I have had shortness of breath since September the 13th. My breath just won't turn over at certain times during the day. They'll check me out for everything thinking that it could possibly even be asthma. But I don't think so. None of the allergy medicine seemed to help. I had a heart scan and a heart calf October the 15th and 22nd. I was told the heart scan revealed a celiac aorta dissection which I took to mean a tear. My doctor immediately sent me for a heart cath and this doctor said he made it all the way up through my blood vessels and did not have to do stents but did not reveal anymore about the aortic dissection. I have a bulge under my breast that goes around from the one side to the other. It is not from eating and I'm not normally this big. I think something is wrong but don't know what to do about it. My doctor said he would do another heart scan in 6 months, but everything I read says you should get immediate attention with a AAA. I was just wondering if possibly there could be a lead causing this bulge that goes completely around under my breast. I also have a little pain on the right side almost like a hernia pain. I was told that most of the heart scan information was inaccurate and then I just have mild coronary heart disease, but the scan revealed the celiac aortic dissection and I am frightened. I'm 73 and feel as if I'm not as important to get emergency care for what's going on with me. This is all new to me and I'm really a little scared. Do you think it's possible that I could be believing inside or is the bulge that goes from one side to the other and it is a big bulge is that just the dissection? I just don't know much about this, but trying to learn as much as possible. I did see where it said you could get a ultrasound scan and it would tell you more. I have no idea about the size or anything other than what I see in the mirror. It's not normal I know that.