Ascending Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm, Part 1 of 2 - CLOSED

"Watching and Waiting", I had just retired and moved into my brand new condominium ready to start a happy "third life", when the aneurysm was discovered. It was a 5 cm. bulge at the root of the aorta. The doctor ordered another CT scan within three months, he told me to avoid lifting heavy objects and to report any symptoms. Since I was living alone at the time, I started packing again and left my "dream place" to move where I had family close by. Having to pack all my belongings and avoid lifting heavy weights was a nightmare, because I thought I could die at any time from lifting boxes. The new CT scan showed no increase in size and another one was ordered in three months later. For safety I decided to obtain a second opinion on my third CT scan, the original doctor said it was the same size as before and the new doctor said it was larger. I eventually switched doctors and went to the one that said it was larger, because he seemed to be more meticulous and careful. My last CT scan was done in February of 2009 and it showed that it had grown to 5.5 cm., it was then when the doctor recommended elective surgery within 3 months. I had the surgery on March 16th, because I did not want to wait any longer and I was glad I did, because the doctor told me that the aeurysm was larger than expected and that it was about to burst. The recovery from the surgery has been gradual and from an almost invalid state, I have progressed to the point where I have started to play tennis again. I feel almost "normal" now, probably better than before the surgery and I still have two more months to go with the cardiac rehabilitacion program. I think I was very fortunate, because my aneurysm was successfully repaired and practically cured from it.  I feel that I have got a new lease in my life, to rhe point that I decided to enter art school this Fall. I was scared before the surgery, but I found out that the current advances in surgery, have made the aneurysm repair a relatively safe procedure. The resaon why your case may require surgery soon it's because it seems that you have a genetic defect that caused the bycuspid aortic valve and the aneurysm. Genetic aneurysms have a propensity to grow faster, mine was caused old age and by having suffered from high blood pressure for many years.  Be glad that you have not been diagnosed with an incurable disease.

Hello:
When I decided to have the surgery for my aneurysm, I felt a great relief because HELP was on its way, at last my problem will be over for good, I thought. The worst part for me was the watch and wait period, because everything was up in the air. I spent ony 2 days in ICU and only one of those two days on the respirator. On the third day I was moved to a regular room where I stayed 3 more days and sent home afterwards. They got me up by the next day after the surgery and made me start walking after the second day, a few steps at first and more every time. When I went home on the fifth day after the surgery, I entered the house walking slowly. A visiting nurse came twice a week for two weeks to check my incision and to monitor my blood pressure. At first, I felt weak and could not walk too much, but I needed no physical assistance from anybody, my appetite sufferd for a few weeks, because I lost the ability to taste food with my tongue, eventually this came back. The only complication I had was an attack of gout on my right hand which rendered me "crippled" for several days. For four weeks I depended on my family or friends for rides because I was not allowed to drive during that time. The pain really didn't bother me very much, my main discomfort was coughing or sneezing and I had to press a pillow against my chest every time it happened. After six weeks I started to feel pretty good, now I'm on my 14th week after the surgery and I'm already playing tennis. After the sixth week I started a cardiac rehab program at a local hospital, it consists of one hour of supervised physical exercises 3 times per week. This program has done the most for my recovery. Believe me deciding to have the surgery was the best thing I did in my life, because now I don't think about the aneurysm anymore.

Don't forget that a full recovery might take up tp 6 months. about six weeks after the surgery you will have to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program in a local hospital that last about 4 months. In this program you will do physical exercise under medical supervision 3 times per week, because open hearrt surgery leaves you very weak and you have to regain your strenght gradually.

The reason that you are being told to wait is because aneurysms the size of yours typically do not dissect. Many the size of yours don't even get any larger. Doctors assess the risk of your aneurysm dissecting against the risk of surgery and determine that waiting is the best option. If you are symptomatic however that throws out the argument for waiting because the risk of not doing the surgery is far greater. Look at it this way, if you have a garden hose with a minor bulge in it, you use it, chances of it shredding on you are minimal when the bulge is minor. As the bulge in the hose gets larger it is at greater risk of bursting and leaking, so you replace it.

A long history of aneurysms in your family would be of concern to me. Do your doctors know this fact?

Hi Miss Helen

I actually went to the doctor Tuesday and I told him about my family history and he did tell me that he was going to keep a close eye on it due to the fact that there is a long family history of aneurysms....I feel alot better and he said I would be needing a CAT scan done every 6 months so he could be monitoring my aneurysm. I've been drinking medication to keep my blood pressure low. I'll just keep praying and hoping my aneurysm doesn't grow. THANKS!

I hope Star54 had a successful surgery. Anyone heard anything?

I am 69 year old male, in excellent health all my life, multi sports athlete, never been under the knife.  November 9, 2009  CT scan taken in conjunction with Echo Stress Test and Calcium Score Test, because I had remarkably low BP following MWF gym workouts, including brief period of weight lifting; which revealed a 4.5 ascending aortic artery aneurysm.  Family history of all the heart diseases; so I suppose something like this was inevitable.  I passed the stress test with flying colors, in fact I had to go almost 11 minutes to get to my maximum heart rate.  Calcium score showed I was in the 45 percentile of CAD and a person who required immediate aggressive BP treatment.  Evidently, my BP checks taken following work outs were not accurate, or I stressed my aortic artery some other way.  Could it have been the weigh lifting?  I have only been lifting weighs for about 4 years, and not more than 125 lbs bench press about 5 times for 2 reps.  My cardio says we will look at it again in 6 months, but in the meantime I get my BP under control, eat right, excercise (no weights over 20 lbs).   I suppose it's best to wait as long as you reasonable can before surgery, in hopes of no premature rupture, in order to get a few more years on the back end following surgery.  Has anyone had a similar history?