Ascending Aorta Size vs Descending Aorta Size Cause for Surgery

I also have a TAA 5.4 I’m wondering if you would explain what kind of stress caused your emergency?
How are you feeling now about it?
Ty
Diane

It just happened. No pain. I WAS lifting and going up stairs in our barn. after the second trip up I kind of thought geez I need to get in better shape I'm a little winded. Then my eyes felt funny and I was sweaty around my neck and in my hair. I think it was the funny feeling in my eyes and seeing flashers that made me want to find my husband (who normally would have been gone that morning, but we stopped and chatted a little. I went down the steps and called his name. When he got to me I was outside and sitting on a grappling bucket. I Began to vomit shortly later and he took me to the ER. I was transferred to Mayo.

I did not know I had anything this serious. I was told I had an aneurysm just a year earlier. At the time of my accidental discovery, they told me you don't do anything for them, just watch and if it starts getting larger, they would consider surgery. The morning of my dissection my husband and I had coffee outside. I went to the barn. I lifted a bookcase that was in two pieces up the stairs in my barn. Shortly afterwards, when I reached the top of the stairs, I felt short winded, sweaty at the base of my neck, and my eyes felt funny. They tingled and I had flashers. So I walked down the steps and got my husband. He said I didn't look good and took me to the ER. They spent the day doing tests and ruling out a heart attack and stroke. I didn't have many signs that anything that serious was going on. They decided not to release me. Eventually one doctor came in that had seen something like this previously. I Wass sent to Rochester for surgery.
I hope this helps.

I would listen to your surgeon. While in there they can do any repairs that are needed. I had a dissection at 4.5 in an emergency situation. I was repaired in 3 places. Places we had no idea that were bad. At that time I was 68 (female). I am 71 now.

Who did your surgery at Rochester if you don’t mind me asking?

This is what upsets me. I had a brain aneurysm that they told me was a 2. Then I went to Johns Hopkins and they found it was a 4.7. Golden rule was to do an angiogram. I had to have surgery and by the time I got to the surgery a few months later they found the aneurysm to be very sick they called and flat.
I now have an aneurism in my ascending aortic area. 4.1. It’s been that easy for a year. I am worried sick. This can go the same way but the dr is very satisfied to wait this out. They never know what is really going on with these aneurysms until they get in. So it scares me.

So sorry 😞
Thank god your husband was home !!
Ty so much for sharing !
I need to decide if I should have surgery now or wait.
I do a lot of lifting and work too,
that I guess I shouldn’t be now.
This info really helps me.
I really appreciate you sharing Ty 😊

I did not know I had anything this serious. I was told I had an aneurysm just a year earlier. At the time of my accidental discovery, they told me you don't do anything for them, just watch and if it starts getting larger, they would consider surgery. The morning of my dissection my husband and I had coffee outside. I went to the barn. I lifted a bookcase that was in two pieces up the stairs in my barn. Shortly afterwards, when I reached the top of the stairs, I felt short winded, sweaty at the base of my neck, and my eyes felt funny. They tingled and I had flashers. So I walked down the steps and got my husband. He said I didn't look good and took me to the ER. They spent the day doing tests and ruling out a heart attack and stroke. I didn't have many signs that anything that serious was going on. They decided not to release me. Eventually one doctor came in that had seen something like this previously. I Wass sent to Rochester for surgery.
I hope this helps.

Yes it is hard. Have you considered a second or third opinion. Or possible the consult with a different doctor. You have a lot going on. I would certainly want to feel confident in who I am consulting with. It is worth your sanity. These are very dangerous surgeries. They can't alway just go right in and do what we want them to do. I wish you the best.