Hey, I hear you—and I really get it. I had my own emergency open-heart surgery nearly 10 years ago for a dissected thoracic aortic aneurysm. I was 50 at the time, and I can tell you firsthand—this stuff gets real, fast. You’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to do next. It’s scary, especially when you’re the only one making the call. GET A SECOND OPINION RIGHT NOW FROM A THORACIC SURGEON AT A MAJOR HEART CENTER. Mayo, Cleveland, UT Houston, U of Minnesota, UCSD, etc.

A 5.5 cm thoracic aortic aneurysm is right at the threshold where most guidelines say close monitoring or surgical consultation is necessary, depending on your body size, symptoms, and growth rate. The general cutoff for surgery is often 5.5 cm for the ascending aorta—but many top centers (especially in the U.S.) consider earlier surgery around 5.0–5.3 cm if you’re otherwise healthy and especially if you’re young, like you, at 55.

And two years between checkups at your size? That seems way too long. Most specialists recommend imaging every 6 to 12 months at this stage. You’re absolutely right to trust your instincts and seek a second opinion—preferably from a thoracic aortic surgeon at a high-volume center. They’ll look at your full history, growth rate, CT or MRI imaging, and maybe even genetic factors.

Just to be clear: you didn’t cause this. It’s not from smoking or anything you did wrong. Aneurysms often develop silently and can be related to connective tissue strength, blood pressure, or even genes you’ve never heard of.

You’re not lost. You’re paying attention. You’re asking the right questions. And you’re advocating for yourself—and that’s exactly what saved my life in 2015. You’ve got this.

Peace.