Newly Diagnosed with an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Posted by mokecronan @mokecronan, Feb 15 7:28pm

Recently diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm which measures 4.1 cm. My primary care and cardiologist both downplaying it at this point due to size but still am freaked out by it. In addition i’ve had this bulge at the back of my knee and discovered there’s another type of aneurysm called a popliteal aneurysm which occurs back of the knee and those with AAA are more likely to have it. Waiting on directions from my primary care but i am honestly scared shitless.

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Hello everyone. I was just diagnosed with a 3.6 cm AAA which, as seems to be the theme here, my cardiologist is downplaying. Anyway I can see my belly button pulsing. Is that normal? Does everyone have that? I’m anxious enough already and this is really freaking me out! Thanks

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Profile picture for rrvalenti221720 @rrvalenti221720

Hello everyone. I was just diagnosed with a 3.6 cm AAA which, as seems to be the theme here, my cardiologist is downplaying. Anyway I can see my belly button pulsing. Is that normal? Does everyone have that? I’m anxious enough already and this is really freaking me out! Thanks

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Relax. You’re gonna be fine. You know you have a problem now and you’re going to monitor it probably at least every two years if not more often. They’re not going to consider your candidate for surgery until you’re around 5.0 cm. I’m very happy for you because now you know you have a problem and you can lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress, and survive. Depending on your age, weight height, and sex you may wind up never having to have surgery if it stays below 5.0 cm. Even so, the opener surgery required to repair on Horne aneurysm is much less traumatic than the surgery required if it dissects suddenly. So my best advice is for you to listen to your cardiologist and have a plan in the next six months or so to get a referral to a thoracic surgeon who can take a look at your scans and tell you what they think your prognosis is. You want to go visit with the doctor Who does these kinds of surgeries routinely for a living. Cardiologist don’t do surgery. Thoracic surgeons do. Remember that. So the fact that you’re a cardiologist is downplaying this is not surprising. Given the fact that you’re only at 3.6 cm. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t monitor it and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be Working proactively to reduce your stress, but don’t add to it by freaking out. I dissected completely and very suddenly without any warning in 2015 and here I am in 2025 talking to you. I would not recommend it to anyone because a sudden dissection is a nightmare. In your case, you know you have a problem and you can address it. In my case, I had no clue that I had an aneurysm in my aorta and so I was just living my life Without any consideration for my health. That’s not you and I’m glad for that. Peace.

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Profile picture for thevikole @thevikole

I was diagnosed with same in 2020. It was at 4.8. I made some changes mainly losing weight and it's been from 4.6 to 4.1 over the past five years. Started exercising moderately couple months ago recheck said it was 5.9 yesterday. I'm terrified to say the least yet VS thinks the imaging may not be correct thru the doppler that I've been having every 6 months for the past 4 plus years... He has ordered another CT w contrast next week. Any thoughts or similar experiences out there?

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@thevikole En noviembre de 2021 me realizaron TAC Simple buscando piedras en el riñón, y por hallazgo encontraron un aneurismas de aorta abdominal infrarrenal de 4.3 cm, igual que tu dé me desconcierta por completo los medicos me desorientaron más deje de hacer ejercicio y me fue peor porque me invadía la mente el AAA, a los 6 meses me hice una tomografía contratada y me salio en 4.0 centímetros, en el 2023 me hicieron una ecografía y me salio como 3.8 cm, y como al años otra ecografía igual, y yo decia pues que bien que no crece, si no ahora en 2025 me hice una tomo gracia contrastada y me salio en 4.7 cm. Lo que he leído es que las ecografías no tienen precisión y depende demasiara de la experiencia del radiólogo. En angiolo que me dice que al año me haga el estudio de nuevo.

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