Hello there,
Im 53 yr female and I have just been diagnosed with a thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm of 4cm, still in shock as I never expected it, as I'm not a smoker, neither a drinker, doesn't run in the family. I have to follow up and check if it will grow etc. In 6months. I'm in a lot if stress. I would be so thankful if you all can provide some additional information. First question is: is there any possibility that it will never grow? Is it possible to stay 4cm for ever? According to my dr that's possible. On my search all most all aneurysms are growing! Don't know what to think😳
Hello,
I was diagnosed with the same condition four years ago when I was 64. Like you, I was in such shock because I only went for an echo as I had been having some irregular beats. I think I overreacted at the time because I was a nurse and thought of the worst case outcome. I had a follow up CT scan and then an MRI. Both showed the aneurysm to be 4.1 whereas the echo had stated 4.6. I had six month tests for a year and then yearly. So far it has not grown but they have discovered that I have a bicuspid aortic valve which often goes with the condition. At the last echo, the senior technician thought that I probably will never need surgery as the valve seems to be coping fairly well. I have stopped worrying about it now because the anxiety was taking over my life and i suddenly realised that but for the test I would never have known anyway. However I am glad that it was found, because I get tested regularly and if it got worse action would be taken. I am a bit careful lifting things though, but that is probably because of my age! The cardiologist said that it is in the nature of aneurysms to grow but it could remain the same for years. I hope yours remains within limits and good luck.
Oh, thank you so much lovely you've given me some hope, I've asked cardiologist if the echocardiogram is accurate and if I might need to do some MRI or CT but he said no, this is accurate. I'm thinking of getting a second opinion soon though. May I ask you what kind of medicines are you taking? I've ask dr if I should've considered taking beta blockers for preventing it of growing but he said no, I don't need this. He has prescribed 5mg Zestril though every morning. My blood pressure is normal, DIA is a bit higher, around 80ish, cholesterol on the edge, around 205 if I remember good. I know this since a week ago and I'm in deep depression, I feel like nothing can be like yesterday any more since I didn't know and I was happy. Now all the time I'm on internet searching and looking in to videos with TAA surgeries and Im freaking out😩 The difference though is that you are now 68 yrs and yours TAA might not growing any more, I'm still 53😳 Let's hope for the best, thanks again😌
Hi,
I believe the CT scan is considered the most accurate. I had an MRI because I was getting some chest pain (found to be not connected) and through that they found the bicuspid valve. I am not on any medicines at all. My blood pressure is low anyway so not needed. My cholesterol is about 6 but nobody has suggested statins and I am happy with that. I agree about you being younger but neither of us know how long the aneurysm has been there and might have been there for years, but as you say your has more potential years to grow. I had a private appointment with a cardiologist and asked him lots of questions and it put my mind at rest a bit. I find when I do have an appointment with him it is very rushed so it was worth the money. I am in the UK by the way. It seems very different in the USA. Best wishes and try not to worry.
Hi Ana62
I had surgery 5/20/16 for a TAA repair. It was found 8 yrs ago, at that time 4.6. I changed my activities at the advice of my doctor, which I think prolonged the need for surgery. I am 56 yrs, no other health issues. I had an echo and maintain yearly and a CT scan every 6mos. It took 8yrs for it to start growing but once it started, it grew quickly. Like you, I was terrified when it was found. Couldn't understand where it came from. You are off to a good start by searching for information on the subject. It will be fine.
My earlier post was supposed to say I had a ECHO and MRI yearly.
Hi ana62.
Have bicuspid valve and thoracic aneurysm also . I am 50. Was 48 when I was diagnosed with both. An unrelated infection caused a few missed beats which the doctor decided should be checked with an echo just because I was in hospital anyway. Like you it took a while to adjust to the fright of it all. I did go to the bother of trawling through old medical records and I found an echo which had been done when I was 31 that showed widening of 3.2 cms. Nobody used the word aneurysm or even mentioned it to me at the time. Pity because I wouldn't have taken up a job which required me to lift as much. Nonetheless I have stopped fussing over it and it hasn't grown anymore. I guess delivering and carrying 2 very large babies in my late 30s is when it may have grown last. I am hoping if I can hang out for a few more years they will have developed a stent to fix it without the requirement for open heart surgery like they have for the lower down ones, that would be good. My consultant tells me they are well on the way. The bicuspid bit is genetic it seems. I am only 5ft 2 which apparently is another risk factor for early rupture too. It will need surgery coming closer to 5cms. I am very well and keep fit in case I need it done. To be honest I don't think about it too much anymore. I need to live and I know it upset the whole household in the early days. Stay well and hope this helps.
HI Moreen, thank you so much for taking the effort to answer to my msg. It helps though when realize I'm not the only one. The question is: is it enough to see a cardiologist or I should considering see a vascular surgeon as well? You dint mention how big is your aneurysm at the moment? Thanks again
My aneurysm is 4.2 cms for the last 2 years. No change. Only have mri once a year now. I do see a consultant surgeon as opposed to a cardiologist. This was my own decision because I reckon if I need it done at some point I would like to know who was doing it in advance and be sure I had confidence in that person ...and I am very happy I have found the right person. My next mri is due in October and he has told me to phone him first. If there is no change I won't need the expense of the appointment.
hello Gigi, thank you so much for your msg. Wow I suppose it's a very big surgery! Well done! God bless you are over it now, what was your experience? Are you ok now? Also after operation do you have to take daily medicines for life? Do you feel the same as before surgery? I hope you don't mind telling me where did you have your surgery done? I'm a European citizen living I the United Arab Emirates in Dubai at the moment and this is not a surgery someone would like to do in Dubai. Any suggestions of a hospital in Europe where they do a lot of these kind of surgeries with a lot of experience😰I'm terrified I want to collect all good information, that gives me more hope and confidence.
HI Moreen, are you living in Europe? I need to have also some good addresses to have in case and also to visit beforehand.
I am in ireland Ana. May be of very little use to you.
Ireland Ana...probably not much use to you.
The Heart Hospital, London, a branch of University College Hospital, is known to be one of the best in Europe. I recently had by-pass surgery there. I had been seen in a large local hospital and asked the consultant why the op could not be done there- she said, tactfully, "it would be in your best interests to go to the Heart Hosp.". I only found out it's reputation much later.
Hello Sonia, thank you so much for the information, I'll keep this in to my list. I really appreciate your effort, take care
Sorry, it took a minute to respond but I haven't been feeling well. I am in the US.. My surgery was in a veterans hospital. The initial surgery itself was interesting and the recovery process is too. The only meds were for pain, no meds for life. I felt fine before the surgery but my energy level is down, I get tired rather quickly. I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, if it well help..
Hello Ana62,
3 1/2 hears ago I was diagnosed with thoracic aortic aneurysm after I started feeling sick. Irregular heartbeat, dizzy, pain in my jaw. I was 41 years old. I was put in intensive care unit to let the doctors decide what to do. They decided to wait 4 months to do surgery because I was a student at the university of Texas and they said it was safe to wait until the semester was complete. I continued to get more sick though. I couldn't breath and my lungs were filling up with fluid. It was very hard to breath. It continued to worsen even though I was in the intensive care unit. Basically I was dying. My body was reacting to the aneurysm with filling my lungs with fluid. Now I was too sick to have surgery even if they wanted to do it. The doctors thought I wouldn't survive. The then asked me to consent to being intubate dos I could let a machine breath for me so I could rest. I said ok because I just could not breathe. I said ok. After a couple days I was continuing to worsen. Even with the machine breathing for me. The aneurysm was preventing my valve from functioning properly so I just kept getting worse. Finally my cardiologist demanded I be taken to surgery because I was going to die. I needed to be transported to another hospital where they had a state of the art operating room and in the ambulance to the hospital I ruptured. It was bad and destroyed my heart valve too. Somehow they kept me alive and got me into the operating room where I watched them cut my chest open and saw my sternum. That was soooo scary and hurt sooo bad. After a ten hour surgery they replaced my aorta and installed a mechanical heart valve. I died a couple more times during surgery but somehow they brought me back. After a few days in intensive care unit they woke me up and I started my recovery. I was on the hospital for 5 more weeks. I have problems because of lack of oxygen during the times I was dead, mostly nerve damage to my legs and brain damage. After 6 months I could walk without a walker and after a year I could walk without a cane. I still limp terribly and need lots of pain meds just to function because of the severe nerve pain. The doctors say I have no business being alive, they say it's a miracle. They are also surprised I can walk with the amount of damage to my nerves. I got in trouble because I was going to the gym because I couldn't stand being so weak. That's probably why I can walk today. But I guess while I was healing it wasn't smart to be bench pressing. Lol.
I'm telling you this because you never know what will happen with aneurysms. We are all different. Maybe someone else would have had no problems waiting for surgery. But for me that was a bad idea to wait.
Seek multiple opinions and listen carefully to all of them. Talk to your family and take it very seriously. I am amazed that some people go years without rupturing.
My cardiologist saved my life demanding my surgery to be done. My surgeon was a master. I owe the doctors and nurses my life. I still bring them flowers every few months to show I'm still grateful. Unfortunately my education to be a teacher kind of ran into a tree. But I'm still working in a school helping kids. My brain damage hasn't totally limited me. Maybe I'll continue to improve and will finish my certification to teach high school math. Until then I'm taking it one day at a time.
Good luck to you and please let me know if you have any questions.
William83597 is correct, everyone has different body stature, weight, age, health conditions and others. I am 56 yrs old (57 in Oct). 5'5", approx 170 lbs, no health issues other than the aneurysm. Mine was found 8yrs ago..didn't grow until recently which prompted the surgery. I had know symptoms until the last few months when it started growing. It depends on the location of the aneurysm as to what organ it will press against. My left shoulder and chest started to hurt. My doctors said the possibility of dissection or rupture was growing along with the aneurysm. I reluctantly agreed to have the surgery but I guess feeling like a walking time bomb, got the better of me. My thoracic surgeon explained planned surgery was better for the patient's recovery and for the surgical team. Anyway, I think I told you my surgery was in May. I refuse to sugarcoat it, this surgery...ok..I had a hysterectomy and other injuries that I found to be painful. This isn't like anything else you will ever experience. Stay active, eat healthy, beware of activities that get the blood pressure up. Beware of lifting heavy items. I was a runner but stopped due to Dr recommendation. But, most of all stay positive! The hardest part is knowing, just try to get used to that first...one step at a time. It may never grow or it may take a long time, at least you will know. You can be apart of the planning and be prepared.
Hi gigi,
Thank you for telling it how it is. May I ask the size of youe aneurysm when it was found and and again when yo had syrgery?. Was it on the aortic arch near the valve?. Thats where mine is and I am told I will get no symptoms....just rupture and death. Thats the reason for all the monitoring.... so that they can strike before it does so to speak. i would be delighted if there are symptoms to warn me.
Although mine was classified as ascending, it was towards the arch. My repair was in an angle, going close to valve but no replacement. It was 4.6 cm when found 8yrs ago. 5.8 when I had surgery in May. Didn't start growing until late 2015. I was also monitored with a MRI annually, a ECHO and CT Scan every 6 mos, for the past 8yrs. When it started to grow, my doctors started preparing me for surgery. I'm glad, could prepare myself and my family before the surgery. The doctors tell you a lot but there's a lot they don't tell you as well. My doc said if they told you everything, they would never get you on the table and I understand that but I wanted to know everything!