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5.2 ascending aortic aneurysm- waiting for surgery (?)
72YO male: I’ve had a St Jude replacement aortic valve since 1998 that leaks a bit with my left ventricle enlarged to 7cm. I also have a slowly enlarging ascending aortic aneurysm, 5.0 to 5.2cm and my current plan is to wait for open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve and fix my aneurysm when it reaches 5.5cm. I’m slightly worried about waiting because I won’t be as “healthy “ for surgery in my late 70s as now. Any ideas concerning putting surgery off until necessary or solving problem now?
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It's my opinion I think Covid could be responsible for my aneurysm or the enlargement because for 62 years never had a problem.
I wish you well with your situation. This is my belief God is in charge and neither you nor I will leave this earth until he calls us home. That doesn't mean I still don't get concerned and worry about the future. The uncertainty is the worst part. I hope everything works out for you.
Take care
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3 ReactionsI again clarify, I’m not a Dr (but read and my son is a Med Student and i love to have conversations with him about medical subjects). In my mind there is a big difference between dilation and inflammation. Covid as other viruses can cause myocarditis which is an inflammation of the heart muscle, this is very different from a dilation of a vessel caused by the weakening of the vessel wall, in our case the Aorta (I also had a brain aneurysm so any artery can be affected). The reasons for the appearance of aneurysms are not all known, but genetics, high BP, smoking are contributors. In my case I also have a bicuspid aortic valve and those are known to raise the probability of developing aneurysms. I also never smoked or consumed any tobacco products, drink socially in moderation, exercised all my life, was otherwise in great physical shape and developed two aneurysms.
We may not know why they happened, but have to be glad we know we have it so that we can monitor it, take care of ourselves to minimize their growth or their impact in our lives, and make decisions about repairs when the time comes. A lot of people never get that chance.
As always all the best to all
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3 ReactionsTy for the response.
I’m getting urgent surgery responses out here with NO ideas on how to control the aneurysm with diet or exercise which really concerns me as to their intentions being completely self motivated.
Had I been told about this when it was first discovered I may have been able to implement some self improvement strategies, but I’m getting there.
Thanks again! And best of luck with yours
I too believe COVID sparked this enlargement.
Inflammation whether bacterial or viral needs to be treated and we all know to well the controversy surrounding covid so many of us weren’t properly treated.
Especially, not given antibiotics and antivirals bc of the it being a mixed infection.
I’m doing small fasts to see if my symptoms can be relieved without medication for BP and HR
Wish me luck and I’ll keep you informed!
That sounds like quite a road trip !
I was hoping to avoid that but will probably be doing the same until I find doctors who are actually experts in this field.
Best of luck and thanks for sharing !
Thanks for sharing !!
I will watch it as soon as possible- I need to learn everything I can and QUICKLY !
Ty again and the best of luck to you !
I did receive antivirals and antibiotics when I was hospitalized with COVIID Dec 2020. I was deteriorating daily. finally, after receiving a transfusion of COVID antibodies, I began to show improvement. At this time of the pandemic, only healthcare providers and the nuring home residents were able to be vaccinated. I made certain to get my COVID vaccinations as soon as I was eligible and have continued to receive boosters ever since that time. I do not believe I could survice that level of infection again.
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3 Reactionsthought you might like to know there is a follow-up video with the results of the first clinical trial of exercise in people who have had an aortic dissection. It is the study he refers to in the first video.
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2 ReactionsThere's nothing you can do to reduce the aneurysm and, while diet and exercise are good in general, they're not a cure. Read what's said on this site and learn more about this very worrisome issue. Stay in close touch with your cardiologist. If doctors recommend surgery, it's not because they're money grubbers who are only self-interested.
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2 Reactionsdianelynn, I know some people have different opinions. I do think COVID is responsible in some way in aorta enlargement in some people. It is connected to the heart, which has been documented to have been affected by the virus by inflammation and since the Aorta valve is connected to the heart l don't think inflammation would automatically stop in the heart muscle. I believe the inflammation would enter the valves as well. But that's just my opinion. Also, what caused the sudden death in otherwise healthy young people that never had any heart issues. It's only been
approximately 4 years since the the vaccine came out. Normally it takes years of testing before a vaccine is FDA approved. l believe as more time goes by the evidence will show the damage COVID has done and is continuing to due to people's heart. We may never know the real truth about this. But I wish you the best with your health issues
Take care