Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

I would be interested in what ur Dr. is determining that you will not need surgery or lets just why he thinks that ?
Terry

Mine is also 4.4cm. After a gene study, I have the LOX defect. Hard to find any info on it. It lacks the collagen and elasticity and causes aortic dissections. I feel fine, but can't help but be on your mind often. I think it makes one appreciate every moment of life. I turned 67 in June, and mom died from it at almost 67. I believe with the Connective Tissue Disease, I will meet with the surgeons in about 6 months. We should stay in contact! My sis and daughter also have the gene defect.

Of course he could nor would not guarantee no surgery, but unlikely IF it is there is minimal growth, considering my age (77). I told him my fear was getting 85-90 years & needing surgery. His reply simply was you would not be a candidate for surgery at that age, so go on & stay as healthy as possible & live your life.

I plan to have that genetic test as well. I only just learned about it. I hope my kids don't have a bad gene. Yes, it does rather stay on one's mind. It's like Before AAA and after diagnosis. The world has shifted a bit. This group helps.

I was diagnosed with an aneurismArota by accident mine is 4.5 five should I be worried I am a smoker they want me to quit smoking I don’t know I worry every day what should I do?

Hi.My name is Diane and I’m 781/2 years. I have had an aortic aneurysm for the past 20 or so years. It started at 2cm and then about 10 years later it was 4cm where it’s stayed.
In 2009 I had a cardiac event - Takusubo Cardiomyopathy and I was dead for 71/2 minutes. Now I have CAD and atherosclerosis. I’m supposed to be on a heart healthy diet ( whivh I love) but I also have EPI and Gastroparesis so a heart healthy diet is not good for them.Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on how I can have a healthy diet for all my medical conditions ?
I go by Shaylyn4

Stop smoking Now!, See a very good cardiologist. I was told that at 5 I would need open heart surgery. I’m 78 and by the time it’s 5 I could be 88 and then not a candidate for surgery. You have a choice. I never smoked or drank. I inherited this from mother. Both my brothers have already had open heart surgery. They didn’t have a healthy lifestyle .
Shaylyn4

I had a thoracic aortic aneurysm repair surgery (open heart) 4 1/2 years ago, it went uneventfully, before surgery my surgeon gave me a >99% probability of having no complications due to my general physical fitness, among the things that he listed was the fact that I had never smoked.

Never too late to improve your physical health, exercise (cardio and strength but do not lift heavy weights), stop smoking and eat well. Find a cardiologist who is an expert in aneurysms, not all of them are, there are some that specialize in aortic aneurysms, ask a lot of questions, get comfortable with your Dr (he/she should have a plan to monitor your progress) and follow his/her advice, and at the top is controlling your BP.

Exercise and a healthy lifetyle will not only improve your fitness for surgery if/when needed, but will help control your BP and axiety about the aneurysm.

All the best to you!!!!

Stop smoking. Do it now. I've given up wine and salt, and it's a pain in the you-know-what, but I want to be as healthy as I can. You can do this.

Hi Pamela - I agree the Docs typically only tell you the minimum. My apt back in June whilst perusing my Echocardiogram was “blood flow all ok, heart plaque diffuse enough so no issues, oh but hang on you’ve got a 4.4 root / ascending aneurysm but no issues we can review in 12 months - no issues until 5.5. Keep on with your healthy lifestyle and here is a script to double the bp med..”. I had no reaction as I didn’t understand what he was talking about. He then went onto the next patient (1 of several he had to attend to for the rest of the afternoon). I guess they know that if they talk too much at that initial stage they run the risk of needing to talk / respond to ill informed Q’s for a further 5 or 10 minutes and mucking up their schedule ☺️