I went to Mayo for a 3rd opinion and the Surgeon there told me that the position of the aneurysm was the determining factor because it was close to a coronary artery. if it grew anymore, it could cause a heart attack.
I decided to have the surgery, it was done 3/21/24. I am doing great!! He found that the aneurysm was larger than previously determined. I too worked out vigorously prior, and always felt out of breath. I was a walking time bomb.
His words were that you did the right thing to have elective surgery rather than wait and have something catastrophic happen. Get another opinion and a new cardiologist

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This is my exact worry. Thank you.

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rlhix | @rlhix | Jun 18 8:11am
In reply to @fjc1962 "Your comments are very helpful as my aneurysm is currently at 4.9 and I am on..." + (show)
@fjc1962

Your comments are very helpful as my aneurysm is currently at 4.9 and I am on the wait and watch. I live in Florida and have been going to doctors there. But, I’m not sure they are the best for this type surgery. Where did you choose to have the surgery done?

Jump to this post

There's Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Shands/University of Florida in Gainesville and Cleveland Clinic in Ft. Lauderdale. I have an appointment with Mayo in Jacksonville.

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