5.8cm thoracic aorta aneurysm

@jdssunflower

I had to go 180 miles one way because Tallahassee didn't have good enough facilities and doctors. They do bypass surgery in Tallahassee, but even if the found the problems, they would have made matters worse.

@jdssunflower I’m with @rlhix for something like this, especially your aneurysm, I would travel no matter the distance, of course I don’t know your situation, but if possible you should consider it. The bigger and more experienced the facility and the team are, the better options and possibly outcomes you will get.

I’m rooting for you!!

@houston13 thank you!

I think it is important that folks with any degree of Aorta disease understand what you are getting when your DR, orders an ultrasound. Think of a cross section of your aorta, it should resemble a 0 and when the ultrasound "mouse" instrument moves over your chest, the only part of the aorta that is in focus is a small point that is 90 degrees between the mouse and the aorta. The mouse sees 180 degrees of the aorta BUT THE SIDES OF THE AORTA ARE NOT FOCUSED AND THE TECH READING THE RESULT IS GUESSING AT THE SIZE OF YOUR "dialated" AORTA. That is what happened to me. My DR. (an internal med Dr.) ordered the ultrasound and mentioned possible aneurysm. The tech and the imaging Doctor interpreted the results as a 4.2 ATAA and a Root @ 4.5cm. Finally my DR. ordered a CTA or Cat SCAN which unbelievable, showed no aneurysm present but a minor dilation of my aorta, which is far from an aneurysm. But for two years, I thought my next step could be my last. Lesson learned? Question everything the Doctors do today. They are just too busy to take the time to learn what I learned above. I am now back to exercising and hope to regain the loss of the past two years.

@jimg56
My TAA diagnosis Jan 2026 at 4.5. I'm don't have orders for CT SCAN until Jan 2026. My cardiologist won't let me have it at every 6 months. He did put me on a statin, Creator, in April to strengthen the aorta. My cholesterol is normal range but the HDL is 28, normal is above 40. My HDL in July was 38 from the statin. It is important to know what your LDL and HDL of cholesterol levels are also.
I'm not planning to have surgery. Yes my anxiety gets to me if I let. I believe in prayer. Hope my comments help. God bless

@houston13 my Cardiologist wants to put me on a heart monitor for 2 was and start me on Eliquist. Im leery of that med having a 5.7-5.8 ascending aortic arch aneurysm. I just had an ultrasound of my painful wrist. The radial artery has a blood clot that is almost completely blocking it. Still waiting on CTA ..6WK. He did refer me to a vascular surgeon to address the blood clot. They haven't called back yet. I'd rather wait to start Eliquis after getting to talk to him. I don't know what to do. Im between a rock and a hard place! Any thoughts?