New diagnosis of ascending aortic aneurysm and I’m terrified

As a military aviator, in flight school & with instructor/check pilots they both taught us that the most important thing you can do during an in-flight emergency is to first maintain or gain control of the aircraft and continue flying it as best you can before taking any emergency procedure steps/actions. THEN analyze the situation in order to begin taking CORRECT emergency procedure steps. We were taught that is some cases it may not be possible to regain control or make a text book/checklist solution wherein thorough knowledge of aircraft systems and limitations may aid in making the best case situational response according to your judgement and situational awareness at that time. A survivable/livable solution.

In the same sense in our lives, we must do the same things. In BOTH cases easier said than done.

My situation is pretty much identical to yours. Accompanied by the same thoughts and feelings. I discussed with my cardiologist and more so with my primary care provider who seems to have an excellent ear for his patients and ask them what are my limitations? What can I do on my end as a best course of actions to live with this? I was told nothing over 30 lbs. but I occasionally cheat but not by much. I discussed with my cardiologist if it was OK to continue my blood pressure at it's current level which is a bit low 89/57 first thing in the morning and typically 100 - 110/55 - 60 during the day max. Both the cardiologist and primary said is was OK as long as I could safely tolerate it. If you haven't already, get a blood pressure tester and experiment with varying dosages of whatever BP medication you are taking. Even before I was diagnosed, I was working on losing weight. I lost almost 50 lbs. over the past year and am now at a weight I haven't seen since high school. I stay active and get more than adequate exercise & activity. LDL cholesterol is 65. My HDL is low and I am working on raising it.

DO the things you need to do, to minimize the stress & aggravation in your life. Sometimes you just have to jetison the load. LOL!

These are just some of the things I am doing. THESE are the things that I have some degree of control over and am doing my best to manage.

Above ALL and MOST importantly remember that God IS in control. I thank Him EVERYDAY for another day in this world and turn my fears & doubts over to HIM. Thank Him for the life He has given me and His grace that He as shown me. God gives us MANY things & replaces them in our lives. The one thing He does NOT give us more of is time after we have foolishly thrown it away. Use the time He has given you wisely.

I wish us BOTH the best as I have my own struggles from time to time following my own advice. 🙂 Merry Christmas one and all!

As a military aviator, in flight school & with instructor/check pilots they both taught us that the most important thing you can do during an in-flight emergency is to first maintain or gain control of the aircraft and continue flying it as best you can before taking any emergency procedure steps/actions. THEN analyze the situation in order to begin taking CORRECT emergency procedure steps. We were taught that is some cases it may not be possible to regain control or make a text book/checklist solution wherein thorough knowledge of aircraft systems and limitations may aid in making the best case situational response according to your judgement and situational awareness at that time. A survivable/livable solution.

In the same sense in our lives, we must do the same things. In BOTH cases easier said than done.

My situation is pretty much identical to yours. Accompanied by the same thoughts and feelings. I discussed with my cardiologist and more so with my primary care provider who seems to have an excellent ear for his patients and ask them what are my limitations? What can I do on my end as a best course of actions to live with this? I was told nothing over 30 lbs. but I occasionally cheat but not by much. I discussed with my cardiologist if it was OK to continue my blood pressure at it's current level which is a bit low 89/57 first thing in the morning and typically 100 - 110/55 - 60 during the day max. Both the cardiologist and primary said is was OK as long as I could safely tolerate it. If you haven't already, get a blood pressure tester and experiment with varying dosages of whatever BP medication you are taking. Even before I was diagnosed, I was working on losing weight. I lost almost 50 lbs. over the past year and am now at a weight I haven't seen since high school. I stay active and get more than adequate exercise & activity. LDL cholesterol is 65. My HDL is low and I am working on raising it.

DO the things you need to do, to minimize the stress & aggravation in your life. Sometimes you just have to jetison the load. LOL!

These are just some of the things I am doing. THESE are the things that I have some degree of control over and am doing my best to manage.

Above ALL and MOST importantly remember that God IS in control. I thank Him EVERYDAY for another day in this world and turn my fears & doubts over to HIM. Thank Him for the life He has given me and His grace that He as shown me. God gives us MANY things & replaces them in our lives. The one thing He does NOT give us more of is time after we have foolishly thrown it away. Use the time He has given you wisely.

I wish us BOTH the best as I have my own struggles from time to time following my own advice. 🙂 Merry Christmas one and all!

As a military aviator, in flight school & with instructor/check pilots they both taught us that the most important thing you can do during an in-flight emergency is to first maintain or gain control of the aircraft and continue flying it as best you can before taking any emergency procedure steps/actions. THEN analyze the situation in order to begin taking CORRECT emergency procedure steps. We were taught that is some cases it may not be possible to regain control or make a text book/checklist solution wherein thorough knowledge of aircraft systems and limitations may aid in making the best case situational response according to your judgement and situational awareness at that time. A survivable/livable solution.

In the same sense in our lives, we must do the same things. In BOTH cases easier said than done.

My situation is pretty much identical to yours. Accompanied by the same thoughts and feelings. I discussed with my cardiologist and more so with my primary care provider who seems to have an excellent ear for his patients and ask them what are my limitations? What can I do on my end as a best course of actions to live with this? I was told nothing over 30 lbs. but I occasionally cheat but not by much. I discussed with my cardiologist if it was OK to continue my blood pressure at it's current level which is a bit low 89/57 first thing in the morning and typically 100 - 110/55 - 60 during the day max. Both the cardiologist and primary said is was OK as long as I could safely tolerate it. If you haven't already, get a blood pressure tester and experiment with varying dosages of whatever BP medication you are taking. Even before I was diagnosed, I was working on losing weight. I lost almost 50 lbs. over the past year and am now at a weight I haven't seen since high school. I stay active and get more than adequate exercise & activity. LDL cholesterol is 65. My HDL is low and I am working on raising it.

DO the things you need to do, to minimize the stress & aggravation in your life. Sometimes you just have to jetison the load. LOL!

These are just some of the things I am doing. THESE are the things that I have some degree of control over and am doing my best to manage.

Above ALL and MOST importantly remember that God IS in control. I thank Him EVERYDAY for another day in this world and turn my fears & doubts over to HIM. Thank Him for the life He has given me and His grace that He as shown me. God gives us MANY things & replaces them in our lives. The one thing He does NOT give us more of is time after we have foolishly thrown it away. Use the time He has given you wisely.

I wish us BOTH the best as I have my own struggles from time to time following my own advice. 🙂 Merry Christmas one and all!

I agree. Your comment gave me a lot of hope and some faith that perhaps I won't just plop over
one day with no warning, but can actually live with this and do wait-and-see approach with scans. My aneurysm was a complete shock to me also and it measures 4.6. I had a CT coronary calcium scan to see if I needed to start statins as I am "borderline" on the criteria. Calcium was zero...so that was great news. But had the wind knocked out of me with the aneurysm (dilatation) diagnosis. Soo encouraged to know that for some these do not require surgery and may never. Thank you for sharing your story!

Same thing happened to me. Went in for CT Calcium score which was a 4 to see if I needed statins and they found a 4.7 ascending Aneurysm. I’m 59.

@jkb5000 I had the same experience. I also went for a CT Calcium score as a baseline as I have normal cholesterol and am very healthy. My calcium score was zero but as an "incidental finding", they noted I had a TAA of 4.2 cm. I am now seeing a cardiologist. I had a stress test and echocardiogram. Both came back normal, with no regurgitation from the valve. The echo measured the TAA at 3.8 cm, but it is normal to have variation from CT to echo. I go back in February for another echo. I have been oddly calm about my diagnosis, which is strange because health issues generally send me into a tailspin. I'm only 57 (female) and have been very active my entire life, with lots of running, weight training, etc. My weight and BMI are normal. My only risk factor is mild familial hypertension, which is controlled by 80 mg of Valsartan. It's a bit of a gut punch to find this out, but at least I know about it and can have it monitored. I have continued to workout as I normally have and will see how it affects the growth of my TAA. I wasn't given any restrictions but I don't lift super heavy weights. I do, however, participate in spin classes and intense hot yoga. I'm curious how my next echo will be. Best of luck to everyone. Knowledge is power! Happy New Year!

@jkb5000 I had the same experience. I also went for a CT Calcium score as a baseline as I have normal cholesterol and am very healthy. My calcium score was zero but as an "incidental finding", they noted I had a TAA of 4.2 cm. I am now seeing a cardiologist. I had a stress test and echocardiogram. Both came back normal, with no regurgitation from the valve. The echo measured the TAA at 3.8 cm, but it is normal to have variation from CT to echo. I go back in February for another echo. I have been oddly calm about my diagnosis, which is strange because health issues generally send me into a tailspin. I'm only 57 (female) and have been very active my entire life, with lots of running, weight training, etc. My weight and BMI are normal. My only risk factor is mild familial hypertension, which is controlled by 80 mg of Valsartan. It's a bit of a gut punch to find this out, but at least I know about it and can have it monitored. I have continued to workout as I normally have and will see how it affects the growth of my TAA. I wasn't given any restrictions but I don't lift super heavy weights. I do, however, participate in spin classes and intense hot yoga. I'm curious how my next echo will be. Best of luck to everyone. Knowledge is power! Happy New Year!

Be careful and discuss your exercise with your cardiologist. I worry about not getting enough exercise, but what you do sounds like a lot to me. Just saying. I'm not a doctor.

@jkb5000 I had the same experience. I also went for a CT Calcium score as a baseline as I have normal cholesterol and am very healthy. My calcium score was zero but as an "incidental finding", they noted I had a TAA of 4.2 cm. I am now seeing a cardiologist. I had a stress test and echocardiogram. Both came back normal, with no regurgitation from the valve. The echo measured the TAA at 3.8 cm, but it is normal to have variation from CT to echo. I go back in February for another echo. I have been oddly calm about my diagnosis, which is strange because health issues generally send me into a tailspin. I'm only 57 (female) and have been very active my entire life, with lots of running, weight training, etc. My weight and BMI are normal. My only risk factor is mild familial hypertension, which is controlled by 80 mg of Valsartan. It's a bit of a gut punch to find this out, but at least I know about it and can have it monitored. I have continued to workout as I normally have and will see how it affects the growth of my TAA. I wasn't given any restrictions but I don't lift super heavy weights. I do, however, participate in spin classes and intense hot yoga. I'm curious how my next echo will be. Best of luck to everyone. Knowledge is power! Happy New Year!