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Ascending aortic aneurysm – repair/surgery
I am so glad that you are there and wish you all well. My question for you is as the title says.
Although I wish the aneurysm (4.7) will grow slowly or not at all, I also know that as I age the surgery will be more difficult. I have somewhat good general health for age 69 except for some ortho issues. Blood pressure is on the low side, etc. I am not the strongest person with a small frame and weight. Nor am I the bravest regarding this surgery and have only one person as my support and no family.
I would like to ask anyone who is of this age and has had the surgery in their 70s for a bit of input and/ or sincere advice or thoughts on this issue.
Thank you for your kindness.
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I would like a heart sister also, but there is no Heart Society here. Who do I contact to get one? I am a small person who has lived with this valve/aneurysm diagnosis for five years. Now the reading is a 4.7 and I can't get to Mayo for my CT due to covid at the moment because it entails flying. I turned 70 in January and only have my spouse for support in this. He is wonderful but need more somehow.
I am in the same boat as you with the sane reading for the Aneurysm and can't travel to Mayo due to Covid-19. I am trying to keep stress down and wait for the vaccine. If it takes too long beyond next year, then I will have to do something locally. I am optimistic that we will get a vaccine to be able to travel. Trying to stay positive and hang in there. I will be 64 this year, so it's very scary....
If you drive, you should be safe. I don't know how far you would have to drive. I mean someone could drive you there, but I don't think you should wait. You guys have difficult problem, made doubly difficult.
Thank you for your kind reply. I agree that we should look into someplace locally just in case. Mayo will always be my first choice though. Locally for me would be Stanford but it is still 150 miles away. Mayo is 1800 miles away. The problem with Stanford right now is the Covid also. Cases down there keep climbing every single day. I keep hoping for a vaccine too. This situation we are in is very difficult and I wish you much luck also. Wondering how far away you are from Mayo and are you able to take a car or ground transportation to get there?
Thank you for your kind reply also. Yes, I agree that it is a very challenging situation. I missed my CT and or echo in June at Mayo and need to find out where I stand. If I can do the echo locally with the same tech and machine that I have had in the past, perhaps I can sleep a little better at night over this winter and hope to make it to Mayo next spring.
I too am about 150 miles from Stanford. I too postponed my June meetings and will go next year. I too may have to do it locally, but I don't trust that the tests will be read as accurately. It's tough!
I have been working with Dr. Jeffrey Woo at Stanford in prep for my AAA surgery, seems very knowledgable and competent with a great deal of experience. I am at 4.9 and am 58.
I agree with you on this point also. I do not trust the testing. Every time I get a local echo at Sutter Roseville I know that I must add two points to their reading to equal the number at Mayo for the echo. Then an additional point for the CT which was at Mayo last year. Therefore, 4.7. I am just hoping to get the same reading this year.
Did you say that your 4.7 is on a CT or an echo?
Thank you for your input. It is greatly appreciated.
I totally agree. Both echo and CT are 4.7.