Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Hi John, I was just diagnosed with an ascending TAA. I love your story, it's so hopeful for me. May I ask what type of AA you have and what size it is now and was when it was discovered? I'm hoping mine is stable and can just be monitored forever. PS, what types of modifications have you made regarding exercise, diet, etc? Any help is appreciated.

Hi, I just saw this comment and wanted to ask you about your other activities. I have always been very active. I was just diagnosed with a 43mm aTAA. Seeing that yours is stable, I was wondering if you do any exercises and, if so, what do you do. I am afraid of any type of activity at this point. I'm afraid I probably exacerbated things with high-intensity activities in the past. Regardless, any insight you can give me would be appreciated.

Hello all. I have a TAA 4.3 and I have a bicuspid A valve. It was found long ago when experiencing chest pain in my 20’s very small then . The aneurism grew ,after a tragic life event, to its present size. I have been monitored since its discovery in 2017.

I have some calcification build up in the bottom curve..I feel, on occasion , a knife like pain in my back by my shoulder blade area now and again but I am told it’s nothing. I was taught to practice valsava techniques in my daily life.

My three year check up is this week.

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

I have just been diagnosed with a 3.8 ascending aortic aneurysm. It was not there two years ago. Of course I am nervous. Is there anything I should/shouldn't do besides watch my bp?

You'll be alright. Follow your doctor's guidance. Monitor aorta with CT imaging annually, with contrast every other year (contrast is hard on the kidneys) No weightlifting. No planking. Lower your blood pressure. Lose weight. Cut salt and sugar (sugar raises blood pressure, too). If they tell you you need surgery, get your affairs in order and have the surgery. You know you have a problem and you can proactively deal with it. I promise that you are better off than 99.9% of the people who do not know and suddenly dissect. You'll be fine. I am alive 9+ years after a sudden Type A-1 complete dissection. I wish I had known and had a support group like this one. Peace.

Recently diagnosed with 4.1 cm aortic root dilation per echocardiogram. Cardiac calcium score 3 years ago over 600. Passed stress treadmills x 2 a flying colors. Blood pressure normal, never hypertensive. Thin male, 150lbs, age 65, retired as an RN last and walk daily 5 to 10 miles. Cholesterol, and lipid panel and other Labs all normal. My burning question is regarding exercise: As I stopped going to the gym in March of 2020 when the pandemic hit, I've lost muscle tone, especially in my upper body, and desperately want to go back to the gym. I was never into heavy weightlifting, but rather machines. Is doing curls with 10 pound weights thought to be okay? Also, those machines for the chest on a lower weight safe? Also, any thoughts about gentle yoga and/or pilates? Many thanks and best wishes to everyone!

I think your doctor probably told you not to play pickle ball because quickly swinging your arm to hit the ball spikes blood pressure. BP Spikes are dangerous because the aorta is already weakened that’s why it’s at 4.7. You don’t want to enlarge it any further because once you get up past five it starts getting more dangerous( especially if you’ve had other members in your family suffer w/ an aneurysm or if you have a bicuspid valve or some other genetic predispositions that would make a 5.0 cm aneurysm ready for Preemptive surgery). If you’re careful you can stabilize it at that size (all other things being equal) The scary thing about aneurysms is there are no symptoms (typically) until it either dissects or ruptures and then your chances of surviving are very slim. I don’t write this so adamantly to alarm you, 4.7 cm is not huge but a serious thing ( please work to keep it that way))… in my opinion , Pickleball is just not worth the risk, so be careful. Enjoy your vacation and enjoy your life but please way the risks of your hobbies and athletic enjoyment.

Weigh not way…sorry

If you go to the American College of Cardiology website (this website does not allow web addresses or links) and then search for Exercise in Aortopathy: How Should We Counsel Our Patients? You will find a good article.