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Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others
Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: 10 hours ago | Replies (820)Comment receiving replies
Hello - new to this group and thankful it exists.
I am 44 YO Male in good health and have been followed by a Cardiologist since birth for an irregular heartbeat (I grew out of it) and Mild Mitral Value Prolapse. 2 years ago I had an Echo done and my Aortic Root measured 3.8CM. This year it measured 4.2CM . I got a CT scan done and it ended up being 4.4CM. The rest of my heart is structurally fine. My cardiologist said he would see me in 1 year and that the 4.4CM will be my baseline.
I am numbers guy and if this continues to grow at even 1MM per year, I would need open heart in 10 years around 54 YO. I am married and have 2 young girls so needless to say I have been very upset over this.
I do not have high blood pressure, eat pretty well, exercise. I do not drink alcohol or smoke, and I do not have any genetic heart issues
The open heart surgery seems to be a highly successful surgery but it is still open heart at a relatively young at 54. If this is done at 54, will the surgery last a lifetime and can I expect to live a full life assuming the rest of my health is fine?
Replies to "Hello - new to this group and thankful it exists. I am 44 YO Male in..."
@bradel82 Hey there. I was 58 and had OHS after a full dissection (Oct '23) prob caused by 6.5cm aneurysm. Got my valve and aortic root wrecked in the process. I was an emergency (of course, but I want to be clear) with no history of anything - like you. Never high BP, good diet, low cholesterol, blood work all fine - no genetic heart issues. And no warnings.
Best thing you can have: foresight and planning. You know you have an issue that you need to watch. That's better than gold.
So, if you can change anything right now to make your outcome better - do it. Do everything you can possibly manage. Is it time to medically manage your BP ? Talk to the doctors and see what they think.
And by the way - I still have the rest of my dissection down to my legs and into my kidney and up into my neck. Medically managed for three years now.
Listen to @moonboy
Listen to @moonboy
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@bradel82 In response to your questions and concerns: (1) Although you cite the correct rate of historical growth for an aneurysm, be aware that growth is not linear and it can often plateau and so you could stay where you are for some time; (2) if and when you do reach the surgical threshold, a dacron graft repair is indeed permanent and will probably outlast the rest of your body; (3) medical technology is improving, including stent technology, there already experimental stents being deployed, and there could be a viable stent available by the time you might need it; and (4) everyone in this forum has gone through the same shock and adjustment process as you; it stinks, but you'll get through it and adjust - just give yourself some time to mentally process it all.