Ascending Aneurysm - Surgery Experience and Recovery/Risk

Kinda , They won't repair it till it gets 5.5 CM , its 5 now
I'm kinda thinking by this time next year , I'll be in surgery
it was 4.8 last year now 5 , So 5.5 will be next year or close
I'm 70 in decent shape . Arnold Schwarzenegger has had it done 3 times , if that makes feel any better

My doctor sent me to have a full body sonogram, and they found a 6.5 aneurysm on my abdominal aorta. I was 72 at the time. The surgeon said I should under go surgery within the month. Needless to say I was scared. When I went to the hospital to be prepped the anesthesiologist asked if I wanted an epidural and I told her no, then she said if she was talking to a family member or loved one she would advise them to have it, so I said yes. I am so glad I decided to have it done. It made all the difference after surgery. I was wide awake after surgery with no pain and recovered quickly and was home 4 days later. My daughter stayed with me for two weeks afterward to cook for me and to make sure I got up and walked around the house for exercise. It has now been over three years. During my three year check up with a CAT scan the doctor said everything looked great and he would see again in another three years. Listen to your doctor and know everything will be ok. Wishing you the best and try not to worry, I did and it was all for naught.

Yeah I guess it's good to have your wife there after surgery , Robin williams woke up asked where am I ? He's wife said Cincinnati . really what am I doing in Cincinnati ?
Just what I've been hoping for in my golden years , Heart surgery done by the Army, Better then vacations to the Islands and fruity drinks . Its a comfort Albert Einstien had one , so I'm a genuis . I'm hoping to smoke while surgery to calm my nerves

I had surgical repair of ascending aorta in 2016 at Mayo in Rochester, Minn.
I was in my mid seventies at the time and now in my mid 80's so I look at it as very successful surgery. My recovery was vary smooth and very fast. I will state that I had been in heavy duty exercise classes prior to the surgery and do believe being active physically was a large plus for recouping so quickly. The size at the time was just under 5. Hope this info is helpful. If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask.

Thank you for your input. Did they repair it or actually replace it with the mesh tubing? I’m looking at this surgery in the next month. My docs say the recovery is around three
Months before you can couch lifting etc. I’ve also heard the pain isn’t horrible. Was that your experience? Glad to hear you are doing amazing!

I'm 72 liffting weights accending aorta 3.9 mm no blood thinners. Before you had the surgery. Do ou the weights cause it expand faster to 5.

I honestly don't know if weight lifting contributed to the enlargement of the aorta. That is definitely a good question for your cardiologist. I was a few years older than you when all this came about so it may be a combination of aging and weights.

Thanks for replying and good luck.

It was discovered that I have an ascending aorta aneurysm 2 years ago during a MRI of my spine. At that time, it was 3.2 and was told to get it checked out. I turned 65 two years later and now on Medicare. The Cardiologist ordered a ultrasound and it had grown to 4.3 which was confirmed by a MRI also. and he suggested I get it looked at once a year to determine growth. However, I'm thinking it should be checked every 6 months and wondering what the protocal is now that it is 4.3. My son has a murmur , do all your children need to be screened for this? This is a serious surgery and ICU visit and it's giving me a lot of anxiety. I also have a large hiatal hernia and need back surgery for scoliosis. Am I no longer a canidate for surgery to repair the hernia and back because of an existing aortic aneurysm? I need more answers than I'm getting from the current Cardiologist. Good health to all of you, thanks.

Mine is 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. It was discovered by accident in December since they also have found that I have a bi-cuspid aortic valve.
They will do another CT scan in six months to see how much this is growing.
Once it reaches 5 cm, they will look into surgery. They said it may take two years for 10 years to go from 4.5 cm to 5 cm so we just don’t know.
My next scan is in June 2024