Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Good morning!

My AAA is 5.9 cm and currently being monitored every 6 mos, including a CT angiogram with contrast. If I recall when it was first discovered, the monitoring was annually and also included a CT angiogram with contrast. My next “evaluation” is in August 2025.

I am being followed by vascular surgeons who are very progressive and understanding. My recommendations now include two surgeries; one is extremely complex. Being in my early 80’s, deciding on surgery is a challenging decision with my many health issues. I enjoy living every day on this earth and my life is in the hands of a higher power.

Blessings

When you get older, you will quickly learn a lesson, my girlfriend went in for a 30 min outpatient surgery, died twice and was in ICU for a month, we got pretty much an ooops. I have had an abdominal aneurism for years, my doctor neglected to tell me how dangerous this can be, just shrugged his shoulders a nurse at a different location explained it to me. I can go on if you wish; why do you think they highly recommend a second or even third opinion??

Got into a car accident, doc at emergency room gave me aspirin and told to go home, that night I had to call a rescue, different doctor shook his head and said I had severe whiplash and a broken cheek bone, should I go on????

I once drove myself to a hospital emergency room with what I believed to be a broken finger. The doctor said, "It doesn't look broken to me", then sent me home.
The next day, the finger was very swollen & painful so I went back to the hospital. Another doctor took one look & sent me for an X-ray. My finger was broken in 2 places.
Doctors are only human, they can, and do, make mistakes.
My advice is. If in doubt, seek a second opinion.

No one is infallible, even doctors. It's really up to us to monitor our own health. It's good to have doctors you can trust, but even the best can get it wrong. The days of assuming that doctors are gods are over. That doesn't mean we should go it alone. Good medical care is a shared responsibility.

I have an AAA as well. It was first discovered in February of this year.
5.2cm.
In August, I’ll get another scan and evaluate.
My vascular surgeon told me at 5.5cm I’ll need surgery.
Either stents or opened me up from ribs to pubic bone to repair the abdominal aortic aneurysm.

I’m walking daily 2-3 miles.
I eat clean. Pretty thin.
Sleep deep almost every night.
Still in love with my beautiful wife of 50 years in October.
Do childcare for three of my grandchildren. 1-2 days in the summer. (All home for summer.)
11, 9 and 6. So much love! ❤️
I also Play golf each week.

I was told not to lift 50 pounds or more. Straining…

This 70 year old man has a wonderful life. So…I pray it doesn’t get bigger, and pray if it does, that my amazing vascular surgeon will repair it! ✌️💕🏌🏿‍♂️💪🏻

Thanks. Very similar situation. Mine is now 5.9 cm and CT angiogram scheduled, also in August.
Will be remembering you
in prayers…

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🙏🏻

a hospital can work out a payment plan for you and should not turn you away;
an aneurysm needs to be repaired.