Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

I'm in similar good health. I've haven't eaten sugar in 3 years- and I lost 35 pounds at that time. I exercise regularly..... and have always had good health. My dad died of it age 42- and my sister has also been diagnosed- so it's certainly inherited!
I think often times a CT is preferred due to the cost of a MRI..... and availability in some areas. CT's give you a large dose of radiation- so it's not the test I'd choose- but I don't think I have a choice. MRI's also give Dr's a better picture of your heart.
I'll be tested again next year- and I'll certainly be asking my doctor- why a CT and not a MRI!!

Can some one give me some pointers navigating this site?

Do aneurysms ever reduce in size?

i read three pages of posts most people 45-55 were active and wt trained cardio taskers

  i wonder , ive read so many of these aneeuryisms are heredity rather than trama or bad diet or bad habits.. really doesnt matter i aplaud everyones courage and honesty and i am finding some comfort here im 60 5 8 moderatly active pretty fit xcept for hep c and a 5.0 cm aata

tried hep treatment twice and just learned of the aatafrom an echo via a n audible heart murmur  dunno comments thx

 

Yes, ascending aneurysm tends to be inherited. My dad died of it at age 42 (undiagnosed til death) and we just found out my sister also has it. I'm in good shape- active.
I find that as I'm deep in conversation - that I'll feel a bit out of breath?? But you don't know what's a symptom and what's just a bit of panic??
I'm on a beta-blocker to slow my heart rate. It does seem to help the anxiety a bit.

I've never heard of it- although you never know! I'm sure if there was something that helped them to reduce- they would be prescribing it. Watch and wait seems to be the guidelines.

jnyld said...
I'm new to this site this forum and this GUI. I have a 5.0cat scan verified ascending thoracic aortic aneurism. I'm freaking a bit They don't want to operate at this time. I'm 60yrs old and have acceptable blood pressure

stkitt said...
Hi Jersey Dad,


I am sorry to read of your delima and I uderstand your concerns. Surgery is generally recommended if your aneurysm is 2.2 inches (5.6cm) and larger.



I see you were very active and I know you must be missing your favorite things to do. How about some low impact exercises and walking. Walking is a great way to control weight along with a well balanced diet. I am sure you already know these things - I do not have an aneurysm but hopefully someone will come forward that does and help you out.



Paying out of packet for this surgery if you can afford it may be the way to go but I would get a couple of opinions from surgeons to way the odds of the risks either way.



Welcome to HealingWell.



Kindly,



Kitt

I understand how you feel. I am sitting at 4.97cm and I am scared out of my brain. I found out in June 2011 and have regular 6 month ct scans. Good luck to you in your decision making process.

Hi from Vancouver Island.

I'm new to the forum with an ascending aortic aneurysm, and am struck by the fact that most of the writers seem to be fit, active, have muscular or joint pain and suffer from Crohn's or other similar inflamatory conditions.

Until I learned of the aneurysm in Feb. 2011, I was considered very fit and in excellent health. I danced and practiced yoga most of my life, worked out at the gym and walked daily. My only complaints were bouts of irritable bowel syndrome during times of stress and arthritis in lower back.

I was stunned when diagnosed with a 4.7 cm aneurysm in Feb. 2011. My family doctor was very casual about it and knows next to nothing. I had to learn everything on the internet. I was referred to a vascular surgeon in Victoria which was stupid because the ascending aorta requires a cardiac surgeon. The vascular guy told me these aneurysms grow very slowly, maybe .1 cm per year and that I should have another scan in a year's time. I requested 6 months, at least for the first follow up, but was refused. I found and met with a top specialist in Toronto who also told me they usually grow slowly and I should follow up in a year.

I went for my annual physical in March 2012 and told my family doctor I did not want to wait any longer to monitor my aneurysm. (He had not even mentioned it.) I was booked for a trip to Europe on May 25 and wanted to go with a clear mind. I requested an MRI but was refused. I went for a ct scan with dye. The aneurysm had grown to 5.2 cm!......... 5 times faster than expected. I was stunned and terrified all over again. I thought if it was growing I would have enough lead time to sell my house and move back to Toronto for the surgery where I have family and major medical centres. That option evaporated. I could not travel and could not fly.

I cancelled my trip and on June 9 was referred to a cardiac surgeon in Victoria (whom I believe recently relocated from Houston). Fortunately, I really like him. He spent almost 1 1/2 hours with me and discussed everything thoroughly. I felt at last that someone is going to take care of me. I go for another scan on Sept. 24 and expect that I'll be booked for surgery in Victoria a month or so after that.

I'm still terrified, but feeling a bit better; and glad to have found this site.

Ann

I wonder what is the successful rate (90%, 80% or 70%) to do a open heart surgery for ascending aorta aneurysm ?
I am 74 years old.

I just found this website and have been reading some of the posts. I guess I am amazed at how many people are dealing with this condition.  I am a 48 year old otherwise healthy female that had repair surgery in April of this year. My mom dissected 17 years ago at age 48 with a 4.5 cm ascending aortic aneurysm and almost bled out but was able to survive the surgery just in the nick of time.

In March of this year I had a sudden onset of Vertigo and severe neck pain. It wasn't going anywhere so I finally went to the Dr. after 3 weeks of dealing with it.  They thought they heard something in my neck so I went for a corroted scan and Chest CT in mid april because of the family history. I got the call the next day that I too had an aneurysm and it was 4.8. I am a 5'2" and it was already affecting my spine. My mom had neck problems also. Since my surgery we have found out that my 46 year old sister has one too. They are watching hers. It is 3.8 currently. I was led to a wonderful surgeon at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta who specializes in the Ascending Aorta repairs. He does 5 or 6 a week. He made the call to go ahead and do my surgery because of the family history. (mom dissected at 4.5) and also because my body was reacting to it. I am thankful that I didn't have to do the whole waiting game. The mental stress of that would have been tough even with strong faith. My sister is dealing with that now.  The surgery was tough but my Dr. described it as a "chip shot". He has to be a golfer! :)  My aneurysm was 5 cm once they got in and measured it during surgery.

I am a little over 4 months post surgery and am doing great. My stamina isn't up to par yet but for the most part I am fine.  I go back in November for another scan to see if the Dacron repair is holding up ok. I am on a Beta Blocker (Metoprolol) and Lisinopril to keep pressure off of the aorta. The challenge I have had is the extrememly low heart rate and BP. I have always been wired, Type "A" Business owner type. Now I am a stop and smell the flowers and watch the clouds float in the sky type. :)

Something like this makes you look at each day in a different way. No one is promised tomorrow but this kind of brings that home in a different way. :)

For anyone who is debating surgery and unsure of what to do, I wouldn't change a thing. I am thankful that I went ahead and got it repaired. It is a very risky surgery, but if you get the right surgeon, Lord willing you will be fine. I will be glad to give my surgeon's name to anyone who asks. Also my mom was in Dallas Texas at the time of her dissection and her surgeon is still practicing and is great.

 

My mom is 17 years out (66) years old and looks 50. She is doing great too.

We are very thankful and hoping for the same for my sister :) I am praying that my children dont have this dreaded thing.

If anyone has questions about the surgery, I will be glad to answer any questions. :)

And Ann (Wednesday's Child) would love an update on you. I hope you had surgery and are recovering well.

Lee Ann

Post Edited (lee042512) : 9/13/2012 4:32:46 AM (GMT-6)

Lee Ann;

Thanks so much for writing in. I'm sure all of us who are in "cliff hanger mode" appreciate hearing from someone who has recently had the surgery. From everything I have read, if I were in the U.S. instead of Canada, the surgery would have been done when aneurysm was discovered at 4.7 cm, Feb. 2011. Here I am at 5.2 cm April 2012, and holding. My next scan is scheduled for Sept. 24. God knows where it will be then. I expect I'll be booked for surgery shortly after that. Did I mention that I am the biggest chicken on earth? I have been very lucky in my life so far; 5 ft. 6, happy, fit, and no serious health issues. I was hoping to slide by without so much as having a tooth pulled.

I have questions, some of them silly and trivial, but no-one else to ask:
1. How long was your surgery, how long before you woke up?
2. What did you feel like immediately after?
3. When were you able to shower and wash hair with help?
4. How long were you in hospital?
5. Apart from robe, slippers, toiletries & book, what else should I take? Hospital is 2 1/2 hrs from home, so can't pick up extras.
6. Any tips for before & during hospital stay?
7. Did you require medical assistance after you got home; dressings, drainage tubes, stitch removal?
8. I live alone, so will have a friend stay with me - how long do you think I'll need help at home? (I already have a weekly cleaning lady and know I can't drive for 8 weeks.)

Glad to have met you.

Ann

Heya All

I'm another newbie 55yr old female desk-potato who is finding this thread helpful and surprised at the number of entries.

I am a bit at sea and not sure where to go from here. Have had intermittent a-fib all my adult life and have never had even pre-hypertension. I did have an echo 2 years ago (while checking out the a-fib) that showed all basically healthy and as part of it an AoD measurement of a normal 3.1cm. (up to 3.7 is considered normal) I lost that cardiologist when I lost that insurance thru divorce and now, 2 years later my new primary sent me to a new cardiologist to "establish a relationship" and check on apparently escalating a-fib. The cardiologist took a listen, mentioned hearing a "normal S1 split" and blanket discarded all abnormalities from a prior stress-test as all false-positives but scheduled an echo to look for right-side pressure caused by possible apnea. The echo showed my AoD was now 3.9cm and mentioned "aorta dilated to 4.3cm" and recommended a followup CT if clinically indicated. All internal pressures were normal. My primary showed me those results. The cardiologist's office called and said all was normal but they would like a CT to better look at a minor dilation of the aorta. no other info. The CT called out an aneurysm at 4.5cm with the root being dilated, also confirmed Binary Aortic Valve. Again my Primary shared the CT results with me. 2nd call from Cardiologists office. No mention of the aneurysm or the aorta, only an un-informitive "on a scale of 10 you are only a 9.1 so the doctor wants to wait another year for another CT scan" No other information and the person calling did not know what the scale was called or what it was measuring. No advice, cautions, or restrictions, just come back in a year. If it weren't for my primary I would not even know about it. I am concerned because I know from reading that most aneurysms only grow about 1mm/yr, (which would mean a yearly scan was appropriate and safe) but in two years my aorta AoD has grown 8mm from 3.1cm to 3.9 and the 4.5cm aneurysm has grown from not there at all. I asked the person who called if given that info and not knowing the rate of growth if a year was a safe time to ignore it until a rate was established. It has been a week and no reply.

Do any of you know what this scale is about, and am I being unnecessarily paranoid about the lack of info or advise from the cardiologist? Nor has my Primary heard anything from the cardiologists office at all, she only has info because I have been asking the various offices to please copy her on the test results for my main records.

BTW the great news is the heart itself appears athletically healthy although I am NOT an athlete. Ejection Factor of 70%, all veins and arteries "widely patent", and only minor leakage from all 4 valves. I suspect this genetic gift may be part of what is making the cardiologist comfortable with waiting a year to look again.. after all, if I were having issues my EF would drop. (small sarcasm)

Post Edited (Kjela) : 9/15/2012 10:44:23 PM (GMT-6)

Hi! I am new to the forum and will give detailed info so that it might help someone and also I am here to continue looking for information.  My husband is 43 years old and in 2008 he had an echo.  He thought he was having some chest pain but turned out that it was just a muscle pain. However, when he had a CAT scan and Echo done an Enlarged Ascending Aorta was found.  It measured 3.8.  Cardiologist said it was nothing to be concerned about.  He said we would continue to watch it.  At that time we had no idea that it was an aneursym but I think by reading on line it is not considered an aneursym until 4.0.  Typically, the size of a person's aorta coming out of the heart measures 3.0 and of course size can vary and doesn't seem to have any significance if you have an aorta that measures below or above that without the aneursym.  Sept 2011 we was having heart paps and went to the hospital and they did every kind of test and of course found this time a nodule in his lung which he had a cold at the time no big deal and follow up on it later.  Again, Ascending Aorta was found and measured 4.6..no need to worry just watch.  We still did not know what this was.  He went to the doctor to get some more BP meds and the doctor said lets do a CAT scan to follow up with the nodule.  It was negative, not there anymore and said the heart was negative as well.  I told him I knew that was not right due to the fact whatever has been found was found by 2 docs before..he said alright, I will ask them to reread..Sure enough they found it so we went to see a Vascular cardiologist that said that we would not find a doctor to operate at this point that surgery was too risky compared to it rupturing and if it ruptures its quick and painless and you will never know....Thanks Doc for that info...I had done some research and was prepared to see how much this doctor knew...lol So he says he can do anything and I said so he can powerlift and he kinda smiles and says well you do not want to do anything that exerts the heart suddenly but he can continue to lift with really no restriction.  He said we will follow up in a year and the most important thing is to monitor and control your blood pressure and cholestrol.  My husband at this point wants the surgery because he has this lingering over his head and wants to be "normal" again.  I have watched the surgery on YouTube and I am not inclined on him having the surgery until necessary.  So I called back the doctor from 2008 that I remember found this and he said which I could not believe a doctor said this which I was kinda happy...he said tell him not to worry It is not going to rupture at this point and to control his blood pressure and to ask for a MRI to make sure of the actual size.  We then schedule an appt with the Cleveland Clinic for a real opinion..I understand they are the best in the country if not the world.  They do 950 repairs a year so I pretty much trust this.  We saw a doctor there this past Wed and his specialty is on Aortic Disease.  My advise is to find out if it is heredity and or what has caused this such as Marfans syndrome or is it because of hypertension.  If there is something else going on surgery might be required earlier.  He said not to take any supplements of any kind and he really did not want him to be taking vitamins.  He said you should be getting everything you need from a Heart Healthy Diet.  He said for him not to lift weights but then said you could lift higher reps lower weight as in toning.  He said if you can't talk and carry on a conversation while doing it don't do it (I believe this to pertain to the weights only).  He could continue to run his 2 miles a day and do aerobic exercise low to moderate.  I asked about doing the Insanity workout and he said that is too intense and should not be done.  Also, golf really should be avoided but I got from him that if it is something you want to do ever so often it might not be a big deal.  He did not indicate when surgery would be required but to monitor every year. Again, doctor said risk of surgery is too high compared to it rupturing.  From what I have found on the internet risj is around 5% mortality rate.   I asked about a diet and he said he likes the mediterrean diet but basically white meat and limit red meat.  My husband also had another echo done there and his aneursym seems to be due to him not controlling his hypertension over the years.  There are no signs of aortic valve disease at this time or that this is was inherited.  The doctor said the most important thing is to control his blood pressure, lose weight, not to lift weights and control his LDL either by diet or meds.  Right now we are seeing if diet  will control that.  His BP meds was changed to Bystolic by the other doctor but he said it did not matter what meds control it.  I understand Bystolic somehow limits the twisting of the Aorta and it is a new drug.  With all that said the problem arises with sex...Bystolic I was told you would lose the ability to have an erection and he started having problems with this before this drug so we are looking into this problem.  The other doctor said this surgery takes about 4 hours to perform and 7 days in the hospital and up to 4 months of recovery.  However, after surgery there is a lot of pain because you don't want to move but they make you move and that some who have a desk job has returned to work after 6 weeks...just some added info that we were told.  I hope this helps others.  My husband does not like the fact he has to live with this over his head and I understand so I hope this helps.