Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

❤️🙏🏻thank u had a mental health therapy appt today & this is just what the therapist ordered. Many thanks to you.

Hi @rory,

Thank you for all the support and information you are offering.
You may notice that I removed your personal email and address from this public discussion because we recommend not sharing personal contact information in a public online forum. We don't want you getting unwanted spam or unwanted solicitations; instead, we recommend using the private message function – for instance, if you’d like to share your personal email with @beekb.
At the same time, I would also like to mention that the benefit of sharing in the community, in public group discussions, is that the messages not only help people actively participating in them, but also the people reading them and learning from them.
Thank you so much for understanding.

Like many others, the diagnosis of ascending aortic aneurysm frightens me. Moreover, my current situation isn’t encouraging:

Adrenal adenoma under control with meds for over 10 yrs
4.1 sized slow growing AAA
PFO with ASA
Factor V Leiden
Mild CKD secondary to nephrosclerosis
Migraines with aura after age 50
About 7 years with high BP / low potassium due to adrenal situation - damage done
Well controlled BP for over 15 years
Urinary retention
Lost 50 lbs and kept off for 10 years but slowly gaining due to stress eating over all the above conditions

Feel doomed. Horrified of potential open heart surgery, stroke or dying during operation.

My mom had a stroke and a-fib. She passed away after 3 months in ICU. 25% brain bleed is what she had.

I worry a lot as it is, so I’m seeking therapy to cope with anxiety about my health and mortality.

Besides my health, great personal life.

Sounds v similar to self but not adenoma/adrenal dysfunction. Metabolic syndrome (15+ hrs fasting hypoglycemia, so wonder about insulinoma -grandmother had one. Also early heart disease in family, I have Aaa & mild regurgitation too, vasomotor rhinitis, factor 5, NASH, dry eye, osteoarthritis, si joint dysfunction. Have high ANA (just got the Ana 12 test waiting for results.)

Hang in there. Try not to be scared of procedures -they are pros. Is there a way to connect the dots. For ex, I feel my condition is EDS or a vascular disorder so getting checked, Therapy & mental health care is essential. Aortic valve fixes & AAA operations are successfully fixable fr research.

Hello,
That is a pretty big punch list of issues. Hope you can correct as many as possible. Some I don't know what the acronyms mean. I had real bad headaches before my aneurysm repair and the issue went away completely after the surgery. They were so bad, it was just go to bed and sleep it off kind of thing. I would get them at work and would go sleep in my car. It was real problem. Maybe try some lite exercise if the Dr. approves. That will help with the weight and bring the BP down. I walk 3 miles a day on a treadmill where I can monitor the speed and incline which you can't do just walking on the street.

All the best.

Bruce
Texas

Reading some replies, it sounds like we’re in prison, saying to each other the litany of crimes we’ve committed and that’s why we were incarcerated. Maybe some of us will get off with good behavior! I think we have to think of ourselves as the ones who were diagnosed, the ones who have been pinched and prodded for all of our frailties and now we know more than most people. I have some perennials in my garden that come up every year after many years the blooms are not as good as that used to be but they still smell sweet the bees still come. I’m not going to dig them out and replace them. Anything that survived that long it’s a wonder!

Amen to you! Thank you for posting this. I have many many health issues, but I try to focus on living as healthy of a life style as I can and not let any of my many diagnosis determine who I am or run my life. Life is to short! Hang in there everyone and continue to enjoy the perennials of life. Thank you maryswims!

New here. I am a 57 year old male. I survived a serious aortic dissection 6 years ago and am extremely fortunate to even be here today. I still have a tear in the lower aorta in the abdomen that is being monitored. The Doctor isn't too concerned as long as we monitor to make sure it doesn't grow. I pretty much healed and recovered most of my abilities within the first year. My main problem now is I get fatigued very easily. I believe it is because I never really recovered my level of strength from before the dissection. This was my own fault as I just never really did much exercise and put very little time in the gym. This snowballed and I also put on a lot of weight. I don't believe my chronic fatigue has any connection to my aortic dissection other than I just haven't put the work in the gym to regain my strength and overall health. My question is with this background does anyone have any suggestions on how a 57 year old overweight male who has lost his strength can get back in shape in a healthy manner. I'm not expecting the level of energy I had before, but this low energy lethargy is really becoming a concern. I wake up rested each morning (I use a CPAP machine). But soon become tired, lose mental focus and energy. Any suggestions on how to up my fitness and energy levels would be greatly appreciated. Also, advice on dropping weight is welcome as well. Again I'm new here, and am looking forward to the advice of this group. Thanks

I think the best thing is to start with Quigong meditation movements as a base from which to work. You need to feed your batteries to restore the balance. The slow movements, with breathing , will take a little while to build the foundation of strength you need. Walk a little, flexing your arms. Be gentle and allow yourself space. I believe as you practice for a month, you will find you have the energy to walk a bit further, and before you know it, you will be on a treadmill, or walking for a mile. The point is, to realize you have to listen to your body, and do not feel stressed.

Hello to All! Nice to connect here with ones with similar diagnosis and see how we are dealing emotionally, since most information I've rcvd is factual and statistical, which I truly appreciate also, but could use some emotional support! After a routine dr. visit Feb 2019, had bp 170/110 that day, so had an ECHO that revealed 3.9 Ascending Aorta Aneurysm. Last few months have been many tests, thankful to be at Mayo, where other aneurysms were discovered- Brain, 2 Illiac and Renal Aneurysm. Also, mention of Fibromuscular Dysplasia (elongated and twisted arteries). Have not had any follow-ups to that even! Brain Aneurysm is where Carotid meets the Ophthalmic Artery, so recheck on that one first- the end of July. Then recheck Aorta Oct since mom died of (undiagnosed) AAA- that dissected, in same area, arch of aorta, incidentally in 9 minutes. I've done 24 gene tests but no known Syndrome, ruled out Marfan's, etc. Definitely Familial Thoracic Aneurysm (hereditary) and the FMD. Just living life in the meantime, going on a 5-mile hike with a club in my area next Monday, level ground around a lake, but afraid to do uphill hikes, and unsure if I can take a plane anywhere. Was only told no running nor lifting weights. Sorry such a long post! I appreciate your writings here, to connect with similar situations and see how it is being treated and how you're doing! Janet