Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

Hi everyone,

I'd like to invite you to join us today, Monday, April 29th at 12 p.m. CT for a video Q&A with Dr. Hector Michelena, cardiologist, Dr. Gabor Bagameri, cardiovascular surgeon, and Dr. Alberto Pochettino, cardiovascular surgeon, about watchful waiting for thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Simply click on the link below, for details and to take part in the video Q&A live.
– https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/video-qa-about-thoracic-aortic-aneurysms/

Drs. Michelena, Bagameri, and Pochettino will answer questions live. Post your questions before and during the broadcast.

hi, jesse55 here with aortic aneurism. md's want to do something up thru groin pretty quick here.. next couple of weeks anyway... me sceeered

same thing happened to my dad... but he did not know it was there as far as I know

ditto for me with this answer. mine is 5.4 now... found by accident in CT for UC.

Hi. I was diagnosed seven years ago with ascending aorta dilation. I started at 4.1 now I am up to 4.5 cm. Cardiologist says cannot do anything until it reaches 5.0 -5.5. I also have mild to moderate regurgitation. Every time I go to the doctor I continue to worry every day but there’s nothing we could do. I have a lot of anxiety and I get palpitations all the time and I try not to think about it. But I know what you’re going through. I go every six months for a chest scan and echo cardio gram. I am on medication for anxiety but sometimes it doesn’t help when you keep thinking about it and getting the palpitations. Don’t worry we’re all in the same boat. Love to hear back from you

Hi again. Anytime you want to talk or converse you can contact me. I used to teach high school Spanish that’s why I have Señora as my email. Just to give you some info about myself I am 67 my first name is Denise. Rory is my grandson and that’s why I use that for my name on this link. Email me anytime with any of your concerns. I try to keep busy babysitting I have four grandchildren. I think keeping active helps us forget and not to worry too much. But feel free to email me anytime. Would love to keep in touch with you

Hi again. Good to hear from you. Let me know if you’d like to message me and talk about anything. I’m writing this again because I think I just might’ve sent a reply back to myself LOL but To give you some background about myself I am 67 my first name is Denise. I use Rory as my name on this website because he’s my grandson. Please feel free to email me anytime would love to keep in touch to find out how you’re doing and let you know how I’m doing keep busy that’s what I try to do

Hi feel down too and try to keep my self up- I’m 48 and felt palpitations on and off since I was 8. I have 2 daughters 3 and 5. A 4.3 aneurysm was found incidentally 6/2018. Been depressed and scared since. I just wanted to share all the positive notes I have been taking to help make my self feel better which sometimes helps:
I wil be fine
Managed/Monitored.
no treatment needed
try not to worry about it
based on size - not dangerous - may never grow larger- keep bp low as it is-mine small-enlarged will be fixed if ever grows-routine
small/stable
no treatment needed-no surgercal indication now or ever only requires observation
no limitations other than bench/heavy weights
can live entire lives with this size and nothing happening
treatable when small - repairable when larger - there is a fix - monitored - most important.
gradual
too small - not a prob
many years checking - not now
keep fit
live and let live
keep up w apts
listen to dr's
repair rate high ie 98% - Full Recovery - Excellent They do millions of these
prob- 10 years - maybe more or ever- out repair - maybe new meds or non/minimaly-invasive fix's
stop thinking about it Dont do this to myself
file under all other worries u dont think of.

STAY POSITIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi @rory,

Thank you for all the support and information you are offering.
You may notice that I removed your personal email and address from this public discussion because we recommend not sharing personal contact information in a public online forum. We don't want you getting unwanted spam or unwanted solicitations; instead, we recommend using the private message function – for instance, if you’d like to share your personal email with @beekb.
At the same time, I would also like to mention that the benefit of sharing in the community, in public group discussions, is that the messages not only help people actively participating in them, but also the people reading them and learning from them.
Thank you so much for understanding.

Like many others, the diagnosis of ascending aortic aneurysm frightens me. Moreover, my current situation isn’t encouraging:

Adrenal adenoma under control with meds for over 10 yrs
4.1 sized slow growing AAA
PFO with ASA
Factor V Leiden
Mild CKD secondary to nephrosclerosis
Migraines with aura after age 50
About 7 years with high BP / low potassium due to adrenal situation - damage done
Well controlled BP for over 15 years
Urinary retention
Lost 50 lbs and kept off for 10 years but slowly gaining due to stress eating over all the above conditions

Feel doomed. Horrified of potential open heart surgery, stroke or dying during operation.

My mom had a stroke and a-fib. She passed away after 3 months in ICU. 25% brain bleed is what she had.

I worry a lot as it is, so I’m seeking therapy to cope with anxiety about my health and mortality.

Besides my health, great personal life.