@midnightwolf heins here! I understand how the diagnosis was such a shock you are now regarding making life changes or due to distance from a medical facility. Take a step back, get the best doctors, surgeons who you can relate to. Then get testing as ordered, labs, intermittent scans on time and surgeon will tell you when he thinks it is time to schedule surgery due to size, anatomy, health issues if any. You have to live your life, do your labs and testing as required and trust in your surgeon for advice. Aneurysms are more common than known. You have to advocate for yourself by getting as much info whether in computer, the library, your doctor, support from family and friends.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with 4.7 AAA when being sent to ER for an increased heart rate while having wellness check. I have always been in good shape, very healthy physically and mentally. Having worked in the medical community for years and totally aware of my diagnosis, for ten days I was sad and ruminated about my pending death. Then one day justm decided to just keep living my life. I have a large wonderful family, we conversed about all the pros and cons and I saw a vascular surgeon. There was no way to tell how long it had been there but also to my
dismay, having tortuous
blood vessels, microcalcifications, a clot in another vital,organ and I was not a candidate for EVAR-Endovascular procedure. Also my age was really a deterrent for having an open procedure though it could be done but at high risk though still healthy for my age. I did my homework, was on computer for hours, got all info needed to make a decision in my best interest. Since AAA was already at 4.7 I opted to just get scans every six months which showed aneurysm is slow growing. Last recent scan did show AAA is now at 5. I am now well over 85, have great faith, am in God’s hands and have no crystal ball when my days will end. I am living my life pretty much as I had been before diagnosis with exception of not taking harmful risks such as heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and exposing myself to extreme temperatures. My decision has given me peace of mind, I am and have been in His hands right from the start of this.