Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Based on everything I have read, the trick to travel is as long as you’re in a pressurized plane (and most commercial jets are), don’t hoist your luggage, don’t carry luggage over 30 pounds, and don’t do anything that would make you grunt or hold your breath; you should be okay. Holding breath while lifting something heavy is a natural reaction and it spikes the blood pressure. It’s called the Valsalva maneuver. it raises your blood pressure sometimes as much as 200/100 or higher (in the moment). Do everything you can to keep your blood pressure down and your stress levels down. I would talk with your cardiologist or cardiovascular surgeon regarding any other concerns you have about travel. sometimes high elevations raise blood pressure and heart rate. I’ve been told to keep my heart rate below 130 when exercising and 70 at rest. The lower the better. Some folks go on beta blockers to make sure it stays low. Because of the mechanical nature of 60 beats a minute ( plus) against the weakness in the aorta the lowest heart rate you can have is best. also, if you’re traveling, you might want to get a piece of medical jewelry that says you have an ascending aortic aneurysm because that way if something did happen, they wouldn’t treat you for a heart attack and maybe Realize too late, that your aneurysm was the issue……What a cool monitoring system you have. I like that. We don’t have anything like that in Hawaii ( that I know of).

Thank you for your reply.

I was not aware of the BP spike. There is no family history of aneurysms. My Dad lived to almost 90 and my Mom lived to 99. So far, the only other health issue that I have is sleep-apnea, which is being handled successfully with a CPAP machine

When I was released from the hospital last July, I volunteered to participate in what the y call a Home Health monitoring program. Every morning, I take my BP. oxygen level. heart rate and weight using equipment provided by the hospital and it is monitored by a set of nurses. They call me once a week just to check-in and call immediately if they see something amiss ( like when the scale added 5 lbs to my weight one morning for no reason)

I will follow my Doctors direction even if it means no pickleball. I was never a hard core player. It was just a fun exercise with other like minded players.

I guess my real concern is with the travel plans that we would like to make.

Thank you again for yoor input

I think your doctor probably told you not to play pickle ball because quickly swinging your arm to hit the ball spikes blood pressure. BP Spikes are dangerous because the aorta is already weakened that’s why it’s at 4.7. You don’t want to enlarge it any further because once you get up past five it starts getting more dangerous( especially if you’ve had other members in your family suffer w/ an aneurysm or if you have a bicuspid valve or some other genetic predispositions that would make a 5.0 cm aneurysm ready for Preemptive surgery). If you’re careful you can stabilize it at that size (all other things being equal) The scary thing about aneurysms is there are no symptoms (typically) until it either dissects or ruptures and then your chances of surviving are very slim. I don’t write this so adamantly to alarm you, 4.7 cm is not huge but a serious thing ( please work to keep it that way))… in my opinion , Pickleball is just not worth the risk, so be careful. Enjoy your vacation and enjoy your life but please way the risks of your hobbies and athletic enjoyment.

If you go to the American College of Cardiology website (this website does not allow web addresses or links) and then search for Exercise in Aortopathy: How Should We Counsel Our Patients? You will find a good article.

Recently diagnosed with 4.1 cm aortic root dilation per echocardiogram. Cardiac calcium score 3 years ago over 600. Passed stress treadmills x 2 a flying colors. Blood pressure normal, never hypertensive. Thin male, 150lbs, age 65, retired as an RN last and walk daily 5 to 10 miles. Cholesterol, and lipid panel and other Labs all normal. My burning question is regarding exercise: As I stopped going to the gym in March of 2020 when the pandemic hit, I've lost muscle tone, especially in my upper body, and desperately want to go back to the gym. I was never into heavy weightlifting, but rather machines. Is doing curls with 10 pound weights thought to be okay? Also, those machines for the chest on a lower weight safe? Also, any thoughts about gentle yoga and/or pilates? Many thanks and best wishes to everyone!

I think your doctor probably told you not to play pickle ball because quickly swinging your arm to hit the ball spikes blood pressure. BP Spikes are dangerous because the aorta is already weakened that’s why it’s at 4.7. You don’t want to enlarge it any further because once you get up past five it starts getting more dangerous( especially if you’ve had other members in your family suffer w/ an aneurysm or if you have a bicuspid valve or some other genetic predispositions that would make a 5.0 cm aneurysm ready for Preemptive surgery). If you’re careful you can stabilize it at that size (all other things being equal) The scary thing about aneurysms is there are no symptoms (typically) until it either dissects or ruptures and then your chances of surviving are very slim. I don’t write this so adamantly to alarm you, 4.7 cm is not huge but a serious thing ( please work to keep it that way))… in my opinion , Pickleball is just not worth the risk, so be careful. Enjoy your vacation and enjoy your life but please way the risks of your hobbies and athletic enjoyment.

Hi, I was diagnosed with a TAA one year ago this month, but I just recently found this group.

Last July, after playing 6 games of pickleball, I wasn't feeling too good. Coughing a lot. I thought it was the flu. Several days later. I went to an Urgent Care Center and they said I had severe pneumonia. They called an ambulance to go to the hospital. I was admitted and 2 days later. I also got Sepsis. I was hospitalized for 18 days. In the course of taking various X-rays and scans, they found the TAA. I was quite a mess when I left the Hospital. Could barely walk and was on oxygen 24/7. They told me to see a cardiologist. She ordered a echo-cardiogram and said it was 4.7 cm and told me about some life style changes that I had to make. It included no more pickleball. She seemed somewhat pessimistic, but more positive on a second visit. I followed her directions - lost some weight, better diet. only exercise is walking. I had to have a nuclear stress test in February for some prostate surgery. The test was good and the surgery successful. I had also gotten an abdominal scan for aneurysms that was negative.

I had another echo-cardiogram last week and I see her again next week. I never had any pain or discomfort from the TAA. Friends actually tell me that I look good after the weight loss. However. my wife and I would like to do some traveling (Europe) and this involves flying and I would like to play pickleball again. I'm currently 76 years old and I'm walking 21,000+ steps a day. I'm glad I found this group. Any thoughts are welcome

You'll be alright. Follow your doctor's guidance. Monitor aorta with CT imaging annually, with contrast every other year (contrast is hard on the kidneys) No weightlifting. No planking. Lower your blood pressure. Lose weight. Cut salt and sugar (sugar raises blood pressure, too). If they tell you you need surgery, get your affairs in order and have the surgery. You know you have a problem and you can proactively deal with it. I promise that you are better off than 99.9% of the people who do not know and suddenly dissect. You'll be fine. I am alive 9+ years after a sudden Type A-1 complete dissection. I wish I had known and had a support group like this one. Peace.