Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

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

Hello all. I have a TAA 4.3 and I have a bicuspid A valve. It was found long ago when experiencing chest pain in my 20’s very small then . The aneurism grew ,after a tragic life event, to its present size. I have been monitored since its discovery in 2017.

I have some calcification build up in the bottom curve..I feel, on occasion , a knife like pain in my back by my shoulder blade area now and again but I am told it’s nothing. I was taught to practice valsava techniques in my daily life.

My three year check up is this week.

Hi, I just saw this comment and wanted to ask you about your other activities. I have always been very active. I was just diagnosed with a 43mm aTAA. Seeing that yours is stable, I was wondering if you do any exercises and, if so, what do you do. I am afraid of any type of activity at this point. I'm afraid I probably exacerbated things with high-intensity activities in the past. Regardless, any insight you can give me would be appreciated.

Hi John, I was just diagnosed with an ascending TAA. I love your story, it's so hopeful for me. May I ask what type of AA you have and what size it is now and was when it was discovered? I'm hoping mine is stable and can just be monitored forever. PS, what types of modifications have you made regarding exercise, diet, etc? Any help is appreciated.

That's a really big question to answer. I had a sudden and complete Type A-1 aortic dissection in 2015 that I survived by the skin of my teeth. I spent three weeks in a cardiac ICU. Couple weeks of coma, left parietal stroke, complete deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. It was really bad for the first two years of recovery. It took 5 years for me to get back to where I felt normal. BUT: It was worth it to save my life. I came back for my family, my kids, my wife, my clients, myself.

Because I dissected suddenly on a business trip 1,600 miles from home, it was really a logistical nightmare for my poor wife with five kids at home (3, 6, 9, 17, 21). You are so lucky that they detected it early. You can do something about it. You are going to be okay. You cannot ignore it though, like I did. I knew something was wrong but I was afraid to tell my wife or doctor. I actually had severe chest pain 2.5 years before my aorta blew out. If I had called 911 at that time, I would have avoided all of the nightmare scenario I put my family and myself through.

My advice is to have surgery as soon as the doctors recommend. Get you will, health directive, financial powers of attorney, living will, and all financial documents organized for your family. Relax and give yourself space. You will be very crabby, difficult, grumpy, for months after the surgery. It's the most complicated surgery that they do next to heart/lung transplants. You will be okay. You know what's wrong. I didn't know. I was dumb and reckless with my health. You can get better and save your life. Here's me after surgery and me back in California to hug my ICU nurses Chip and Carly a year after I had surgery at UCSD La Jolla. My surgeon Dr. Anthony Perricone, MD.

Hello, I was just told yesterday that I have an aortic aneurysm. I am scheduled for CT and consult next month. Thank God it was discovered. It measures 5cm so I guess surgery is in the near future. I am in shock and just cannot wrap my head around it. Not sure what to ask. Just started to research but not sure if I am comprehending it yet. I am pretty well versed on the procedure but the recovery after is my concern. Can a post operative member share with me their journey post-surgery?

It’s your life. There’s lots of excellent surgical interventions that will make you stronger. If I were 90, I would probably forgo the open heart surgery. If I were 60, I would do it. I’ve had a great life, even though it was tough to have it thrust on me at the age of 50 with absolutely no inkling. The one advantage of having a sudden aortic dissection is that you don’t have any back-and-forth with the doctors about what needs to be done. They just cut and save. Good luck.

Hi, I was fine with 1 but to find another in the chest cavity is a different ball game. Just going to live life to the full.

You’re going to be OK. I survived a type one aortic dissection in 2015. I was 50 years old and I am now in my ninth year surviving it. You are very lucky to have detected it. Don’t be afraid to have surgery if your doctor recommends it. It will save your life. And aneurysm is much like a balloon. Once it pops, there’s no going back. They can help you and they will. Do this for yourself and for your family so that you can start to recover and be healthy. I am healthier now than I was nine years ago. I have practice law for nine more years and helped thousands of people since I recovered. I have hauled many bags of mulch and rock to help landscape my yard with my wife. I have built many decks around my house and played with my children on them. There is life after the surgery. When you have a large aortic aneurysm like you do, your heart is not working correctly and you are struggling without realizing it. You’re going to be OK. The surgery is hard but it is 1000 times harder if it comes without warning. Your odds of surviving a sudden aortic dissection like mine are next to nothing unless you’re near to a world-class cardiac care center within minutes. Don’t be afraid. it is scary, but you have to have the courage to let these doctors care for you. All of the techniques and technology that were around in 2015 have greatly improved in the past nine years. I am a testament to how good these thoracic surgeons are. You can call me and talk about it anytime. My contact information is connected to my profile. Peace.

Hi all I was diagnosed with triple A when I was 48. They have been monitoring it and now it's at 5.5cm. they sent me for MRI as they want to operate and now the results are back it shows I have two. One in my stomach and one in my chest. I'm absolutely gutted