Thoracic aortic aneurysm: Anyone had surgery?

I was first diagnosed with a 4.4 thoracic aneurysm in 2009. It has grown slowly and reached 4.6 in 2016. I am told this could be due to differences in measurement and it may not have changed at all. I currently travel once a year to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. I am considering switching to Marshfield Clinic as it is much closer. When I was first diagnosed, I asked my doctor right out if the aneurysm could remain stable and I would never need surgery. He shook his head no. He said I would definitely need surgery at some point. Years have passed since then and now I am not sure what he thinks. I am also unclear when he plans to operate. Sometimes he says probably 5.0 but has also mentioned 5.5. Cleveland is over 8 hours from where I live so I only connect once a year. The remainder of the year I am on my own. I have actually begun to relax and accept my condition until recently. This month my oldest brother was diagnosed with the same type of aneurysm. We are awaiting further testing. A few days ago my closest friend underwent surgery for the same aneurysm at 4.6. He made it through the surgery but died the day he was moved from ICU. Once again I find myself feeling very alone and stressed. Seems like I am always getting pains in my chest and have a deep hoarse cough most of the time. Is this normal or just because I am stressing? So thrilled to find this thread.

Thank you for the post

I'm doing fine. I never had cardiac rehab as Medicare would not cover it because my aorta replacement did not go inside the heart, it was on the curve. Think it's a strange decision as I was in open heart surgery for 10 hours. Tried contacting different sources but found no assistance regarding the lack of Medicare coverage. Broke my ankle hiking by falling into a nest of some kind covered by grasses. Hoping to start pulmonary function rehab soon as breathing has been an issue lately but I did go into my surgery with COPD to start with so am assuming this is not unusual. Onward and upward, can barely wait until I can start aoerbics again, missing the exercise classes so much.

Welcome back @morninglory. How are you doing? How did the cardiac rehab go?

Your words so true.......I had all the confidence possible in Dr. Pochettino and my fractured ankle has caused me more problems than the aortic surgery! I'm 78 and came thru the surgery just fine, friends and relatives were amazed. Mayo nurses are wonderful. Was replying to the gentleman that stated how proficient the Mayo teams are in getting you back into a normal life.

Once you have the surgery are we more at risk for more aneurysms? Is there any info on how long the replacement lasts?

Thanks. Very reassuring.

With your overall good health, I would think your experience would be similar to mine. I was 72 years old at the time and had fairly good health.

I had surgery at Mayo in May, 2016. Had aneurysm repair and total arch replacement. All in all it was much less bad than I imagined. Surgery lasted for 6 hours, in ICU, I am told for 2 days-don't remember much about that. Then in hospital for a total of 8 nights. Recovery went very well. Mayo gives pain meds if you need them and great care from kind and caring nurses. Looking back on the surgery, I never doubted it would be successful. From Mayo, I went directly home, about 500 miles away and haven't looked back. No problems at home and then went to rehab. Good luck to you and hope you will have an easy recovery. I have such great faith in Mayo which gave me lots of confidence in the outcome.

Thanks. Looks like you went thru a lot. I am keeping my fingers crossed.