I think that everyone "freaks out" a little at first. I think we'd all be liars if we said that we didn't.

But like any other life event, like losing a big job, or a divorce; allowing the emotions to work themselves through is necessary. Then, you can come out the other side with a clearer mindset.

I had a family history of Aneurysms; my Dad had two abdominal Aneurysms, about 15 years apart, and died from the second one because he refused to get follow up checkouts after his first surgery in 1987. My Ascending was discovered during a routine Calcium Score CT. Yes, it was scary. In fact, I felt myself "checking out" as I was sitting in my new Cardiologist's office, as he was explaining all of this new information to me. I freaked out inside to myself for about a week or so. I have some experience with yoga and meditation; so I decided to use this event to "go inside more"; that is to say to use the experience to slow down a little bit (not entirely), do more hiking instead of 160 bpm bicycle hill climbs, meditate more, educate myself on this new thing I'm living with, a new diet that I need to embrace, and practice what I preach more; which is to try to "be" with this new reality as much as I can; and let it teach me whatever its going to teach so that I can further myself in my life a little bit. I know that sounds a little New Agey and weird; but this is how I want to approach my experience with this. Seems to work for me.

As far as a "what's next" - for me, my Cardio has ordered another CT, this time with the injectable dye to check the heart valves, and to confirm the aneurysm size, etc. Idk what's after that, I suppose we'll see. Mine is initially measured at 4.5x4.5 cm, ascending.

I have found an App that works with my Apple Watch called Pulse Alarm; it allows one to configure a max heart rate while exercising; and it will both vibrate and audibly beep my watch when that rate is met or exceeded. My Cardio set a max heart rate for me at 130 bpm. It eliminates the hard bicycling that I used to do, but that's OK with me. I can still to the gym (both lighter cardio and weight machines) with the help of the Pulse Alarm app.

It's gonna be OK. It's scary, yes. But we're gonna be OK. One day at a time. Keep up with us on here, too.

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