I am 53 and have just been diagnosed with a mildly enlarged ascending aorta in the chest, 4.5 cms. I am not a lead trumpet (3rd) but have the same question about whether it is safe to play the trumpet?

Kanaaz, is there a cardiologist who might offer some wisdom?

Welcome to Connect, @acara. Thank you for joining and reinvigorating this discussion; I hope @playsdixie will return to share his insights. You may also wish to view this incredibly informative conversation about thoracic aortic aneurysm:
– https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/thorcic-aneurysm/
Feel free to post your question in that group as well. In the meantime, I'd like to introduce you to @crhp194 @grandmajan @ch246cf10 @michellr @HeartPatches @jimmorris900 @shakuni11 @redskin39 as they've also shared their experiences with aortic aneurysms.

From the little I know about trumpet (I play the piano), 3rd trumpet takes care of the "low" harmony, and basically fills out the sound? Do you play in a orchestra or a band, @acara? Have you consulted with your doctor about your concerns.

Hi @acara,

We cannot specifically recommend any doctors on Connect, but I would sincerely encourage you to seek an opinion from Mayo Clinic, as it is consistently ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. If you would like to make an appointment, please call any one of our appointment offices. You can also request an appointment online. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments

I hope this helps?

Thank you
Just an update for the discussion group
When I was first diagnosed with the ascending aortic aneurysm in Dec.2017, I thoufht that my life changed. I had lots of questions, and many were answered in this discussion group. But more questions arose as well. Then I recall that I had an echocardiogram 1 year ago, when I had some pain that was diagnosed as a muscle event only. When I asked my cardiologist what the measurement was then, he said it was the same. Yet, he didn’t tell me,...said it was an incidental finding.
I got a second opinion recently, and was told that it is a borderline diagnosis, and that I shouldn’t worry very much, that my hypertension should be monitored and controlled, and if my repeat echo in July is unchanged, I could thereafter be monitored every 3-5 years. I feel now like I need a 3rd opinion.
He explained that the measurements tools are not accurate, so not reliable. That’s disconcerting.
While it made me feel better, I feel like I am under as fake sense of security.
Why is this area of medicine so lacking in reliable literature and in reliable tools to measure the aneurysm?
I worry less, plan on eating better and e revising more, hoping to address my blood pressure issues, while I await my next echocardiogram.
Stay tuned.
Hope all of you who are going through this uncertainty are ensuring that you get 2nd and 3rd opinions.