Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

@houston13 Thank you and thank you for the advice, the thoracic department denied my request to see them and it took me a while to even see a cardiologist basically they found out I had a enlarged a aorta through a CT scan for checking for lung cancer.

@mcb62 , Why would they deny seeing you? That is just not right, my surgeon saw me the following week after contacting him, don't give up, I have read people in this forum who have been monitored by a surgeon with aneurysms much smaller than yours. This is something you should even consider traveling or driving a longer distance if that is what it takes.

Find someone with a lot of experience, recognized in a major hospital, you don't want to take any chances.

You know you have it and that is already in your favor, a lot people don't get that opportunity, you can plan and find the right care and be properly monitored

All the best

Hi, glad to have found this site. I have a 4.6cm Ascending Aortic Aneurysm discovered by accident 6 years ago. I want to learn about others experiences with AAA and learn.
sunnie2

Hi, Like many others I am glad that I found this site. Last week I was diagnosed with with a 4x4 cm ATAA. Initially I felt like I was standing on a crumbling cliff with a ticking time bomb in my chest.

Reading, research, PCP, and finding this site have allowed me to back up from the edge and achieve some perspective.

My appointment with cardiothoracic is still a month away so I will take any help to maintain my sanity.

Again thanks for the group because knowing that I am not alone is everything.

Ed, you're going to be fine. Relax. You've got a plan and that's what really matters. Knowing you have an issue makes you better than 99.99% of us who found out we had a problem only when we dissected. You just need to relax, keep your blood pressure down, take nice walks, and see your thoracic surgeon next month. No planking, deadlifting, or grunting heavy loads. I dissected suddenly and without warning. It was real disaster. I had no idea what an aneurysm was let alone an aorta. I am sitting here send you this message almost 11 years later, post two open heart surgeries, feeling better than I have ever felt. You're going to be fine. I know it's hard not to worry, but you've been given a gift from the universe--knowing you have a problem that can be addressed rationally and systematically with a planned operation. That beats a sudden dissection outside of a Marriott in San Diego, 1,600 miles from home, at 1:34 a.m. on a Sunday night, every day that ends in "y." You're okay and you're going to be fine. Trust me: don't take advice from anyone unless they either survived a dissection or a thoracic surgeon with expertise in aortic repair. Peace.

@moonboy thanks for the reply. As you know just hearing what you said helps.

Luckily an earlier appointment came open and I see the surgeon on Monday.

Good luck Ed may the force be with you! I see my cardiologist every 6 months for monitoring. When you said you felt like a ticking time bomb, I remember feeling the same way. It took me awhile to get to see my cardiologist as well, 6 years ago and COVID. Never would I have guessed I had an Ascending Aortic Aneurysm, showed up in a chest x-ray. As mentioned before blood pressure monitoring is the key, taking meditative walks, reducing stress( how do we do that in today's world?, and eating properly. Oh take your BP machine with you to the doctor's office to make sure yours is accurate. Keep us posted on your journey.

@moonboycan you talk a little about your recovery? I’m three weeks out from open abdominal aneurysm repair and I have severe fatigue. No appetite. Can’t taste anything ..peeing every 2 hours. Don’t get staples out for 3 more weeks . I will say pain has been minimal thank goodness and that was a surprise to me. What was your experience with recovery

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I had a burst AAA 6 years ago repaired by EVAR.
I now have a 1" Aneurysm and a large stent in my abdomen. I see the Vascular Surgeon once a year for a MRI.
My question is can I take Magnesium supplement ? My arms & legs feel heavy & I need something to get me going!

@ymca49 It took me about 3 years before I felt right, honestly. It was a slow walk up a steep hill. That said, I feel great today. The first two months of recovery, everything tasted like metal. I lost about 45 pounds (but sadly regained all of it). I had terrible night terrors for the first two years. It was hard to fall asleep for the first couple of years. I slowly came back. The sadness lifted. I am reborn. Here I am in San Diego working last week. There is life after dissection.