Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others

An 87 year old Canadian here. I have a Thoracic Aortic Aneurism currently measuring 54mm.meaured by both Ct and Echo Cardiogram. Measurement has been stable for the last 2 years. Previously I had an adominal aortic Anerurism repaired by EVAR proceedure 5-6 years ago. Five months ago I had a pacemaker implanted . Unfortunately one lead is going to have to be repositioned. Currently I am on wait and watch with keeping blood pressure as low as possible and using CPAC to keep nightly events as low as possible. Any other ideas?

Do you monitor your blood oxygen level with an oximeter at home? I was recently started on oxygen because I had low oxygen levels on my sleep study. I also have drops during the day. My arrthymias decreased and I feel better when I keep my blood oxygen over 90% as directed by my Cardiologist, Pulmonologist, and Sleep medicine doctors.

Hello @grandchild,

It has been a while since you last posted about your shortness of breath and your aneurysm. I hope you are doing better, especially with the shortness of breath. I hope you can provide an update.

Any new test results or treatments?

I’d like to join this group. My name is Maria Arroyave. I have an aortic aneurysm.

Hello all,
3 years ago I started making abdominal aortic aneurysms like Krisp Kreme makes doughnuts. I've lost the ability to walk twice because of the subsequent claudication. I have bilateral illiac stents. I've suffered additional system damage because my local small town medical team didn't believe me twice, until I showed up in the ER.
I have Overlap Syndrome; struggling with my autoimmune pain and the idiopathic aneurysms is exhausting. I've been swollen and numb on my R side since the beginning of July. I take no prescription pain medication. Opiates scare me more than the pain.
I go back for my 3rd visit in 7 days. I'll be there for 7 tests. Blood work didn't narrow anything down the first visit.
Does anyone have any experience with this quick and repetitive building of abd. aortic aneurysms?
The Mayo is my last hope for stopping this cycle. My last surgery was 3/23 and I can tell another's forming.

I am 73. Had 4.0cm ascending aorta dilation on CT in 2015. In 2019 was 4.0 on ECHO. March of this year measured 4.8cm on ECHO, confirmed on CT. ( BTW, I was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis in 2015 which predisposes to aneurysm formation ). After the ECHO and CT in March, my cardiologist recommended repeat CT in 1 year. I'm nervous waiting that long and it seems guideline would suggest every 6 month monitoring at this size and rate of growth ( 0.8cm / 4 yrs = .2cm/yr. ). Is it time for surgical consultation? Comments?

I am 64, thoracic aneurysm at the root that last measured at 4.8 by echo and 5.0 by CT. I am on a 6 month schedule. With the size of our aneurysms every six months makes sense to me.

I would request a 6 month follow at that rate of growth. In May mine measured 3.5. My cardiologist sent me to a surgeon for a consult. He said it is the surgeon who decides when the repair needs to be done. I did go for the consult. It’s a complicated decision based on state of valves, growth rate, age of patient, etc. After that I decided to reach out to the Cleveland Clinic. Discovered they are in network for my insurance (I live in NC). My stress went down after making that appointment. I go to them next month. You need to drive the process and do what makes you feel comfortable. If you want to consult a surgeon, make the appointment.

@gdog. I have only read about aneurysms of the ascending aorta. I have a dilation but it’s only 4.3 cm. I don’t have much experience beyond reading and talking with a vascular surgeon. However, if I were in your shoes, I would consider a second opinion. Are you seeing a cardiologist or a vascular surgeon? The growth rate could be uneven if it hasn’t been measured along the way. When were you diagnosed with GCA? Is your cardiologist or vascular surgeon aware of the GCA? I believe the new threshold for surgery is around 5.0cm. Yet I am not a doctor and could be wrong. It’s what I have been told about my dilation.

Thanks for the replies. Have discussed with cardiologist and he agrees to every 6 month testing with ECHO and annual CT. Will likely request vascular surgery referral if there is any increase in size.