Ascending Aortic Aneurysm and Anxiety

I am not a doctor and I’m not giving you any medical advice. I’m just a survivor of an aortic dissection, and I’ve spent the last decade educating myself about it. It’s a privilege and an honor to be of service to you.

Again, thank you

Have you had to have any limitations now that you're almost 5 years out? Or do you feel you're living the same life you were before your accident?

I haven’t, I’m taking care of myself even more than before, exercise regularly, it keeps me mentally strong and of course body healthy, I take BP medications of course but exercise keeps my BP low. My main limitations are actually from my broken leg, I can’t run anymore but bike, swim and do regular strength training.

What is dumb? Telling you to wait to 5.5 when you are 70ish. That's good, wait 10-12 years and have surgery in your 80's. Dumb rule, like no more PSA tests for older men.

Remember any doctor's advice is coming from the profession that thinks it is good to remove a child's gonads because they have been "born in the wrong body." They are truly with the "party of science."

What I've learned in my nearly 80 yrs. on earth is that doctors are as variable as cats. Gone are the days when doctors were gods to be listened to and never questioned. Now we're in charge of our own health and that means working closely with doctors we trust and looking for the right fit if a certain doctor doesn't fit our needs. I'd never trust a doctor who didn't encourage a second opinion. I do tend to trust a doctor who brings that up him/herself and welcomes it. We're in difficult territory here and we need the best advice we can get. Doctors who discuss their patients with other doctors and work with a team are more likely to reach consensus about what should be done. That said, I believe 3.5 is considered pretty low risk. The right thing to do, as I understand it, is to wait until it reaches 5.0. It may never reach that and you may never need surgery at all. When I was first diagnosed a year ago, I asked about going ahead with surgery now and was told all the reasons why I should wait. Depending on the available funding for medical research, more patient-friendly surgical options may be developed in the future. We're all scared. I worry about every twinge and try not to let anxiety overtake me, but we're all doing the best we can. Don't suffer in silence. Talk to your doctor and tell him how you feel. Mind is as important as matter.

Are the symptoms with a 5.1 Root aorta aneurysm and a 4.4 ascending aorta, increasing fatigue, dizziness?