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am I exercising too much with a 4.3 ascending aortic aneurysm?
Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: Apr 10 11:08pm | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
I too struggle with what is safe and what isn't. It can be very frustrating. I was basically told to live my life...don't lift more than 50 lbs, and do not strain. What exactly does that mean....do not strain? Sometimes getting out of bed in the morning is a strain! Fortunately my BP is not high and really never has been. Have had high cholesterol most of my life and am now on statins, which have lowered it to normal levels. I question everything I do now. I low snow shoveling (I know I am not normal...lol) but that seems to be a big No in general. My dr said it would be ok as long as I am not straining and it isn't too heavy. There's that word again...straining. Obviously it isn't like lifting a pillow, but then again it doesn't feel like I am moving tree stumps around (which I have done). Right now I have been stacking firewood....and alternating between thinking I must be nuts and I am not straining or lifting more than 50 lbs so it is ok. I just don't know. Have heard that tennis, golf, baseball are all not good. Don't feel like any of those involve "straining". This whole thing has caused me so much anxiety. I am constantly taking my blood pressure and checking my heart rate. I wish there was some type of test that could be done on a monthly basis that checks the aorta. Waiting a year between exams is kind of scary. I was diagnosed about 18 months ago. Have had 2 CT scans and am stable at somewhere between 4.3 and 4.5 cm. Going for my next exam end of May.
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I was in a car accident in 2017 I broke some ribs and was a little bit banged up. That’s when I learned I had an upper thoracic aortic aneurysm that measured 4.4 cm. I could just say to your whole post ditto, ditto, ditto. All the same concerns and questions. Over the past eight years, I have gradually increased the exercise I do and sometimes it is strenuous and leaves me a little bit short of breath, but nothing intense. I do a lot of exercises with exercise bands and also light dumbbells meaning 10 pound, 15 pound, and 20 pound. I am 70 years old and a couple of different cardiologist have given me a bunch of different recommendations about how much weight to lift and how often to get a CAT scan. After my first CAT scan, six months after my diagnosis, the doctor told me not to come back for two years. I thought, “no way“, I don’t feel comfortable going that long. So I came back in a year and nothing had changed. I started exercising more and therefore became more concerned about possible growth so I started getting a CAT scan every six months and still nothing has changed. I continue to increase the amount of exercise. I do still staying within the same weight limits and I am now getting a CAT scan every four months. I am doing this because I keep increasing the intensity and I walk for 30 to 40 minutes every day. (and my insurance covers it. ) So far so good. Just wanted to let you know I struggle with all the same stuff. Keep on going!
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I agree with you ... the "straining" and don't lift more than 50lbs same guidelines but I would bet we are very different in size - assuming you are male.. I am a 120-125 lb female that is 40% of my body weight. Same for you?? the general guidelines are so vague and seem to be the same for everyone. They do not take into consideration size, sex, past exercise age or anything.. to make this individual to the patient. It is super frustrating. My first scan came back at 4.3 cm - mine is caused by a bicuspid aortic valve - which they say I was born with. So if mine grows it will be valve replacement and portion of the aorta repaired. Mine was discovered in Dec 2022 - so my second scan is in a week and 1/2 - I moved it up when they called to reschedule. I am hoping it will give me piece of mind a little. Or it will have grown and we will have to figure it out from there. Oh - and totally normal with the snow shoveling... I always feel very acomplished when it was done! though I am glad I was not able to do the heavy stuff we got this last storm!! I have a good friend for that! Thanks for the feedback, I don't feel so alone in this unchartered land ..