Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Anyone had surgery?

Posted by jbsb93 @jbsb93, Jul 28, 2011

I was born with a hole in my heart and have had 2 surgeries. One to fix hole and the other a valve replacement. I've been recently told the I have a thoracic aneurysm and possibly will need more surgery.. Anyone gone th ru this before??

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aortic Aneurysms Support Group.

@colleenyoung

Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

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My dissecting aneurysm was measured 6.1 cm last September. I live in Palm Desert , Ca. and the doctor told me they
cannot do it at the Eisenhower hospital. Either Mayo, UCLA or Cedars. Do I qualify with Medicare and AARP at Mayo?
I don,t want to wait too long.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

Jump to this post

@axels I believe you do. What you should do is simple. First, make sure that Mayo (or the others) send the bill to both Medicare and AARP. They will send you the money, as much as they will pay, especially if you have plan F or G. Now, this is incredible important. Put that money in your bank account, and pay the bill with your plastic. DO NOT sign the check and send it to the clinic or whatever, especially MAYO. They will lose it in their incredibly old fashioned system, and tell you that you did not pay the bill yet. So just make sure that you have a VERY transparent process of getting the bill paid. Se came close to going to court over this one.

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@michellr

Thank you. I am very aftraid of the surgery and to make matters worse I am a cardiac nurse! I am afraid of a stroke, PE, and death during surgery and sudden death if i dont. Do i just go to a local surgeon , i live in Chicago area, or do i go somewhere else. This is stressing out my life. I have humana hmo. Can i even go somewhere like mayo

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@michellr Call Humana, and ask to talk to THEIR nurse/counselor. Humana has been very helpful to me in these matters.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

Jump to this post

The Mayo hospital sends all bills to Medicare and your supplement. With the Clinic, you pay the bill and Medicare and AARP reimburses you. I have had no problems with Mayo billing. I don’t think you will either as long as you know that the clinic does not get reimbursement from Medicare or AARP. If you cannot afford to pay the clinic for tests, talk to Mayo. The clinic will work out something.

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In April it will be 3 years ago that my arising aorta dissected on a Sunday morning at 7 am sharp. Horrific pain and a twenty mile trip to the nearest hospital in Gainesville, GA. Emergency surgery saved my life very shortly before I was to expire. I heard the surgeon tell my wife that it was going to be very difficult and that she should say goodbye while she still could. I am now 82 years old, keep my blood pressure as low as possible and swim every day. I know the damned thing could pop on me again, but in the meantime I am enjoying life and a couple glasses of red wine per day (to keep the doctor way).

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@colleenyoung

Hi @michellr,
Welcome to Connect. I moved your message to this discussion to introduce you to other Connect members who are talking about thoracic aneurysm. Interestingly @aldona like you felt it was like having a time bomb inside her. @jbsb93 opted to have surgery while @clevelandme decided against it.

I'm also tagging Bruce (@ch246cf10) to bring him into the conversation.

There are many factors to consider when making such an important decision. I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and ask questions here with people who have "been there". Sometimes it just helps to write it down.

Colleen
Connect Community Director

Jump to this post

i have not written before but had a question I was diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurism in may of 2016, It as 4.2 I was told to watch it and have another c t scan in 6 months in jan of 2017 (aprox 6 mths) it had gone to 4.7 again wait 6 moths in july of 2017 had it checked again only this time it was done with contrast this time it was 4.5 I was told to have it checked in 6 myths. in jan of 2018 i had it done also with contrast all 4 times i had the ct scan using the same machine the doctor that read the scan was different this time it was 4.4
I am now told to ck it in 1 yr my question is it normal for it to get smaller or apear smaller?

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@aldona

I qwas diagnosed for a thoracic aorta aneurysm this month. Also had syrgery for a triple A Abdominal aorta aneurysm three years ago. I am looking for reassurance due to my magic magnifying mind...seems like I have a time bomb ready to go off. How did or how are you dealing with this aldona @jbsb93

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I felt the same & had the surgery at 4.8. I couldn’t live with the bomb but the fear of it developing elsewhere is bad too!

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@aldona

I qwas diagnosed for a thoracic aorta aneurysm this month. Also had syrgery for a triple A Abdominal aorta aneurysm three years ago. I am looking for reassurance due to my magic magnifying mind...seems like I have a time bomb ready to go off. How did or how are you dealing with this aldona @jbsb93

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Where was your aneurysm located. I have been told that the higher it is the more difficult it is to correct? Jim

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@johnwburns

I was diagnosed 4 months ago with an aneurysm on my ascending aorta, 4.3 cm. I'm 66 years old. My father died from a dissected (burst) aortic aneurysm when he was 60. The recommendations seem to vary as far as blood pressure control to prevent dissection. Some say keep the systolic pressure below 140 mm Hg. Others say to get it below 120 mm Hg. Who's right?

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I can’t believe your walking around with a dissecting aneurysm. Why!????

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@aldona

I qwas diagnosed for a thoracic aorta aneurysm this month. Also had syrgery for a triple A Abdominal aorta aneurysm three years ago. I am looking for reassurance due to my magic magnifying mind...seems like I have a time bomb ready to go off. How did or how are you dealing with this aldona @jbsb93

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Between my heart & the arch before the 3 arteries

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