1. < Aortic Aneurysms
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New diagnosis of ascending aortic aneurysm and I’m terrified

Posted by mjm3 @mjm3, Aug 16, 2024

I received the diagnosis of a 4.1 CM ascending aortic aneurysm as an incidental finding after an angiogram was ordered to make sure I had no blockages due to an unexpected spike and blood pressure at work. I normally have low blood pressure so I was surprised when it was 189/111 and they took me to the hospital. that seem to come from acute stress at work, but I had a complete cardiac workout after finding a very low amount of troponin in my bloodstream 0.03. Anyway, the aneurysm was a complete shock and now I’m terrified that it’s going to burst at any time despite my cardiologist rather nonchalant approach. I asked if there’s anything I should be doing or not doing and she said don’t lift anything over 40 pounds . But no other instructions other than they’ll keep an eye on things. How do you get past feeling like your life is almost over. I’m 67 years old and in good health otherwise. I eat healthy, not overweight and thought based on my family longevity that I would live into my late 80s early 90s. Now I’m afraid I won’t make it till the end of the year which is probably ridiculous but this aneurysm has me totally freaked out. How do you all cope? And how do you get the fear so you can just enjoy life?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.

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c130herkengineer | @c130herkengineer | Oct 14 12:56pm
In reply to @monica6287 "@moonboy I am glad I decided to read comments, because like some others have stated no..." + (show)
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@moonboy
I am glad I decided to read comments, because like some others have stated no doctor told me not to lift anything more than 40lbs. I am overweight and I have high blood pressure, so I have been working with a trainer doing weights and circuit machines lifting over 40lbs. No one said anything to about the other things i.e. Marfan's syndrome or some identified genetic markers. The cardiologist didn't say anything close to comments I am reading and just made me feel like I was concerned for nothing. I was hospitalized for a few days 2 weeks ago because they thought I was having a stroke. My aortic aneurysm increased a little more than the average .01 in a year. It went from 4.1 in May of 2024 to 4.3 a year. I am wondering should I be concerned?

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@monica6287 I exercise routinely and used to lift heavy weights. Heavy. I was diagnosed five weeks ago with mild dilation of the aortic root at 4.3cm. It was Afib that landed me in the hospital that got me imaged. Disappointingly, I received an echo in 2018 and apparently it was borderline then at 4.0cm.

Who knows the growth rate in seven years, but since the new diagnosis I’ve stopped lifting heavy weights per the initial cardiologist. I have my follow up on the 5th of November. I’ve read extensively and joined two Facebook groups: Aortic Hope and Aortic Athletes.

This forum and those two groups are a wealth of info. While I wait to learn more (likely a CT scan) I have the knowledge that I will be okay. Others are in the same boat with similar risks.

Exercise is a must. Caution is essential. There are cardiologists who are experts in aortic disease and exercise response. A Dr. Prakash has a video being circulated on here somewhere that is a goldmine.

I am male and big with a root. Much different than you, but there are many women on these forums who share their perspective and detail their info.

You are not alone!!! It is damn scary, but we are lucky because we will likely get to choose when we’re operated on. Many have not. Exercise will increase your odds of success.

Hang in there and keep asking questions. Many have said it:Be your own advocate.

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rockpir | @rockpir | Oct 18 8:50am

Gad to hear surgery is an option.86 here and in pretty good shape with 4.6. Cardiologist is watching and giving an echocardiogram in 6months.

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fuzz622 | @fuzz622 | Oct 19 2:44pm
In reply to @c130herkengineer "@monica6287 I exercise routinely and used to lift heavy weights. Heavy. I was diagnosed five weeks..." + (show)
Profile picture for c130herkengineer @c130herkengineer

@monica6287 I exercise routinely and used to lift heavy weights. Heavy. I was diagnosed five weeks ago with mild dilation of the aortic root at 4.3cm. It was Afib that landed me in the hospital that got me imaged. Disappointingly, I received an echo in 2018 and apparently it was borderline then at 4.0cm.

Who knows the growth rate in seven years, but since the new diagnosis I’ve stopped lifting heavy weights per the initial cardiologist. I have my follow up on the 5th of November. I’ve read extensively and joined two Facebook groups: Aortic Hope and Aortic Athletes.

This forum and those two groups are a wealth of info. While I wait to learn more (likely a CT scan) I have the knowledge that I will be okay. Others are in the same boat with similar risks.

Exercise is a must. Caution is essential. There are cardiologists who are experts in aortic disease and exercise response. A Dr. Prakash has a video being circulated on here somewhere that is a goldmine.

I am male and big with a root. Much different than you, but there are many women on these forums who share their perspective and detail their info.

You are not alone!!! It is damn scary, but we are lucky because we will likely get to choose when we’re operated on. Many have not. Exercise will increase your odds of success.

Hang in there and keep asking questions. Many have said it:Be your own advocate.

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@c130herkengineer It's easy to know your weight lifting restriction with a dumbbell. However, how do you apply that to cables, leg extension machine, lat pulls? All of those things have assistance when compared with dumbbells.

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houston13 | @houston13 | Oct 20 12:48pm
In reply to @fuzz622 "@c130herkengineer It's easy to know your weight lifting restriction with a dumbbell. However, how do you..." + (show)
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@c130herkengineer It's easy to know your weight lifting restriction with a dumbbell. However, how do you apply that to cables, leg extension machine, lat pulls? All of those things have assistance when compared with dumbbells.

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@fuzz622 the main restriction is any weight that leads you to hold your breath and possibly grunt while you exert, think about what weight leads you to failure with a few reps and drop at least a couple of plates from that weight. You need to make sure you are fully breathing through every single rep, find out when you’re supposed to inhale and when to exhale for every exercise and make sure you can comfortably do that. The issue is that when you hold your breath through any exercise, especially while exerting with weights (even body weight) your BP rises significantly for a few seconds and starts dropping when you stop and breathe, those peaks although very short are very high and for someone with weak arterial wall (like with an aneurysm) can be very detrimental.

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rockpir | @rockpir | Oct 21 3:20pm
In reply to @bobjoseph "@aSurgery is an option. I am 92 and although Northwestern Memorial in Chicago has turned me..." + (show)
Profile picture for bobjoseph @bobjoseph

@aSurgery is an option. I am 92 and although Northwestern Memorial in Chicago has turned me down without an option, I contacted Cleveland Clinic and another cardiac surgeon here and both will operate when the time comes. C.C. has even told me the type of surgery - "partial open!" I am in good health although about 20# overweight, walk a mile in the pool 3 days a week and maintain low b/p. Keep the faith!

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@bobjoseph 86yrs here with 4.6 and although this a good site there isn’t much about our age group!

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