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am I exercising too much with a 4.3 ascending aortic aneurysm?
Aortic Aneurysms | Last Active: 23 hours ago | Replies (99)Comment receiving replies
I have a torn aortic aneurysm in my abdomen. It only measures 3 cm but it is torn. I went to a hospital emergency department for an unrelated issue and the doctor walks into my exam room and said “we are going to transfer you to a trauma hospital for emergency surgery”
I asked why and he said that a CT scan showed that I had a torn aortic aneurysm. I said ok then was transferred to a trauma hospital. While in the trauma hospital a cardiovascular surgeon said that I would have to come back into the hospital but right now it isn’t bleeding so we feel that you are stable enough to be discharged. I felt uncomfortable with that but I accepted it.
The cardiovascular doctor said for me to see my cardiovascular surgeon ASAP. I made the appointment with him for the next day and he laughed and said “I don’t see anything through a sonogram.”
He was obviously Annoyed that I dare visit him and he was quick to attend to the patients that had appointments that day.
He poo pood the whole appointment and he walked out saying “all hospitals say ASAP and we have ways to take care of these things!”
What if I’m briskly taking a walk and I collapse? Most people would think I had a heart attack and push on my chest. That would do nothing and I could die as burst aneurysms are usually fatal. As he was walking out of the exam room I asked him if could burst and he said “it could!” Then said “see you next year!” I made an appointment for a year from now.
I happen to have a replacement aortic mechanical heart valve and am on blood thinners which could cause me to bleed out. Should I seek a second opinion.
I messaged my PCP last week and he has failed to respond. I feel like a walk-in time bomb!
Replies to "I have a torn aortic aneurysm in my abdomen. It only measures 3 cm but it..."
UPDATE: My torn aneurysm has grown to 3.9 so it isn’t sitting still
@andytheman absolutely get a second opinion. November 9, 2025 I was getting ready for church, my family had gone a head of me because I was running late. Shortly after they left I felt a stabbing pain that went in through my chest and came out my back. The pain was indescribable. I can’t imagine pain being any worse than losing a limb or a burn. Something kept telling me it was not a heart attack, we went to the ER and after a 3 hour wait I was finally taken back, asked a few questions I was taken to have a CT scan. The tech immediately told me I had an aortic tear. They rushed me back to the exam room and told me I was about to have emergency surgery. An hour and half later I was under the knife. They told my husband that patients with this type of tear don’t make it to the hospital but those that do have less than a 1% chance of survival. But guess what I made it. I am healing well physically but struggling emotionally. I am a firm believer that ever doctor cannot know everything and apparently this doctor did not. I am an advocate for Aortic Dissections because they are over looked more times than they are diagnosed. Find yourself a thoracic surgeon, get a CT San and there be no more guess work. Go with the working signs you body is giving you. Cardiologist don’t know what they need to know about Aortic Dissections.
Do not wait!
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Oh my goodness! I would be getting a second and third opinion as soon as possible. Number one that cardiac surgeon would have been fired! At least from my patient care. Mine had to go into an emergency surgery while I was there, which was totally understandable, I was not as high risk as you. And the PA had spent 45 minutes with me. I felt very confident that this was an emergency situation and I would be considering getting a new primary care physician as well. This is a serious condition. They should be calling you back they should be giving you guidance not walking out of the room!