Hi Steve,

First, you want to find out how many centimeters your aneurysm is. Short people can’t wait as long as tall people. Tall people can wait sometimes all the way to 6.0. From reading everyone’s input in this support group it seems like 5.5 is about the average time we have until we need to undergo surgical intervention. For ascending aortic aneurysms, you need to know where exactly the aneurysm is located - an MRI or CT scan will tell your surgical cardiologists the answer. From what I’ve read, if it’s too close to the aortic root, you may not be a candidate for surgery. We’re talking open heart surgery at this point as the only option; however, they just did what I think was the first endovascular surgery on an ascending aortic aneurysm over in California at Stanford. The medical community is becoming more and more creative so we have lots of hope. Just get as thin as possible to make it easier for the medical community to help you. Stop smoking and start an exercise program under your cardiologist watchful eye. Many of us have lived for years, knowing we have an aneurysm. This is not fun but reality. God is in control. Sara💐