1. < Aortic Aneurysms

Newly diagnosed and/or living with ascending aortic aneurysm…anxiety

Posted by ginnycake @ginnycake, Apr 11, 2023

How do you guys cope with the knowledge? My 4.2 CM ascending aortic aneurysm showed up incidentally on a CT scan for a back sprain.
I haven’t had follow up as I write this. It is scheduled for the 11th with my primary care Dr. Will I get another scan of my chest to confirm it???I live in Hawaii… fearful of it not being taken seriously and having spiked high blood pressure from Stress and anxiety cause more damage. I would appreciate your insights… thank you in advance.

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shiloh376 | @shiloh376 | 6 days ago

I was in a car accident where I broke some bones and was hospitalized for 4 days. A day before discharge a cardiologist appeared at my bedside and said, "I'll bet you're wondering why a cardiologist is coming to talk to you." That's when I learned I had a 4.4 CM ascending aortic aneurysm. That was 8 years ago. Obviously it worried me at first because I didn't know anything about aneurysms. I took it very seriously in terms of continuing BP meds and not lifting anything over 30lbs. Got a few disapproving looks from strangers when I picked my wife and daughters up from the airport and didn't just go ahead and load their 50lb suitcases into the trunk. I have been walking 30 minutes everyday at a pretty brisk pace and lifting light weights 10-20lb dumbbells everyday for years now. My workouts are fairly intense but the important thing, I have found, is breathing correctly and not straining. I never hold my breath and strain and never max out the number of reps I could do. (I'm also loading in those suitcases now using a little creativity to accomplish it without straining). If someone is looking for help pushing a car out of the snow or helping load heavy furniture into a moving van, I'm not you're guy. I am now 70 years old and the aneurysm has not grown at all. I have a CAT scan with contrasting dye every six months for my own peace of mind. Just had one two weeks ago and still at 4.4. I don't know what the future holds in this regard but I really don't think about it too much. 4.2 CM is very small. I think as time goes on you will get used to it and it will become less and less of a concern. Just take care of yourself and listen to your cardiologist's recommendations. All the best. Brian

REPLY
2 replies
ginnycake | @ginnycake | 5 days ago
In reply to @shiloh376 "I was in a car accident where I broke some bones and was hospitalized for 4..." + (show)
@shiloh376

I was in a car accident where I broke some bones and was hospitalized for 4 days. A day before discharge a cardiologist appeared at my bedside and said, "I'll bet you're wondering why a cardiologist is coming to talk to you." That's when I learned I had a 4.4 CM ascending aortic aneurysm. That was 8 years ago. Obviously it worried me at first because I didn't know anything about aneurysms. I took it very seriously in terms of continuing BP meds and not lifting anything over 30lbs. Got a few disapproving looks from strangers when I picked my wife and daughters up from the airport and didn't just go ahead and load their 50lb suitcases into the trunk. I have been walking 30 minutes everyday at a pretty brisk pace and lifting light weights 10-20lb dumbbells everyday for years now. My workouts are fairly intense but the important thing, I have found, is breathing correctly and not straining. I never hold my breath and strain and never max out the number of reps I could do. (I'm also loading in those suitcases now using a little creativity to accomplish it without straining). If someone is looking for help pushing a car out of the snow or helping load heavy furniture into a moving van, I'm not you're guy. I am now 70 years old and the aneurysm has not grown at all. I have a CAT scan with contrasting dye every six months for my own peace of mind. Just had one two weeks ago and still at 4.4. I don't know what the future holds in this regard but I really don't think about it too much. 4.2 CM is very small. I think as time goes on you will get used to it and it will become less and less of a concern. Just take care of yourself and listen to your cardiologist's recommendations. All the best. Brian

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for your reply. I’m doing much better now. I was terrified at the first diagnosis but like you I’m doing the best I can following the advice of my cardiologist and thoracic surgeon and so far my 4.2 hasn’t grown in the last two years since I posted my initial Introduction to this group. I am up for another CT scan this coming Friday and hopefully will have good news regarding stability of my 4.2 cm aneurysm🤗

REPLY
1 reply
rogermija | @rogermija | 5 days ago
In reply to @shiloh376 "I was in a car accident where I broke some bones and was hospitalized for 4..." + (show)
@shiloh376

I was in a car accident where I broke some bones and was hospitalized for 4 days. A day before discharge a cardiologist appeared at my bedside and said, "I'll bet you're wondering why a cardiologist is coming to talk to you." That's when I learned I had a 4.4 CM ascending aortic aneurysm. That was 8 years ago. Obviously it worried me at first because I didn't know anything about aneurysms. I took it very seriously in terms of continuing BP meds and not lifting anything over 30lbs. Got a few disapproving looks from strangers when I picked my wife and daughters up from the airport and didn't just go ahead and load their 50lb suitcases into the trunk. I have been walking 30 minutes everyday at a pretty brisk pace and lifting light weights 10-20lb dumbbells everyday for years now. My workouts are fairly intense but the important thing, I have found, is breathing correctly and not straining. I never hold my breath and strain and never max out the number of reps I could do. (I'm also loading in those suitcases now using a little creativity to accomplish it without straining). If someone is looking for help pushing a car out of the snow or helping load heavy furniture into a moving van, I'm not you're guy. I am now 70 years old and the aneurysm has not grown at all. I have a CAT scan with contrasting dye every six months for my own peace of mind. Just had one two weeks ago and still at 4.4. I don't know what the future holds in this regard but I really don't think about it too much. 4.2 CM is very small. I think as time goes on you will get used to it and it will become less and less of a concern. Just take care of yourself and listen to your cardiologist's recommendations. All the best. Brian

Jump to this post

I have read recently that CT scans can expose your internals to excessive x-radiation. You might want to read up on this.

REPLY
1 reply
pamela78 | @pamela78 | 4 days ago
In reply to @ginnycake "Thank you so much for your reply. I’m doing much better now. I was terrified at..." + (show)
@ginnycake

Thank you so much for your reply. I’m doing much better now. I was terrified at the first diagnosis but like you I’m doing the best I can following the advice of my cardiologist and thoracic surgeon and so far my 4.2 hasn’t grown in the last two years since I posted my initial Introduction to this group. I am up for another CT scan this coming Friday and hopefully will have good news regarding stability of my 4.2 cm aneurysm🤗

Jump to this post

Let us know how things go. Good luck.

REPLY
deedth64 | @deedth64 | 1 day ago

Hello mine was found on a CT Calcium Score test is Dec of 2023. I was freaked out my Cardiologist told me to calm down because it is considered small and a dilation rather than an aneurysm. We went over my current BP meds he made some changes and my primary gave me an extra Cholesterol pill both doctors said they have patients with this issue and most lead healthy uneventful lives. The key is not to panic. They both told me to continue my regular exercise routine which is not all that strenuous 35 mins of cardio and 25 of light weights 5 to 10 lbs. I had a second scan in June of 2024 and it is the same size actually the finding did call it a mild dilation of my aorta. Both doctors said the same thing. 1) keep your bp at or below 130/80 2) keep your cholesterol levels as low as I can get it which both of those are good so far. The main thing here is to stay calm and watch your BP if your don't have a BP cuff at home you should invest in one. Hope that helps and good luck on your journey.

REPLY
sarastewart | @sarastewart | 1 day ago
In reply to @rogermija "I have read recently that CT scans can expose your internals to excessive x-radiation. You might..." + (show)
@rogermija

I have read recently that CT scans can expose your internals to excessive x-radiation. You might want to read up on this.

Jump to this post

Ask for an MRI instead of CT scan to minimize radiation exposure ☺️

REPLY
1 reply
booklover71 | @booklover71 | 2 hours ago

This is the findings from University of California San Francisco. Please read through it and also note the low percentage for chest CT scans. The title, "Popular CT Scans Could Account for 5% of All Cancer Cases A Year" gives an overall to the 5% total with the chest scan showing a lowest result. The CT scan alerted me to my TAA, and I am happy to be healthy, traveling, and in my 70's. Recently after my last scan and there was still no growth. The cardiologist and the surveillance team told me I would not need another one for three years.
https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2025/04/429791/popular-ct-scans-could-account-5-all-cancer-cases-year
Personally I will continue to have CT scans to monitor my TAA. rogermija thank you for bringing this to our attention so we can make all make informed decisions.

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