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Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Posted by Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator @kanaazpereira, Feb 16, 2018

Welcome to the Aortic Aneurysms group on Mayo Clinic Connect.

An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. The aorta begins deep in the heart as it emerges from the powerful left ventricle, gently arching over the heart, descending into the chest, and finally into the abdomen. Some aortic aneurysms can be harmless; others can lead to catastrophic problems. I invite you to follow this group and connect with others, share experiences, exchange useful information, and learn about aortic aneurysms.

Get started rby clicking the +FOLLOW icon on the group page here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aneurysms/

There are some great conversations going on right now that I think you’ll like. Grab a cup of tea, or beverage of your choice, and lets chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?

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

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ctflyr | @ctflyr | 20 hours ago
In reply to @grandmajeannie "I’m so glad to find this group! I’m 69, soon to be 70, and was recently..." + (show)
Profile picture for grandmajeannie @grandmajeannie

I’m so glad to find this group! I’m 69, soon to be 70, and was recently diagnosed with a mild ascending dilation of 4.1 cm, accidentally found through a CT scan for an injured sternum, and then confirmed by echocardiogram. My primary dr. says it’s pretty minor at this point and I should just have it monitored yearly. She also doubled my Losartan dose, which has reduced my BP significantally.
Should I be satisfied with this or do I need to see a cardiologist? I’m trying not to worry, but knowing this can eventually lead to dissection has me unsettled.

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@grandmajeannie...it would be important to establish yourself as a patient with a cardiologist who is very familiar with aortic aneurysms and their treatment. Keep your BP under control and maintain a healthy lifestyle. At the size you mentioned, yearly monitoring with CT or echocardiogram is the norm. Best wishes for your health journey!

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bitsygirl | @bitsygirl | 18 hours ago
In reply to @angiecabinfever1 "@bitsygirl Does anyone you know has had any chest discomfort with this ?" + (show)
Profile picture for angiecabinfever1 @angiecabinfever1

@bitsygirl
Does anyone you know has had any chest discomfort with this ?

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@angiecabinfever1 I have no medical training, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. My understanding is that an aneurysm can compress other nearby structures and cause chest discomfort without a dissection. I gather it's very unusual though and I have no idea how big it typically is when that happens. Really, this is a conversation for the person monitoring your aneurysm (and if you're having chest discomfort, better safe by discussing it than sorry you didn't). WRT knowing someone, not really.

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angiecabinfever1 | @angiecabinfever1 | 13 hours ago
In reply to @bitsygirl "@angiecabinfever1 I have no medical training, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt...." + (show)
Profile picture for bitsygirl @bitsygirl

@angiecabinfever1 I have no medical training, so take whatever I say with a grain of salt. My understanding is that an aneurysm can compress other nearby structures and cause chest discomfort without a dissection. I gather it's very unusual though and I have no idea how big it typically is when that happens. Really, this is a conversation for the person monitoring your aneurysm (and if you're having chest discomfort, better safe by discussing it than sorry you didn't). WRT knowing someone, not really.

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@bitsygirl
Thank you for your advice!
Just being able to talk to other people dealing with this helps!

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