echo

Hi, I’ve been on this site since I also had an incidental diagnosis of AAA during a further chest X-ray for lung nodules(benign), the first ct being taken for pending colectomy(also turned out benign polyp). I feel a sudden whirlwind of activity surrounding my health and my physical well being, which I always relied on as I was super healthy. I’m 65 and also this descent into the malestrom is occurring along with my new retirement from my job of 30 years! So this group discussion is pretty important for me to get a grip. I’d like to link up with the AAA group you mentioned. It’s scary.

I too am concerned because I have a measurement of 4.1 on my ascending aortic aneurysms . Why do we get these? What is the treatment? and when? anniejam

I am 71 and have a 4.1 ascending aortic aneurysms and I am very concerned about it and what is the treatment for it? This is a repeat. Sorry. I just joined.

All not alone - in my case I’m 47 with a 3 and 5 year old . I have a 4.4 TAA with no reasonable cause that 3 dr’s can find . I fear self inflicted with blood flow supplements though told unrelated. I am devastated and petrified. All tell me monitoring and will only repair if 5-5.5 and to carry on but struggle especially when looking into my beautiful families eye’s.

@Drew944 I think you need to just take a deep breath and not be so scared. I am sure your cardio has you monitored for the rate the aneurysm is growing and that is the critical issue. If your aneurysm is as slow growing as mine is, it may be 20 + years or more before you need surgical repair. And by then, they may have an entirely different way of repairing it.

I suggest you talk to your cardio about how fast this is growing and knowing it is not growing at a fast rate might give you some peace of mind. I am sure your cardio has suggested limiting how much you lift and that must be tough when you have such little children. But you can sit and they can crawl into your lap and you can have the same cuddling without the lifting. When necessary, I do lift things that perhaps I shouldn't but so far, the aneurysm is hardly growing at all. I have been warned to NEVER shovel snow so I don't and I don't do any work/exercise outside in the cold of winter.

Think positively. Knowing you have this is better than having it and not knowing it is there. I understand your fear and how devastated you must feel but don't let your fear steal your enjoyment of life. I wish you well.

@laverne Hi Laverne, It sounds like about the same diagnosis at about the same time of my life. Actually, I I was diagnosed a couple of years earlier than you and I am now almost 74. And I felt panicky and horrified that this has happened to my body. I worry about it only enough to keep me from doing something dumb like lifting heavy items, pushing something or dragging something heavier than 25 lbs. Actually, for pushing and dragging, I assure the weight is much less than 25 lbs as there is always the inertia which adds to the physical stress.

I go to the gym every day, spend 35 minutes on the strider, do another 30 minutes of core exercises but I am careful with weight training. I work slowly with lower weights. So far, so good, aneurysm is stable. I have never had any pain and my diagnosis was also "incidental".

I thank you all so much for your wonderful support and kind words, I support you all too. TBD on the growth as stable actually lower reading from June to September so think won’t have another until June next year but maybe sooner if I can get it. Switching from Kaiser to Blue so I can choose. Working on living without the fear. Been told by cedars and mayo that since monitored and can be repaired if needed at 98-99% that we should be fine and that risk is like or better than anything else we do. Best to all

I'm from Beaufort SC as well! Did you ever take Levaquin or Cipro (fluoroquinolone antibiotics)?

May I ask do y’all have cta or mri to check on growth of aneurysm?
Does a echo gram show the aneurysm?