Aortic aneurysm: how do you know if symptoms are related or serious?

Hi Aqueen. I sure want to hear people’s experiences with these symptoms, because I am experiencing them and have the same questions. I won’t be much help to you, but maybe someone can. I get daily angina from small vessel spasm, but my recent uptick in chest pain is a bit scary. So I will be watching this blog. If I get any new information from my cardiologist next month, I will share it. Good luck, I know it’s scary.... especially the not knowing.

Also aqueen, I do have a 4.2 ascending dilation . I am being treated for the ongoing angina. I have low blood pressure, and did so for a long time before my diagnoses. No covid. However, in your situation, the symptoms you are having might need an evaluation sooner, rather than later. If you have had covid, then a clot risk is front and center. Gosh, good luck!!!! And definitely take your husband with you, plus a note pad and pen.

I’ll pray that we both get answers. I’ll keep you posted on my doc visit next week. I’m also searching for a new one.

Hi aqueen. How are you doing? Did you get any more information? I hope things have settled down for you in a good way.

Hanging in there. Trying not to feel like a ticking time bomb.
Not yet. Doc appt isn’t until the evening. I hope they let both my hubby and son in with me. All of us are anxious to get more info/answers.

Hello aqueen. I hope you get clarification so you can move on and away from the worry, and move forward towards treatment. Please let us know your progress!

Hi aqueen! I had aortic aneurysm and subclavian aneurysm repair. I am 43 and mine were caused by congenital heart defects. I had my surgery a year and half ago at Mayo Rochester. Loved the dr and surgeons there. They all took the time and answered everyone of my questions- I never felt rushed. Always write down your questions before you go- your mind just goes blank listening to the dr- trust me I am a nurse and my husband a physician both of us couldn’t think- we were glad we had our questions all wrote out. The feeling of a ticking time bomb is exactly how I felt when I was first diagnosed. After many dr visits and talking with other people I learned that knowledge and preparedness helped. Seek out all information you can— Mayo website has so many great articles and information- try starting there. Hope you get some more definitive answers at your appointments!

Hi all,
I believe not only myself, but husband and son feel better after the doc.
I have an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. The echo in January they will be looking to see if I have Bicuspid aortic valve.
This time we were prepared with written questions, some with these exact terms. It felt so good to understand this time and come up with questions on the spot. 😊
I worry a lot less when I have I info... whether good or bad, just the kind of person that needs info.
Do to go with my original post. He does not believe what’s been going on is the aneurysm. If thinks maybe when pressure is up. If it comes more consistent or painful he will run more tests. But the aneurysm itself is really not at the size to be symptomatic or dissect/rupture.
He said if it does those I will know. It was be something o can’t ignore and it isn’t something that will come and go.
He is happy with my blood pressure progress and wants me to keep on eye to make sure it isn’t too low too often, otherwise he wants me only on half a pill. If I lose 10-20 lbs (covid weight) he actually wants me to try to be off it and see what happens. Unless he sees something ‘off’ in Jan echo, for right now he thinks April which will be a year in between is fine for the next cat scan.
No power lifting, but he sees now reason to restrict me on lifting. This almost made me cry because my nephew is almost 25lbs. I can’t imagine not being able to hold him among other things.
I feel less like a ticking time bomb and more like wow, thank you God for covid otherwise I may have never known I had an aneurism until it was too late.
Let’s count out blessings and live our best life now. 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
There were other questions answered as well so hit me if your wondering if I asked something and his answer and I’ll let you know. 🙃

Good morning aqueen. I am so glad your appointment went well. Now you can move forward! Thank you jeanerno1, for the sharing of your complex diagnosis, your process, and subsequent surgery. Plus I am excited to hear that you, aqueen, can go back to weight lifting!!! I will have my questions prepared when I see my cardiologist in a few weeks. I hope to weight lift again, at least functional amounts, as well. Thank you!!!