Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Appreciate the advice and kind words my friend.

I have an aortic aneurysm I think the doctor said the size is 3.9 and put me on meds to keep it from getting larger and didn’t seem to be to concerned about it but I am scared tho. I guess I’m concerned about it rupturing also have high blood pressure

You're going to be OK. You came to the right place. Now that you know you have a problem you can work at reducing your risks and prepare yourself to have open-heart surgery to repair it if necessary. You are 95% of the way there because you know you have a problem and you can do something about it. For many of us, me included we did not know we had a problem until we had a complete aortic dissection. Most people who have that sort of event don't survive. I am lucky and I am thankful to have survived in 2015, but I sure wish I would've known I had a problem because I would've addressed it.

In your case, you're much more likely to survive an aortic surgery for repair that is done in a scheduled and controlled manner, as opposed to an emergent operation which often times you won't even live long enough to get to the hospital. So, being in a 3.9 means that your doctor will likely tell you that they will not operate until you reach a 5.0. That's fairly normal, but it depends upon your size, gender, age, etc. 5 cm is the typical demarcation point for having open-heart surgery to repair the aorta. I'm so happy for you that you know you have a problem because now you can confidently make adjustments in your life that will make it less likely that you will have a sudden aortic dissection. Regular CT scans with contrast of your heart and your vasculature will save your life. Make it a habit to see your fully qualified thoracic surgeon with expertise in aortic repairs. She or he are your best friend and the sooner you get to know them and have regular appointments with them the better your chances are of surviving. Keep your blood pressure down, keep your weight down, keep your stress down, and listen to your medical team, especially your thoracic surgeon. Peace.

Hi everyone. I am 75 yo and have two aneurysms a 4.7 ascending and a 3.5AA. I have been fairly calm about them but of late sometimes not so much. My next door neighbor freaked me out about her husbands death by a ruptured AA, won't repeat.
Anyway I have consulted a Surgeon about it and will meet her again next week. Frankly I don't think I can afford it, so I am rethinking the surgery. How about any of you, any advise?
Thanks

Thank you for discussing abhorrent left Subclavian artery. Any about this condition I would appreciate.

any information

I’m 80plus and have a couple aneurysms. AAA 4.75. Ascending not sure. I’ve been on cialis . L citrulline and L Argenine for 9 years. None of my doctors told me that I should not take them. I found out by studying that all 3 make nitric oxide that you should never take with an aneurysm. I am not a happy camper.

I can understand why you’re feeling frustrated. It’s a tough realization to come to, especially when you’ve been taking these for so long without a heads-up from your doctors. It’s good that you’re doing your own research and staying proactive about your health—it’s often the best way to catch things like this.

Here’s the key: nitric oxide does have the potential to affect blood vessel dilation, which might increase stress on weakened areas like aneurysms. That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all issue, and whether these supplements have had any impact on your aneurysms specifically is hard to say. Controlling your blood pressure is just as significant to factor and I would be just as concerned about whether or not any of these drugs are increasing your blood pressure and thereby weakening the aortic wall.

Your best next step is to talk this over with a vascular surgeon or cardiologist who specializes in aneurysms. They’ll have the experience to assess whether these supplements have affected your condition and, more importantly, what adjustments need to be made to your care plan moving forward.

For now, I’d suggest pausing the supplements (if you haven’t already) until you’ve had that discussion. Also, if you haven’t had a recent scan to check the size and stability of your aneurysms, this would be a good time to schedule one. I had a complete type, a one ascending aortic dissection in 2015 at the age of 50. I am intimately familiar with the problem and you are smart to be on top of it because I never once was worn by any doctor that I could dissect my aorta because of my untreated hypertension. I can’t blame them for my own failings, but I may have thought of my hypertension differently, and I understood that I could literally blow out my aorta from it.

You’ve got the right to feel like your doctors should have flagged this sooner, but now that you know, focusing on moving forward with the right team will help you get the best outcomes. Peace.

Hello Community,

At 51 years old, I was diagnosed with an aneurysm in my ascending aorta, measuring 4.2 cm. Two years later, wanting to increase my running, I asked my doctor to reassess my condition. The aneurysm had grown to 4.9 cm. My doctor advised me to stop running and scheduled surgery. In September 2003, I underwent the procedure. Afterward, I was able to resume running without any issues.

Additionally, my younger brother received treatment for his aneurysm and bivalve valves. Our father passed away from an aortic dissection at the age of 66; he, too, had bivalve valves. My older sister has also shown signs of aneurysms.

Interestingly, both of my iliac arteries also show aneurysms.

I am Susan and I have a stomach aneurysm that went from 3.7 to 3.9 a few months ago and today I am having stomach pains all day and I don’t know if I should go to hospital or not. It is now 2:45 am and these pains have been all day. Not severe