Hi, I was diagnosed with a TAA one year ago this month, but I just recently found this group.

Last July, after playing 6 games of pickleball, I wasn't feeling too good. Coughing a lot. I thought it was the flu. Several days later. I went to an Urgent Care Center and they said I had severe pneumonia. They called an ambulance to go to the hospital. I was admitted and 2 days later. I also got Sepsis. I was hospitalized for 18 days. In the course of taking various X-rays and scans, they found the TAA. I was quite a mess when I left the Hospital. Could barely walk and was on oxygen 24/7. They told me to see a cardiologist. She ordered a echo-cardiogram and said it was 4.7 cm and told me about some life style changes that I had to make. It included no more pickleball. She seemed somewhat pessimistic, but more positive on a second visit. I followed her directions - lost some weight, better diet. only exercise is walking. I had to have a nuclear stress test in February for some prostate surgery. The test was good and the surgery successful. I had also gotten an abdominal scan for aneurysms that was negative.

I had another echo-cardiogram last week and I see her again next week. I never had any pain or discomfort from the TAA. Friends actually tell me that I look good after the weight loss. However. my wife and I would like to do some traveling (Europe) and this involves flying and I would like to play pickleball again. I'm currently 76 years old and I'm walking 21,000+ steps a day. I'm glad I found this group. Any thoughts are welcome