Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Hello all , I am 69 years old anddiagnosed withaortic aneursm 6 months agoduring a routine lung scan. It was 4.9 now 6 months later is 5.0. I am hoping to get better at proper lifting, bending ect. will improve and will have better results next time. My question is ,if I seek a second opinion, will medicare cover it? I live in centeral Wa so am relativly close to some bigtime medical centers. will my Dr have to set up the visit or do I?

Last year on my 56 birthday I had an abdominal aortic dissection 3.1 , I have it checked every 6 months now. But my question is, are there things that can be done to heal or help? I eat healthy as possible and as I have gained strength I exercise lightly (no heavy lifting). But is there anyone who has experienced better results as time goes by rather than worse? I would really like to do what I can and be a Grandpa as long as possible 🙂
Thanks for any suggestions

This online support group is a godsend. Visit it frequently and you'll know you and your daughter are not alone. I wish you well as you face these challenges. Also, listen to Moonboy.

Thank you

This is a repeat post since I accidently put it in the wrong spot. I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s condition—it sounds incredibly difficult, and I can understand why you’re feeling concerned. Get a second opinion. Seeking another opinion from specialists, especially at a major medical center or academic hospital, could provide new insights. Some places, like the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, have teams that focus on complex cases like hers. Even if surgery isn’t an option right now, it’s important to make sure her doctors are exploring every possible way to manage her condition without surgery. Keeping your daughter's blood pressure controlled and monitoring her closely are key. I get annual CT scans for my dissected aorta repaired with a graft in 2015. It gives me a lot of reassurance that things are stable. I know this is overwhelming, but do not be afraid to ask her care team tough questions or even look into clinical trials. Sometimes those can offer options that are not widely available. In addition, she is likely to qualify for permanent SS disability insurance so find a good SSDI lawyer in a major city near you and apply today. That would help from a financial perspective AND a health perspective if she's currently under a workload stress. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of emotional support—both for her and for you. Talking with a counselor or connecting with support groups can make a big difference in getting through something this challenging. Peace.

I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter’s condition—it sounds incredibly difficult, and I can understand why you’re feeling concerned. Get a second opinion. Seeking a second opinion from specialists, especially at a major medical center or academic hospital, could provide new insights. Some places, like the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, have teams that focus on complex cases like hers. Even if surgery isn’t an option right now, it’s important to make sure her doctors are exploring every possible way to manage her condition without surgery. Keeping her blood pressure controlled and monitoring her closely are key. I get annual CT scans for my dissected aorta repaired with a graft in 2015. It gives me a lot of reassurance that things are stable. I know this is overwhelming, but don’t be afraid to ask her care team tough questions or even look into clinical trials. Sometimes those can offer options that aren’t widely available. In addition, she is likely to qualify for permanent SS disability insurance so find a good SSDI lawyer in a major city near you and apply today. That would help from a financial perspective AND a health perspective if she's currently under a workload stress. Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of emotional support—both for her and for you. Talking with a counselor or connecting with support groups can make a big difference in getting through something this challenging. Peace.

Hi, my name is Tammy. My daughter has arotic aneurysm plus 2 brain aneurysm. One in the back of neck and other in temple part. Doctors won't do surgery, they say it is to dangerous now she has another in arotic , just concerned for her. I don't know what to do to help her. Any suggestions?

My name is Tom and just got some results back...I am worried about Proximal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with BP of 110/80. Any advice for similar folks?

I was diagnosed with a 4.5cm aortic root aneursym 7 years ago when i was also had emergency open heart surgery for a Type A aortic dissection. I had a lot of CT scans the first year and recently reduced them to every two years. So far, my aneursym hasn't grown.

I felt the same as you at first and occasionally still do. I'm acutely aware that i have this aneursym but don't worry about it regularly and live a pretty normal life. I fly, i travel by car, i hike sometimes, i walk several miles pretty regularly.

I used to work out pretty hard at the gym (maybe that contributed to my aneurysm and dissection? ).

My surgeon said i can lift light to moderate weights at the gym and can even go jogging. No sprinting to catch the bus and no heavy weightlifting, though. I take carvedilol and losartan daily.

Yeah, it's scary to think about and i share your feeling of having a ticking time bomb in my chest, but i'm following my surgeon's recommendations and after seven years with no growth i figure I must be doing something right or have been very lucky so far (a mix of both, I'm sure).

Don't spend too much time worrying about it. Follow your doctor's advice, keep your bp under control, and get regular CT scans to keep a watchful eye on your aneurysm. Otherwise, live your life as normally as you can.

Eileen, I have flown multiple times since I found out about my TAA (4.3) including across country. I also have enjoyed cruises and land vacation. At first I was so worried I almost just locked myself down and then my family reminded me I always said it would be better to enjoy life then sit worrying. So I took my own advice. Go on your trip, and have a great time! A hug to give you the strength you need to take those first steps. Forgot to tell you I am 73.