Can you feel your ascending aortic aneurysm when you inhale deeply?

I suffered a complete aortic dissection in 2015. Repaired by emergency open heart surgery at UCSD La Jolla. I can feel my aorta sometimes in my throat. Sometimes because of the size of the remaining aneurysm in the form of a false lumen, I will get food stuck in my throat if it's hard to digest like dry chicken or dense protein. When that happens, I can feel my aorta, pressing against my esophagus and tightening it. I've seen this in CT scans from the University of Minnesota where I go annually for my scans with contrast. They do super high definition 8K scans and they run that scan from the middle of my teeth all the way down to my knees. I have downloaded a piece of software that allows me to look at the scans on my computer at home after I request the CD of the scan which I get for free from the university after the scan. (The scan cost about 2500 bucks but the data CD is free to me.) I can very clearly see where my aorta is pressed up against my esophagus.

Your aorta is the massive artery that carries blood from your heart to the rest of your body. In your chest, it runs right behind your esophagus and right in front of your spine. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach, and it normally has just enough space to do its job. Now, if your aorta starts to balloon out (aka an aneurysm), it has nowhere to expand except into the space around it—which means it can push directly against your esophagus. The problem? Your spine is right behind the esophagus, so instead of the esophagus just shifting out of the way, it gets pinched between the aneurysm and the spine. And since the esophagus is basically a soft collapsible tube, it does not handle pressure well.

This is why some of us with thoracic aneurysms start having trouble swallowing. At first, it’s usually with solids—like bread, meat, or pasta. You might feel like food is getting stuck in your chest, or you have to drink a ton of liquid to wash things down. If it gets worse, even liquids can be a struggle. Some people describe it as a squeezing or choking sensation in the middle of their chest when they eat. What makes it even trickier is that the thoracic area is already super crowded—your heart, lungs, trachea, and aorta are all packed in there with almost no extra room. So when the aorta starts pushing outward, it creates a real traffic jam.

If you’re having this issue, a CT scan or MRI can usually confirm if the aneurysm is the culprit. Depending on the size and risk level, doctors might just monitor it closely, or they might recommend surgery or a stent to take the pressure off. Bottom line: If you’re struggling with swallowing and you have an aortic aneurysm, this is a real thing. It’s not in your head. Talk to your doctor, and don’t be afraid to push for imaging if you feel something isn’t right. Peace.

You continue to educate us. Thank you for all your input. Never too much but always pertinent to the question.

Thank you for this information. I do have an aortic ascending thoracic aneurysm. I am having trouble swallowing and I have a constant cough. Last summer I went to an ear, nose, and throat doctor. She put a camera into my nose and down my throat. I thought I might have a lump or something. I knew about my aneurysm, it was 5.5 cm.
but I did not know I would feel it so much in my throat. I chose no surgery, partly because of my age, I am 77, and too high of risk of being left having to depend on my children. So now it is 6.3, and besides chest pain, and cough, my throat really feels like I have a large lump in it. It is good to hear that other people know what it is and share information about it.

What does your thoracic surgeon say?

My friend was older when she had her surgery done and came through fine. It all depends on what the surgeons say. I also have one 4.4 but don’t feel a thing; so it’s always out of my mind until the end of year scans. Will pray for you for godly guidance and wise decision concerning yours.

Thank you for sharing, with us. I hear you, and I can understand why you’d feel that way, I'm a 62 with 6 kids and 4 grandkids. It takes a lot of courage to make a decision like this, I respect you for thinking through all the risks and making the right chose for you and your family. No matter what, please know you're not alone. I'm pray that you have family, friends and us to share your journey with. I feel so blessed that we have each other in this support group. When I found out about this, it took me to my knees. I am still trying to digest the news. Only my immediate family and a few friends know.
#blessed

I was mistaken; I do have three aneurysms. One 3.6 in my abdomen, not growing, they say don't worry about it. One ascending at 5.2 and the other is descending, and it has grown to 6.3. The surgeon at San Fransico wanted to do surgery at 5.5 but I wanted a second option, so I went to the gold standard clinic in Cleveland and that surgeon said that at my age the outcome is often not good. He said I should go play golf, hit tennis balls with my grandson, and just enjoy my life.
Well, I did and my aneurysm grew 8 mm in three months. So now I have pulled back on being active and I get another scan next month to see where I am. My cardiologist here in Chico said he gives me 6 months, maybe a year . I am totally at peace with this, I know where I am going.