4.79 cm - Female Age 59

You're going to be fine. Just stay on top of your cardiologist and get a second opinion from a thoracic surgeon who has done lots of aortic repairs. Look for someone with gray hair. Depending on the current size of the aneurysm, they may just watch and wait. Otherwise, if they recommend surgery do it. You won't get the chance to do it is you have a complete dissection. I dissected suddenly at 50 years old. I barely survived and it was a real personal, medical, and professional disaster. If I knew in advance what was coming I would have done the surgery 100 times out of 100. For you: Just relax. No smoking, drinking, heavy lifting or running for now until you know where you're at. I am 9 years post-surgery and I am thankful for every day I have had since June 28, 2015. You're in good hands, but make sure you push your doctors to get appointments and stay in the city--don't get on any long-haul flights or go to the Boundary Waters right now. Stay within 30 minutes of Mayo or a Mayo-like facility where you live. An aortic dissection is incredibly painful and feels like someone is peeling the skin off of your back. It's sudden and you cannot wait to call 911. In short, relax. You'll be fine, but don't wait to get in ot the doc and don't hesitate to call an ambulance if you feel chest pain/back pain. And, tell you spouse today. He/She needs to know so that they can prepare. It's super stressful, but better that they're looped in before anything happens. I'm a survivor of a complete Type A ascending aortic arch dissection. Peace.

Thank you so so very much for your message. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you responding with such an informative and kind response. I'm so happy to hear that you made it through and had a successful surgery. Wow. That's not common from what I have heard. You are very blessed. I live 4 blocks from a hospital. I am on Eliquis for a blood thinner, but I think I need to be on Warfarin because there is no reversal for Eliquis, so it's likely I would not survive. I'm not sure why they would put me on Eliquis with an aortic aneurysm knowing there is no reversal for the medicine; meaning I would bleed out. It doesn't make sense. I've been so frightful because I also have a leaky valve and afib. It's very concerning and it's hard for me to be happy because I'm so concerned as I want to live a long life. You, I believe, are a miracle because not many survive from what I've been reading. I'm seeing a cardiologist, but I've seen many and haven't felt like I'm getting the care I need. Sad but true. Our medical care is not like it used to be. I live alone, but again, close to the hospital. I like your suggestion of seeing a dr/surgeon with gray hair. I spoke to a Dr at the Mayo Clinic about 4 years ago thru virtual visit, but we were chatting then about my afib and me getting an ablation. He said he would not do it because it wouldn't take for reasons too much to go into here. Again, I'm so thankful for your reply and so happy that you made it thru. What a blessing. Lately, I've been having some mild chest pain, which has concerned me, plus a bit of tummy pains that are quite sharp. My aneurysm is aortic abdominal. I hope and pray that you stay healthy and live a long, joyful, and peaceful life. One more thing... Where did you have your surgery if you don't mind me asking?

There are some similarities between our situations. I am a 65 year old male with a 4.8cm aneurysm in my aortic root and I am having an ablation for afib at Mayo Jacksonville in about a month. I don't consider myself a ticking time bomb, but it is important to be prudent. Take your meds, watch your blood pressure (especially spikes), exercise and eat carefully. I don't lift as much as I used to, or run as fast or as far, but I still exercise several times a week. I'd say the aneurysm is on my mind pretty much 24/7 but there is no need to be totally anxious. The people who have the greatest risk don't know they have one and are therefore doing nothing to it. There are a couple of good groups on Facebook I joined, one is called Aortic Hope and the other Aortic Athletes. You might benefit from checking them out. This is a manageable situation. I am on Coumadin, and although my Mayo Cardiologist has suggested I consider Eliquis I'm not going to do it. On Medicare, Coumadin is basically free and Eliquis would cost me a couple grand a year. I'm saving the money and dealing with the hassle of watching my diet and getting my INR checked monthly.

Please, go to a Mayo or johns hopkins in Baltimore.
I dissected at 42 type a (Ascending) and type B (decending) from my heart to my left sub clavian artery which dissected all the way to my left illiac. I currently have about 5 aneurysms in my body.

When I dissected, I was flown to an advanced medical center. They woke me the next day (I don't remember) to see if I had any brain damage (thankfully, no) and then put me in a coma for a month so I could rest and recover. Other than needing thickened fluids to drink and pureed food when I first woke. This was from the intubation. I recovered okay, but I do think of it often but I hope someday I can put it away.. just as an FYI I dissected due to having Marfan Syndrome which is a connective tissue disease. It's effects are a little hard to deal with.

Speaking of similarities, I am 62 and have 4.9 aneurysm in my aortic root. I had ablation with Dr K at Mayo in Jacksonville about 18 months ago. Are you using surgeon at Mayo Jacksonville to monitor your aneurysm?

I haven’t spoken to a surgeon yet, just a cardiologist, but I have been thinking that at my next cardiologist appointment I should get a referral. That’s in August so it’s coming up.

I said mine grew 2 cm but I was mistaken. It was 4.2 and within a few years today 4.79.

That is 0.59 CM increase which is still significant.

I’ve had several follow ups with a surgeon at Mayo - Jax. I’ll be there just before you in July. If you’d ever like my thoughts on surgeons at Mayo or around Jacksonville, I’m happy to share what I know.

Yes, it is.