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Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others
Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: 8 hours ago | Replies (655)Comment receiving replies
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.
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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.