Ascending aortic aneurysm

Posted by msturcken @msturcken, Apr 20 12:38pm

I was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm Two years ago. It has grown from 4.0 to 4.1 in one year.
I am so afraid I will need surgery. I have read only open heart surgery can fix it. I was hoping for less invasive measures.
I am 69. The dr put me on crestor for very high cholesterol and a baby aspirin.
Is it possible I may never need surgery? How can I stop it from growing. Can a less invasive way to surgically treat it be done??
I am so scared. I do t think I will survive open heart surgery.
I have calcium build up in arteries. It is mild. My good colesterol is very high.
I try to keep by blood pressure below 115/83

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@rlhix

This thread and this group is about aortic aneurysms. Only about 10 people in 100,000 have a Thoracic aortic aneurysm. The context is about controlling blood pressure and sleep apnea in order to not exacerbate an aneurysm. Hypertension doesn't cause them nor does apnea. Primary hypertension can be controlled with medications etc. Sleep apnea can cause secondary hypertension that may come and go, often undetected. I had random blood pressure issues up until about a year before I had open heart surgery. In around October 2023 I ended up with primary hypertension. I didn't know about the apnea until Oct 2023 when I had a sleep study ordered along with an echocardiogram. The Echo found the 3.7 to 4.4 ascending aortic and root aneurysm and in May of 2024 it was 4.3 to 4.3 by the same technician. Based on re-measurement of those 2 scans and a new CT with Contrast, they were thought to be about 4.7 to 4.8 but apparently stable. Of course I had been controlling the blood pressure and apnea since Dec 23 at that point. I still have a section close to the aortic arch that is 4.4.

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Thanks for your story. Controlling multiple issues is challenging. I wish you the best.

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@wdytys

I am not disagreeing with you about the harmful effects of sleep apnea. I have sleep apnea and I use a cpap mask to sleep. What I am concerned about is saying sleep apnea affects aortic aneurysm, unless you can point to research that establishes the connection.

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Common sense says sleep apne probably won't help anything since stopping breathing effects your heart but it may not be directly harmful

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I also have an aortic aneurysm that is 4.3. Also just found diaphragmatic hernias on left and right side. Had surgery in the past for a Bochdalek hernia on right side when I was 65. Meeting with thoracic/cardiac surgeon beginning of May. I'm 77 and thinking to just let things take their course. The previous surgery was not pleasant with a two week hospital stay and the surgery failed. Not sure what I'm going to do.

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@msturcken

Has anyone lived with an aneurysm the size of mine without needing surgery or had the less invasive endovascular surgery done on it.
My primary care dr said surgery could be done through a vein in the leg.
I also have breast implants.
I am a mess worrying about this.

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Mine is over 5 and stable for last 3 years. Another checkup coming soon. Also have abdominal aorta recently found, but mild. I also have transplanted Kidney and 2 cervical replacements. Try to exercise according to your doctor's recommendations. Your BP looks great to me.

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I think we've all had these same fears at some time. I've had my ascending aortic aneurysm since 2009 diagnosed as 4.6 and is still a 4.6, in the beginning, yes it was scary but as time goes by, not so much, I don't dwell on it, after all it won't change anything. I have high BP, high cholesterol and I'm an ex smoker, I'm also 77.

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@limeyinnc

I think we've all had these same fears at some time. I've had my ascending aortic aneurysm since 2009 diagnosed as 4.6 and is still a 4.6, in the beginning, yes it was scary but as time goes by, not so much, I don't dwell on it, after all it won't change anything. I have high BP, high cholesterol and I'm an ex smoker, I'm also 77.

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Thank ypu. Mine went up.1 in a year. I have another ct scan in June. I am keeping my fingers crossed. My blood pressure is about 110/84. My colesterol was really high until the cardiologist put me on crestor. Now this in the normal range. One thing I am trying to change is straining on the toilet. I have chronic constipation and I think the straining puts pressure on the aneurism.

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@msturcken

Thank ypu. Mine went up.1 in a year. I have another ct scan in June. I am keeping my fingers crossed. My blood pressure is about 110/84. My colesterol was really high until the cardiologist put me on crestor. Now this in the normal range. One thing I am trying to change is straining on the toilet. I have chronic constipation and I think the straining puts pressure on the aneurism.

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I can relate to the constipation, I have IBS with constipation, I take miralax (usually generic ) almost every day and that keeps everything moving without having to strain.

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@msturcken

Thank ypu. Mine went up.1 in a year. I have another ct scan in June. I am keeping my fingers crossed. My blood pressure is about 110/84. My colesterol was really high until the cardiologist put me on crestor. Now this in the normal range. One thing I am trying to change is straining on the toilet. I have chronic constipation and I think the straining puts pressure on the aneurism.

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Straining does put pressure on your aneurysm. It might be a really good idea to increase your intake of like broccoli and berries and walnuts. They’re good for health and they also create bulk in addition to that or maybe prior to that it might be a really good idea to use MiraLAX and make sure you maybe double your intake of water. I just sip water all day long. I found that to be very helpful and I haven’t been constipated once since I started being this two years ago.🤗

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