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Ascending Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm, Part 1 of 2 - CLOSED

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Posted 5/30/2010 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning and welcome,

I am glad you found us. You are scheduled for a magnetic resonance angiography.
Physicians use the procedure to identify disease and aneurysms in the aorta, both in the chest and abdomen, or in other major blood vessels.

I had a little trouble in sorting out your time line but it looks like you may have been dx in 09 with AA ? You did not actually identify when you were told you have an AA.

I am reading from your post that you were dx with an AA that was 4.0 cm on CT Scan? This makes me wonder why you have not had further studies sooner then this to verify the actual size of the aneurysm. I am glad you are having your follow up now.

The general rule of thumb according to Mayo Clinic would be to do surgical intervention for an aortic aneurysm when it measure 5.0 - 5.5 cm. Of course this is always dependent on the circumstance and the individual case.

I feel you have every right to your anxiety but try not to let it rule your life. Take it one day at a time and believe that you will come through this fine.

You have been through a lot in the past and I am here to support you as you continue through this next test and beyond.

Kindly,

Kitt
Posted 5/31/2010 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
I was officially diagnosed 12/5/09 BUT I had other echocardiograms stemming from another cardiac event in 97 and the echo from 97 & 09 are the same the one in 2001 had larger sizes. I am still waiting on my cardiac cath report to see if they measured the aorta and what size was it. NO ONE MENTIONED the aorta being dilated before. So the 2009 CT scan says: on series 3, image #62 a mildly aneurysmal ascending aorta.

I believe since I am asymptomatic and it is mild that is why they waited 6 months for the the test.

I am sure there are people who have a 4 cm aorta and it never gets bigger. My blood pressure is under control and I am on a beta blocker since the 09 hospital visit. I got through cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia I'll do what I did then and have been doing since Dec 09. research the holy heck of things, get another cardiologist (going to the one who saved my life in 97) either have him take over or if he can refer me to someone he trusts.
Posted 5/31/2010 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,


I am so glad to see you are a wonderful advocate for your own health and you have a great attitude. I think your plan is very reasonable and yes do get that second opinion.



Thank you for explaining your history for me.



I wish you the best and do stick with us.



Kindly,



Kitt
Posted 6/1/2010 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
The aneurysm is definitely a 'time-bomb' waiting to burst. Have the standard repair procedure (not a stent) and expect a scar but also expect good result. Ask the surgeon regarding aspirin regimin and upon recovery and with doctors' approval, WALK every other day for at least thirty minutes. I had an aneurysm repaired six years ago and now do anything I wish (within reason) --- and I'm a doctor.

Edit: Gentle Reminder, if you are a medical professional, please remember the forums and chat are for patient support and not to be used for distributing professional medical advice.  Thank you in advance for your understanding.

 

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 6/1/2010 11:53:43 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/1/2010 10:13 PM (GMT 0)
Well I finally got my cath report from 1997 hoping that it would have had AO measurements but alas it did not. Just O2 levels in AO.

Why wouldn't the doctors from before have said something about the echo cardiogram results from 1997 and 2001?

See my thought process is very much like a lawyer and mentally that mentality worked for me with my other heart problem and I completely recovered. So I gathered all my tests from that time. Echo cardiograms, MUGA's, electrophysiology, and cardiac cath. I did this in the hopes that someone (cardiologist) will say you are fine, since you are larger then the average woman you have a little larger aorta. We will watch it and you must take care of your blood pressure and you will be fine.
isn't it funny how we handle things when under stress?

Tomorrow is the test. I will see what I get out of the tech. ( I'm a pro at that)
Posted 6/1/2010 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck with your test. I will be looking for your next post.


Kindly,



Kitt
Posted 6/1/2010 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you :-)
Posted 6/1/2010 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I am interested in hearing from someone who has a ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm, and what they have been told about treatment. I was diagnosed in Dec, 2009, and will have a followup ct scan next week. I am nervous about this, worried it may have gotten larger.
Posted 6/2/2010 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Mine was dx in Dec 09 and I have my follow up scan tomorrow. I'll tell you when I find out.
Good luck.
Posted 6/2/2010 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Well I have the CD of my MRA today. Pretty cool to see inside your own body like that. There aren't any computer generated sizing of anything shakehead so I now I wait till June sad Next week though I am getting a MUGA and a holter monitor. Not sure why he wants a MUGA. No tests indicate a need for it but maybe he figures since I had a pretty exciting heart condition in 97 I might as well get it checked out same thing with the Holter monitor. He is in disbelief that I recovered from it and had no treatment after 1998.

Funny how I have waited six months for this test but the idea of having to wait till June 17 seems like it will take forever blush
Posted 6/4/2010 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I couldnt wait till next Friday, so I am going on Tues. evening after work for the ct scan. I hope to get my results by Thurs or Fri. I pick up a copy of the report at Med. Records, I cant wait for the Dr. to call me.
Posted 6/4/2010 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am thinking positive, hoping that there is no change, unless it is for the better. ( I do know that aneurysms dont shrink).
Posted 6/5/2010 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
I thought about calling the radiology office yesterday just to see if the radiologist read it yet. Cause at least if he read and didn't call me then it isn't a drastic change. I may call Monday.

Margie- When I start getting really anxious I have to remember at least we know and are monitoring it. Knowing is hard but not knowing and not knowing what precautions to take and having the worst happen isn't good.
Gratitude for that calms me down.

In my case it could have the high blood pressure, well I have that under control so it this aneurysm may not get bigger if I continue to control my BP and not lift anything heavy.

If they have the results on Monday when I call I may have them fax it to my job so I can see the results for myself. I also have a MUGA and Holter so I could try to ask the nurse to let me see it. But I suspect I will be told to wait, then I may have to through a fit but hey I know how to do that smilewinkgrin I mean it is my body, my test I have every right to them without the doctor needing to tell me.

Post Edited (Trackermom) : 6/5/2010 7:49:16 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/5/2010 1:50 PM (GMT 0)

margiemm said...
I am thinking positive, hoping that there is no change, unless it is for the better. ( I do know that aneurysms dont shrink).

They can stay the same smilewinkgrin

If I compare my echos from 97,01 and 09 and even the CT result from 09 I've been the same within millimeters for 12 years.
Posted 6/6/2010 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I  know that they can stay the same, but I am still worried. Maybe I can calm down once I have the ct scan over with. I would still like to know what caused this. I have never had high blood pressure, and as far as I know there has been no one else in my family with this.  Lucky Me!
Posted 6/7/2010 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
I went an picked up my results from the MRA I had done.

No Evidence of dissection or aneurysm. The maxium ascending aorta is 3.6 cm at the pulmonary artery. Subclavian veins appear patent bilaterally both subclavian arteries are widely patent as well.

Impression: Unremarkable thoracic aorta without evidence of aneurysm. No significant change in the appearance of the ascending aorta when compared to the CT scan from 2009.

For the first time in my life I cried for joy.

Tomorrow is my MUGA and Holter hook up.
Posted 6/7/2010 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
  So, you dont have a aneurysm?  I am not sure I understand. I thought that you did, and was having a followup check. I am going tomorrow after work, so it will be a long day.  I am happy for you if you dont have the aneurysm, that has to be the best news ever! 
Posted 6/7/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)

margiemm said...
So, you dont have a aneurysm? I am not sure I understand. I thought that you did, and was having a followup check. I am going tomorrow after work, so it will be a long day. I am happy for you if you dont have the aneurysm, that has to be the best news ever!

According to the radiologist from 2009 he measured it at 4.0 on one view of a 64 slice CT. (CT was done in ER after going to hospital with chest pain, was GERD)

I did research about CT scan and talked to my cardiologist about size sometimes being overestimated on CT scans, and he explained that it can and does happen that is why he prefers the MRI and the MRA.

So the MRA says 3.6

I am relieved but still guarded. Don't want the rug pulled out from under me again.

Good luck tomorrow.

Do you mind sharing your story. When were you dx? What size? Etc.
Posted 6/7/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
 I was diagnosed Dec. 09, with a 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. It was definitely the shock of my life.  I do havd SVT and Afib, and have had ablation therapy for the SVT. I just cant imagine that someone didnt see the aneurysm on the many tests that I had in the past. I am now with a new specialist , so I hope that things go better now.
Posted 6/7/2010 10:16 PM (GMT 0)
 I was diagnosed Dec. 09, with a 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. It was definitely the shock of my life.  I do havd SVT and Afib, and have had ablation therapy for the SVT. I just cant imagine that someone didnt see the aneurysm on the many tests that I had in the past. I am now with a new specialist , so I hope that things go better now.
Posted 6/7/2010 10:48 PM (GMT 0)

margiemm said...
I was diagnosed Dec. 09, with a 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. It was definitely the shock of my life. I do havd SVT and Afib, and have had ablation therapy for the SVT. I just cant imagine that someone didnt see the aneurysm on the many tests that I had in the past. I am now with a new specialist , so I hope that things go better now.

Shock, tell me about. the admitted me through the ER because of my prior cardiac history (peripartum cardiomyopathy and SVT) I had an ablation and the heart returned to normal, but since I was having chest pain they kept me.

Anyhow, next day up on the floor the regular doctor who was covering for my GP, said it so causally then said you can get changed we are going to send you home. nono Oh no you're not! Then the cardio came in and he explained it to me and that in a few months I'll get a follow up test, I said you can't send me home I'll go crazy can't you do another test to confirm. Okay so I get an echocardiogram and that comes back 3.8 and everything else is good.

I can't believe how unaffected they seemed when they told me. That is why that Monday I went to my GP and got Xanax.
Posted 6/7/2010 10:58 PM (GMT 0)

I sometimes think that I should be on meds, of just start drinking! I dont do either, but I do drink coffee, and I know that will probably have to go. It never bothered me before( the caffeine), but the last few days, I have noticed a difference, so I am happy that I like green tea.

The reason that I have a new specialist is that when I finally got to see the cardio that did my ablation, he basically brushed it off, and then he started talking to me about dying, yes dying!  Can you believe it? I cant believe I let that man do a ablation on me. I wish someone was in the room when he started on that topic, but he probably wouldnt have said anything . I really could have taken something or drank after that visit.

Posted 6/7/2010 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there. Are you guys talking about an aneurysm in your abdomen?
Posted 6/7/2010 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
No, mine is a thoracic aortic ascending aneurysm.
Posted 6/8/2010 2:30 AM (GMT 0)

Potsie said...
Hi there. Are you guys talking about an aneurysm in your abdomen?

The area of concern was/is ascending aorta.
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