Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Thank you, Bev, I’m 81 and really appreciate your reply. We sound like two peas in a pod. I do not have much trust in the doctors today as for eight or nine years I was taking several supplements that produced nitro oxide, and they all knew it, but until I looked it up myself and find out that you never take nitro oxide supplements with an aneurysm as it weakens the elasticity in your aorta, my game plan is to ride it out. Do nothing and hope it’s quick.

I'm almost 88, and had a 4.8 AAA discovered about 10 yrs ago. No symtoms. I'm fortunate to have good general health. They image it each year, and it has been stable. I do a brisk 1/2 mile walk most days. My parents both lived to 99 & 98, so I MAY be around for a while. It's helpful to read about other peoples experience with doctors, etc.

I am 80 and had a AAA discovered on 2011 4.5. It has grown very little and is now 4.9. The doctor told me the new size for surgery for AAA is 6cm and likely mine won't get there unless I live to be over 100!!! So I am at ease that I don't have to see surgery in the future.

I see a cardiothoracic surgeon at DUKE at Durham, NC. He came highly recommended by my PCP. He is known to be the AORTIC guru in the southeast. Personally, I like him very much as he is easy to talk with, is very thorough and always ask me if I have any questions, which I often do and we discuss those. On the day that I have an appoitment with him, my cardiac ultrasound is scheduled first, then I have my CT with contrast performed and then I see the cardiothoracic surgeon to review those test results. I really like the fact that the Cardiac CT photos are reported out in a 3-4 dimensional picture so that I can visualize the aneurysm and its size. I leave the office appointment with all the printed & diagram reports in hand for my reference and my test results are electronically transmitted to my PCP and local cardioloigst. G. Chad Huges, IV, MD is my Duke Cardiothoracic surgeon. I have not had surgery yet and I am 77 years old.

Wow! I'm moving the Durham. That's great!!

I only see the surgeon if he thinks there's something to talk about (possible quick growth was the one time I saw him). O/W phone call from a PA and no pics.

Thank you for this recommendation. I live close enough to Duke to go there and am pleased to have Dr. Huges's name. Very helpful information! I'm 79 with 4.2 and a CT scan scheduled for July. I can only hope the aneurysm hasn't grown. I'm glad you're confident about the treatment you're getting.

All of this information is so valuable! I’m 67 with a 5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm and otherwise in great health. My aneurysm has been the same size for 5 years and would like more information on what people do when they don’t elect to have surgery. I’m a trained scientist and understand the risk comparisons with and without surgery but we are individuals of course and believe we all don’t fit into the same category of risk. I’m hesitant about surgery but appreciate the risk of not having it. What an agonizing situation. Peace and good health to everyone!

Hello and thanks for this chat thing . Im just two days into my diagnosis
I'm meeting with surgeon on Monday for further directions.
Don't know much about why it happened or when or size .
I'm 58 healthy active ,guess that doesn't matter . I'm not scared of the surgery more not waking up tomorrow. Will update after Doc visit. Thanks again for this . I've read all post and it's been quite helpful.

If I were in my fifties or sixties, I think I'd probably have surgery when the time was right. At nearly 80, I'm very reluctant. I'm in good health, don't smoke, and am not overweight, so those are encouraging factors, but I just can't imagine going through what I believe would be a long period of recovery. I had back surgery 16 years ago for a painful ruptured disc and was told I'd be back to normal within a few weeks. It was over a year before I was able to walk normally and I'm still aware of my dodgy back. I feel strong and full of life and would like to stick around for a while, but I'd like to feel strong and full of life--until I don't. It's hard to know what to do. I have another CT scan in July. Maybe that will tell me something that will help. I love getting others' thoughts about this.

I am 77 years old. My AAA is 5.5cm and I do need open heart surgery. However, I have lung damage from severe bilateral COVID Pneumonia. My lung function test (PFT's) show that lungs are getting less functionable each year. Bronchiectasis, Pumonary fibrosis, early honeycombing present on high resolution CT scan. I have never smoked and never been married to a smoker or lived in home iwth a smoker. All lung damage is related to the severe bilateral COVID pneumonia. I am a high surgical risk because of the lung damage. I am intermittent oxygen during the day and sleep with oxygen on at night. Have been told by Pulmonoloigst and Cardiothoracic surgeon that I may not be able to come off the vent after surgery, or may develop Post-op Pneumonia. Therefore the recommendation is to continue to observe the AAA until it appears to be disecting....... My personal recommendation to anyone who is healthy other than the AAA, is to proceed to seriously consider surgery because living with a time-bomb is not really living life to the fullest. There are restrictions on what you should and should not be doing right now. Your health is subject to change at anytime and then you will not have the luxury of making a choice to plan for surgery to prevent the rupture. Be PROactive rather than REactive.