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Aortic Aneurysms – Introduce yourself & meet others
Welcome to the Aortic Aneurysms group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta. The aorta begins deep in the heart as it emerges from the powerful left ventricle, gently arching over the heart, descending into the chest, and finally into the abdomen. Some aortic aneurysms can be harmless; others can lead to catastrophic problems. I invite you to follow this group and connect with others, share experiences, exchange useful information, and learn about aortic aneurysms.
Get started rby clicking the +FOLLOW icon on the group page here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aneurysms/
There are some great conversations going on right now that I think you’ll like. Grab a cup of tea, or beverage of your choice, and lets chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?
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@charlie2025 given your extensive familial history I would absolutely schedule a consult with a cardio thoracic surgeon. I would also ask them to look at your current scans and make sure that you are doing everything you can to minimize any progression you might have of that ascending aorta. You have to advocate for yourself. Most general practitioners and even a lot of cardiologists are not going to refer you unless you insist on it. you want to meet with the surgeon that will ultimately have to open you up and repair this. As hard as it is to hear, that’s the reality. Unless the doctor sitting in front of you is a surgeon with decades of experience repairing dissected aortas, the pill prescribers aren’t going to do any good. Everybody plays a role in these cases, but in your circumstance, you definitely want to have a cardio thoracic surgeon who is familiar with your case. Think I would like this: you might go to the oil change place to get a Think I would like this: you might go to the oil change place to get an oil change, but you would never go there and expect them to replace an engine. Both have a purpose, but they do not do the same thing and they are not equivalents. The same goes for doctors. Peace.
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2 Reactions@wpb I only take a baby aspirin, no other blood thinners. No problem with bleeding. I also use a mouthwash for dry mouth and lozenges. They help some but I still wake up in the middle of the night with a completely dry mouth and a sore throat. I then drink some water and pop in another lozenge.
Three weeks in the hospital must have been rough, it isn’t a pleasant place to be. I hope you are doing better.
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1 Reaction@wtamminen
It sounds like you use the same dry mouth regimen. I am guessing the problem stems from either beta blockers or BP meds? Like you, I wake up half way through the night and use a new lozenge
The biggest problem with the hospital stay was losing too much weight as well as muscle mass. I regained the weight eventually and am still working on strength training. I am guessing a lifelong project.
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1 Reaction@moonboy
I also have a Dacron graft plus a bovine aortic valve. I don’t have any chest pains but have muscle mass loss (working on this) and have regained most of my lost weight from hospitalization. My biggest problem is bleeding from aspirin blood thinners and remedying anemia. Maybe the anemia issues mask what would otherwise be chest pains from the open heart surgery. Who knows! Just happy to be alive and functioning. I recently met two others in my small city who also had open heart aneurysm surgery at cedars months before me. They are doing well, working and exercising. Inspiring. Amazing surgery, glad to have these medical methods available
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1 ReactionStay strong! Peace.