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Ascending thoracic aneurysm: What should I do and not do?

Posted by mustangsally67 @mustangsally67, May 6, 2020

Last year I was diagnosed with a dilation, that measured 3.9 had a Thoracic CT on now it is 4.3. The cardiologist said to repeat in one year. Is this ok. I am 71 yrs old. Also what should I not be doing, and also what should I be doing

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Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | May 7, 2020
In reply to @moon1490 "I am 82 yrs old and I have an ascending thoraci aneurysm for 17 years and..." + (show)
@moon1490

I am 82 yrs old and I have an ascending thoraci aneurysm for 17 years and my Dr has me come in every six months for an echo cardiogram and a CT every year and my aneurysm is 4.8 cm he tells me when it gets to 5.2 then they will operate. Keith6740

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Hi @moon1490 I see you joined a while back but this is your first post. I'd like to officially welcome you to Connect. What was your original number when the ATA was found?

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mustangsally67 | @mustangsally67 | May 7, 2020
In reply to @cobweb "welcome to the club. My numbers are higher. Told not to lift over 50 pounds and..." + (show)
@cobweb

welcome to the club. My numbers are higher. Told not to lift over 50 pounds and keep stress down. Tough in tody environment. I decided not to watch the news. Feel a lot better not watching. I biked 6-10 miles a day and do golf and gardening . Turned 79 lat week, have dropped a few pounds and feel good. Besides bad knees i have no other problems, so my next check up is summer. Will be interested to see the numbers.

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Thank you for encouragement

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mustangsally67 | @mustangsally67 | May 7, 2020
In reply to @degarden_girl "Is this an ascending aortic aneurysm? How was the dilation found? CT or echo? If the..." + (show)
@degarden_girl

Is this an ascending aortic aneurysm? How was the dilation found? CT or echo? If the first test was a CT and now the second CT test indicates it has gone from 3.9 to 4.3, the rate of growth is about .4 centimeters in a year. In another 12 months, it might continue to grow at that same rate which would bring you to 4.7 which is still well below the size at which surgery is recommended. I think that is what your cardiologist is thinking.

You should be careful with lifting or anything else that might put a strain on you. My cardio recommends I not lift more than 25 lbs.

I think you would be wise to make a telemedicine appointment with your cardio to ask for more information and guidance. And you can also ask if you could have an echo in 6 months if that would give you comfort. The echo and CT measurements are done differently but your cardio should be able to interpret the results to see if the dilation is growing at an alarming rate. I am 75 and I have an echo every 6 months and a CT every couple of years. No radiation with the echo so if it continues to grow slowly, I'm OK with the echo monitoring.

I wish you good luck. I think you have no reason for panic at the moment but you can always get a second opinion from another cardio.

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Thank you so much. This information is so helpful

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mustangsally67 | @mustangsally67 | May 7, 2020
In reply to @degarden_girl "I believe one of these tests is measured on the diagonal and the other is measured..." + (show)
@degarden_girl

I believe one of these tests is measured on the diagonal and the other is measured straight across so the numbers will be different. Good luck with the stress test. It sounds like your cardio is taking diagnostic testing seriously. Good luck. I hope it is determined that your aneurysm is stable.

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Thank you

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kristipurvis123 | @kristipurvis123 | Jun 27, 2020

My son is 16 and their saying he has every sign of Marfans syndrome. His aortic root dilation got larger on last echo so will have another at 6 mo and started him on atenolol. I'm not sure what all he should and shouldn't do. It's so scary. He also has mitral valve prolapse and trivial insufficiency and pectus excavtaum.

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Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | Jul 7, 2020

Hi @kristipurvis123, Welcome to Connect. I am sorry to hear about your son. That is a heavy load of diagnoses for a 16 yr old. What was the number jump in his dilation? Do they plan to start any other medication?

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win sturgeon | @cobweb | Jul 8, 2020

Try to reduce stress, exercise, do not lift over 50 pounds, bike, garden, quit watching the news which helps you to reduce stress and keep doing your yearly tests. That is what i do and my number is 4.6, which means i am closer to surgery.

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kimbarclay1 | @kimbarclay1 | Jul 24, 2020

Hi there! I presently have a second dilation of the ascending aorta aneurism above the diaphragm it is 5cm in diameter. I already have a pre-existing aortic dissection that extends from my heart all the way down to femoral arteries. Part of the aorta has been replaced/repaired with Dacron back in 1996. I think I’m screwed as the surgeon doesn’t want to go to surgery so they doubled my blood pressure meds and suppose to be watching but with COVID everything has ground to a halt. I’m 52 female but I feel the outcome won’t be good but what I was wondering is I am having trouble swallowing food now and think it must be the pressure of the aneurysm on my esophagus ....does this seem plausible??

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silverkat | @silverkat | Dec 13, 2020

I have TAA as well. It measures 5.1 cm which I'm told by the doctor is near it's worst size.. However: he doesn't want to do another scan for two years (I'm 85) and who knows where I'll be at that time. I'm told not to lift more than 50 pounds at the gym, tho I can do much more than that. My general health is excellent despite the TAA. I'm not a candidate for surgery. Any other remedies you know of?

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1 reply
degarden_girl | @degarden_girl | Dec 13, 2020

If this is your cardio giving this advice, I would go with it. If it is your primary, I would seek the opinion of a cardio. It seems that 50 lbs is a lot to be lifting when you have a TAA.

I think that the older we get, the more cavalier doctors can become as to what we old people should be doing. At your age of 85 and in good health other than the TAA, I would seek another opinion. You might have another 10 or 15 years available to you unless you blow out that TAA.

I wish you good luck and good health.

Donna

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