Celiac Artery Aneurysm: Anyone else with same illness?

Hi, everyone:
I was recently diagnosed with a celiac aneurysm and an ascending aortic aneurysm, as well as transverse myelitis. Both were discovered by’accident’ - I had gone to the local ER because of severe lower back pain. Subsequently, a CT scan revealed the issues. Research tells me that a celiac aneurysm is quite rare. Mine is still quite small, about 1.5 cm. My research tells me that it’s too small for surgery ... and that its growth can be monitored by a semi-annual CT. In the meantime, I’m basically in ‘do nothing’ limbo.
Prior to the diagnosis, I was a workout warrior - pushing my body to its limits 6 days per week. I bench(ed) 260. Ran approximately 15 miles per week. Crunches. Push-ups. And, a host of other machines that targeted biceps, triceps, pectorals, back, etc. Fifty pull-ups daily. I don’t smoke, eat healthy. I am diagnosed afib, but take a beta blocker and digoxin to control rate and rhythm. My only other meds are omeprazole and vitamin D.
The aneurysm diagnosis has turned my world upside down. I live in west Texas - Abilene, to be specific. The one thoracic surgeon to whom I spoke while hospitalized immediately recused himself from surgical intervention, saying he was imminently unqualified to perform such a procedure. To date, my internal med specialist is the only doctor with whom I’ve followed up for treatment. I’m devastated at not being able to lift weights any longer. Included in that is not being able to perform menial duties in the house and yard: basically, life. My doc says I may lift 10-15 pounds - no more. But - he also says that he thinks it’s okay for me to do pull-ups in the gym. He says there’s a stark difference in using weights as opposed to using one’s own weight in terms of exercise. While I was thrilled with his conclusion, you may also paint me with a bit of cynicism. My procedure in doing pull-ups is not much different than doing a bench press: proper breathing is vital. Exhaling on the lift is standard protocol. Now, I certainly don’t wish to die on the gym floor. Abstaining from potentially damaging weightlifting is something that I know I must do.
My question, then ... is my doc wrong for green lighting pull-ups? My weight is 185 - so, it’s a workout for sure. I guess I don’t understand why I can’t shovel dirt in my yard but yet I can do pull-ups. If the aneurysm ruptures, it’s over - there is no one out here able to perform surgery. Dallas is 200 miles east; Houston, 375 miles southeast. Truthfully, given the rarity of the celiac aneurysm, I’m not terribly sure even Dallas or Houston would have a qualified surgeon.
And, these questions: what is protocol in determining when surgery is necessary? Will my aneurysm have to grow to a certain size? Is it strange to want to make that happen - so that I may resume a productive and active life as I had pre-diagnosis? I have things to get done! Am I never going to be the same prrson I was? I don’t want to go from being my wife’s hard-working husband to her burden! Am I just stuck in this situation?!
Comments appreciated.

Happy that you found and treated in time!

My aneurysm was large. They never gave me the measurements because it bellowed out of the artery like a balloon. It was a hole in the artery very long and narrow. My doctor said I am very lucky it didn't rupture.

Yes! this just started for me. It appears that Mfolan also had this problem before stent surgery. That makes at least 3 of us !

Thank you for that information. I just began having similar gastric issues and was told that it is unlikely related to my celiac aneurysm. It is great that you successfully addressed the problem. I and others on this page are in the monitoring stage which is not satisfying. It seems the rarity of this issue causes reluctance to take remedial action. I may make sense to seek a second opinion from a Dr. experienced in addressing the problem like your Dr. How large was your aneurysm ?

I had major gastric issues and loose bowels for a year or so before my celiac stent surgery. It was horrible. I feel so much better after they put a stent in my celiac artery and opened up my artery. It also sealed my aneurysm and my last CT scan the aneurysm vanished. They found the aneurysm on Dec 29th, 2018 and I had surgery on January 2nd, 2019. I am surprised these doctors are waiting to do surgery seems crazy. I had terrific doctors out of Advocate Lutheran General, Park Ridge, IL

Hi everyone. Have any of you with celiac artery aneurysms had gastric symptoms ? I have been experiencing things such as abdominal bloating and increased heartburn and loose bowels. I am not sure if this is cause for worry my next MRI IS IN 2 months

Thanks for your input and I completely understand why you wish you had never learned that you had the aneurysm. Wait and monitor can cause a bit of anxiety but from everything I have studied the likelihood of rupture is small at this point.

I saw my vascular surgeon yesterday. My celiac aneurysm is at 1.3 mm. Slightly larger from 1.24 cm. Will check again in 6 months. She says if it got to be 1.5 cm they would start to talk about repair. I wish I had never known it was there. Good luck with finding a good doctor. From my research, the celiac aneurysm is much more difficult to repair because of all the veins coming off of it. I will try to tune it out for six months and forget about it.

Mine is only 11 mm, which is much smaller than 1.4 cm. However, the vascular surgeon says if it gets any larger at all, I will need surgery. I asked him if he has ever performed this kind of operation, & he said "no". So I have another CT in 6 months, & if it is any larger, I'm gonna look into UT Southwestern in Dallas.They have a lot of vascular surgeons there, & maybe one of them has performed this operation. Dallas is 3 hrs away, & I've been there several times to a GI doc, & she and everyone else we came into contact with UTSW were all just amazing!