Tying to decide when I should have surgery?

Posted by johnroy @johnroy, Jul 14 9:51am

ohnroy (@johnroy)
I'm 65 my aneurysm measures 4.8. we have watched it for 30 years, since my brother had a rupture. First measurement was 4.3 slow growth over the past 30 years. My cardiologist says let's get it fixed. I'm reluctant to go under the knife until it's 5. I'm active still working part time.

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houston13 | @houston13 | Jul 20 12:04am

In reply to @ewei6911 "@houston13 No, my height is 57 INCHES., or 4'- 9" :-)" + (show)

@ewei6911 😄 misread your description, well even more relevant. I’m not a Dr but having dealt with this, I kind of prefer the approach of surgeon 1 (he is also suggesting more frequent checks)

anonymousanonymous | @anonymousanonymous | Jul 20 5:03am

I'm 68 with a 4.7cm Thoracic Ascending Aortic Aneurysm. Also have H.O.C.M, CAD and sporadic murmur. Just saw the boss(CRNP for the surgeon who split me open like a Thanksgiving turkey and she said we are fine. I already had OHC and am in NO mood to go through that again, EVER. It was horrible for me. That's just me. Was told it would be no biggy but went on disability retirement at 61 due to the surgery and slow painful recovery. I have many comorbidities for 16 years. i suffer daily from one or more of them but I'm still here! I hope you have a much better time of things than I did. I wish you peace.
Gary

anonymousanonymous | @anonymousanonymous | Jul 20 5:10am

In reply to @houston13 "@jtmoore hi I was 54 when I had mine repaired, I also have a BAV that..." + (show)

@houston13

@jtmoore hi I was 54 when I had mine repaired, I also have a BAV that was left in place during surgery as the surgeon’s opinion was that it was in good shape and highly functional, he told me my natural BAV in good shape would be better than any artificial valve. All things being equal the younger you have the surgery the easier to recover, but it really all comes down to your physical fitness and other illnesses that you may have, your cardiologist and surgeon would be able to assess your general health and risks and give you probabilities and recommendations. In my case I was in very good shape as I exercised all my life and my surgeon gave me >99% chance I would have no issues, and that’s what happened. I was in the hospital 5 days and back to work in 3 weeks, in 6 months I was working out with certain intensity, in a year at full pace. I live a normal life with the only restriction to control and maintain my BP within acceptable range. My cardiologist checks me every year to monitor my valve and the repair. My valve will have to be replaced at some point but now that the aneurysm is repaired it can be done endovascularly.

Again depending on your general health, you want to have the repair when your body is at its best and age has a lot to do with it. The reason why most people have it at an older age is because for most of them it takes that long to grow to critical size. Yours happens to have reached 5.0 at a younger age, which honestly I see it as a blessing.

5.0 is already a large aneurysm and if your Drs consider it is time for repair you should listen, evaluate your odds, ask a lot of questions and make a decision. You have the opportunity to plan and do something, a lot of people don’t get that chance. Read the stories of people in this forum that survived dissections, the lucky ones, it is not something you want to go through if you can prevent it.

If you want any more info feel free to ask, take care of yourself and wish you all the best.

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@houston13 aneurysm disease sucks any way you look at it!! I just keep hoping for a miracle.

ewei6911 | @ewei6911 | Jul 20 11:27am

In reply to @houston13 "@ewei6911 😄 misread your description, well even more relevant. I’m not a Dr but having dealt..." + (show)

@houston13
The contrasting opinions of the 2 very experienced thoracic surgeons had me somewhat depressed. A follow up meeting with my cardiologist (who recommended surgeon #2) left me feeling more positive. My cardiologist suggests getting a CT scan immediately, then followed by another one in 3 months, then another one in 6 months. Hopefully, any questions about my height will be clarified with the CT scans since we know what to look for. But my age concerns for any surgery remains and other posts in this group also does not favor surgery for someone in their 80s.

houston13 | @houston13 | Jul 20 12:19pm

In reply to @ewei6911 "@houston13 The contrasting opinions of the 2 very experienced thoracic surgeons had me somewhat depressed. A..." + (show)

@ewei6911 Great!!!! I was going to suggest consulting a cardiologist, mine is an aortic disease expert and I trust his input and advice. The cardiologist will know more about your overall health and your body's ability to support surgery.

I wish you all the best, keep us updated

kcw | @kellycwatkins | Jul 28 3:32pm

I agree with your view on it. I had aaa size 4.7-4.8 for 13 years. Then on my small ct scan it had shown to have grown to 5 in a year. Since im a small person, 4'11, my cardio, at the mayo, referred me to a surgeon at the mayo. Had it repaired one week ago today. Im going to be straight up, so far this recovery has been the most painful and difficult of any other of my 2 emergency abdominal surgeries. If you choose to have it repaired, I would NOT go anywhere else but the Mayo, if that is an option for you. Best Healthcare i have ever received. Things have improved day by day, good luck!

johnroy | @johnroy | 6 days ago

After my recent visit with the surgeon, I agreed to get another ct scan in 3 months and then we would put a plan together for surgery. While I was at the hospital, they did a echo, the results indicated he walls of my heart were thicker than normal. Could it be that my body is larger than average and my heart is a bit larger? Just seems like they keep finding things to investigate.

rlhix | @rlhix | 5 days ago

In reply to @johnroy "After my recent visit with the surgeon, I agreed to get another ct scan in 3..." + (show)

@johnroy

What did they say about your aortic valve function, condition etc as well as the other 3 valves? Ejection fraction? All of that comes into play and can impact the heart from ventricle size and shape etc.

janagain | @janagain | 5 days ago

I had a routine appointment with my Cardiologist's and shared with him about having spurts of an irregular heart rhythm. He ordered a heart monitor for 5 days. Another thing, I've lost a ton of weight and i discovered a medium size cyst in my groin that I also mentioned to him. He ordered a Cat Scan of my right leg starting at the top and down to the foot because he said I'm retaining fluid more on the right than in comparison to the left. And I'm experiencing pain in my right foot also. It is swollen because I can feel the tightness/pain when I walk and it has been several weeks of this. The lump in my groin could be nothing more than a cyst and it could be that it is putting pressure against a nerve? Has anyone experienced this before? And the racing heart could be nothing but a reaction from caffeine? It's good to get it checked out. Johnroy, you mentioned your ejection fraction and I haven't asked my doctor about that. Peace and serenity everyone!

sarastewart | @sarastewart | 3 days ago

In reply to @kellycwatkins "I agree with your view on it. I had aaa size 4.7-4.8 for 13 years. Then..." + (show)

Which Mayo clinic did you receive surgery from?

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