Newly diagnosed and/or living with ascending aortic aneurysm…anxiety

I downloaded the link that you sent and now it is a PDF in my computer! Thank you thank you thank you and I wish you the best🌺🤗

I have had one that is about the same size as yours for at least four years. My doctor evaluates it annually using an echo cardio gram. The key is to keep your blood pressure under control. I’ve been pretty good at that so I have not had any issues and it has stayed the same size since the original diagnosis.

❤️Thank you for replying. If i may ask, how low are you able to keep your blood pressure?

Question: what is the most common imaging test all of you are receiving in order to monitor the size and growth rates of your ascending aortic aneurysms? Mine has been measured anywhere from 39 to 42 to now 44 last month. In Jan it was 39 by dye contrast CT. This month it was measured at 44 by CT (no contrast) in a pulmonary test. These CTs were being done for chest pain, cough, asthma symptoms, and blood pressure drops. So what test is the gold standard for accuracy? I haven't had the recent CT interpreted yet. I am a 66 y/o female and quite active. Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.

Ascending aortic aneurysms can be measured via echocardiogram, CT scan and MRI. The echo reading will be different than the other readings as the measurement for either the echo or the other two is done on the bias, not straight across the artery. (I'm sorry, I can't remember which test measures on the bias.)

The MRI and the CT provide basically the same info but the MRI does it without radiation. The MRI requires a specialized machine, not the standard MRI equipment so it may not be available in some areas.

If all your tests were CTs and the aneurysm has grown from 3.9 to 4.4 in about 4 months, I am guessing your doc will be assuring your blood pressure is under close control. Repair is generally not suggested until the size is in the 5.0 to 5.5 range. In the meantime your doc will likely suggest you not lift more than a certain weight -- for me it is 25 lbs. I suggest assuring you have sufficient fruit, veggies and fiber in your diet, perhaps supplemented by two tablespoons of ground flax mixed in a half cup of applesauce to assure the digestive system is not causing you stress which can raise blood pressure.

If your scans were ordered by your primary, I hope he or she will refer you to a cardiologist.

I wish you good luck and a stable ascending aortic aneurysm. This aging process is certainly not fun.

Donna

Thank you Donna!

I’m taking carvedilol and lisinopril which is keeping my numbers pretty consistent. Average is 110 / 65. These are readings I get at home. Quite a bit higher at my doctor’s office- like 140 / 85. But I have taken the device I use at home to his office and it gets high readings on it there as well. I’m told that this is called “white coat syndrome “.

My cardiologist just told me under the new guidelines from ACA they have a new standard for how to measure - outside edge vs inside edge, which can change the measurement by a millimeter or two.

I've had both CT with contrast and echocardiogram every 6 months for the past 18 months and the measurement varies by 2-3 millimeters. My cardiologist interprets this as stable.

I have had a rare celiac artery aneurysm for 3 years since it was discovered accidentally while performing a CT scan for some issue not related to aneurysms.

It measured 3 cm 3 years ago and I don’t know what the size is now. My cardiovascular surgeon gets annoyed frequently and this was no acception. The reason I had to see him was because a hospital said I have to go to a trauma hospital for emergency surgery due to my celiac artery being discovered and it had a tear on it. It was torn. The trauma hospital team debated admitting me but because it wasn’t bleeding that day I could be discharged with instructions that I see my own cardiovascular surgeon in ASAP. My doctor did a sonogram that I felt was not really the right way to look for it.
In any event he said “I didn’t see it” and “see you next year “ I said “could it burst and he said that it could “but we have ways to handle that” when? Bursts are quick and can be fatal so time is of the essence. I feel like a walking time bomb fearing it could happen anytime with nobody around.
What should I do? This guy is a jerk and I feel like a second opinion is warranted.

No response? I am looking for opinions regarding what my next step should be.
I feel a change in cardiovascular surgeon is warranted to at least put me at ease if it’s stable or not and should I seek another opinion?

The 3 cm measurement was taken 3 years ago and no doctor has given me an answer as to the question of has it grown? Is it small?

To me a Celiac artery aneurysm of 5cm or more is the benchmark for surgery especially since I’m on a blood thinner. But does a torn aneurysm under 5 cm quality for surgery? Do you think I shouldn’t worry about it? Just looking for an opinion.