Celiac Artery Aneurysm: Anyone else with same illness?

Helen, just be there for him..

Hi @dollylinda,

I'm tagging @dougf @wstrasser @saschlief @kespectrum @onemind711 @tinga79 @marylisa, and Mentor @kariulrich with the hope they return to share their insights with you.
Given that the celiac artery is the first major branch of the abdominal aorta, I thought you might also appreciate the introduction to a few members who have been talking about living with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Please let me introduce you to @janetpomponio @kdh1 @playsdixie @elsinann @lynnkay1956.

@dollylinda, would surgery be an option for you?

I am doing great, I am glad I had the surgery. I don't know how long the repair on my aorta is suppose to last. He sewed it together with mess I think. It was 2 years last March. I did not realize until after the surgery how serious it was. Very thankful.

Hi
They say I don't need surgery and that the size is 1.3 x 1.3. I'm going to a vascular surgeon in Eugene, OR.
It's a stressful diagnosis.
My biggest worry is that my right side hurts. They seem to discount this even though I've had this discomfort for several years now.

I'm in the same situation as you. Mine was too small for them to do surgery so 14 mo's later, I in the wait and see mode. That is extremely stressful. Luckily I do not have any symptoms. So I am able to ignore it pretty well. I hope your discomfort goes away.

Hey Dollylinda, I am sorry to hear you are going through this too. Generally I feel pretty good now. It has been since Dec. that I had a splenic infarction as a result of the celiac stenosis and aneurism. I had a lot of discomfort before that and what I called severe generalized malaise that they could not explain until I had the infarct event. Now I feel well but still can have some discomfort in both my left and right upper quadrants. I have learned to live with that and am just being followed. If the pain was intense I would pursue it more. It sounds like your discomfort can be intense and I hope someone will take you seriously and try to understand the cause. I went to a major teaching center where they understood this condition. Right now I do focus on taking care of myself - good diet, exercise, managing stress so at least I feel like I am doing something. What I have heard on this blog is that the uncertainty is something we all live with. I wish you the best and will look forward to hearing what you find out. I hope you will keep us posted. Be well.

Hello .I see most of these posts are from a couple years ago. I hope someone is still out there. I have just been diagnosed with a 1.2. Celiac artery aneurysm. I went in with upper chest pain and the Dr. ordered a Ct scan of chest. Lungs were fine but incidentally found this aneurysm along with a dissection of the Sma. Reading a little here and there I feel quite frightened by all this. I see a vascular surgeon for a consult today. I think according to my GP, he is going to recommend only observing it. I wonder how you know if it is growing ,how dangerous is the wait and see approach?

I was diagnosed with a Celiac artery aneurysm last October. Same size as yours. I did go to a vascular surgeon and he is doing a watch and see approach. I went back 6 months later and they did an abdominal ultrasound. My aneurysm was 1cm larger but he said that most likely the difference was do to who was taking the measurement as 1cm is extremely small.
Anyway... I too was very frightened but I decided that I may have had this for years without knowing so I relaxed knowing that this is small, that whatever is going to happen will happen and that most likely everything is going to be fine like everything in life.
I still have pain/discomfort on my right side that everyone dismisses. In my case, I will go back in one year and get another abdominal ultrasound.
My suggestion is to try to relax as that is the best thing for your body. Easier said than done but now that I've known about this for 10 months I don't think about it much.
I think the only way they know that it's getting growing is by getting those abdominal ultrasounds.
I'm curious if they think your pain is from the aneurysm?
When you say your chest had pain, are you saying your rib area (that's where mine hurts... Under my ribs ...Like I'm getting squeezed)
I have no idea how dangerous the wait and see approach is but it seems rather standard from what I gather. I was told they don't want to do anything unless it is 2cm or larger. Let me know what your surgeon says as I too am very curious.
Also let me know if they say the pain is related.
Best wishes!

You should definitely be followed by vasc dr. If you have any digestive problems they could be affected by you superior mesenteric artery problem. Being followed is important to keep a record of size change or other symptoms

Thank you for reply. I saw vascular surgeon for consult today. He is doing a wait and see on the aneurysm with a repeat Ct scan in six months
The dissecting artery he wants me to start on a cholesterol lowering drug at very low levels with gradual increase in hopes to strengthen artery walls and a lus dose asa
My blood pressure is low so he is reluctant to add that to medication regime. Fingers crossed this is appropriate treatment.