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Ascending Aorta Aneurysm

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Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
How are you coping?
I worry all the time. - 44.4% - 4 votes
So-so - 11.1% - 1 votes
Being positive. - 44.4% - 4 votes
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Posted 5/28/2014 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure how to post on the site I was reading. It is about AAA and mine is recently discovered to be 4.2. My doctor/cardiologist was not too alarmed and just changed my BP meds a little and said we will repeats CAT in a year to see if there is a change. I am 66 and recently retired and enjoying life. This news really bummed me out, and I thought about the possibility of dying nonstop for 4 days. The thread helped but also caused me some anxiety. I have decided to not read much more on the internet, accept the fact that any of us could die for any number of reasons...to include many who are undiagnosed. So my choice is to worry all the time when in fact I might live 20 more years...or die of this or something else much sooner. Do not get me wrong, aneurism is a VERY scary word, and I am very concerned and doing all I can to keep BP under control ~ and I have already lost 12 pounds with more to go. But I think we have to think positively or ruin the gift of days or weeks or years we have left in this lifetime.
Posted 5/29/2014 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear of your concerns. At this time, I'm not familiar with AAA, so I really cannot comment.

Some time ago, my wife and I were in traffic, just pulling out from a light. The traffic in the opposite direction was all but completely stopped (most cars were, a few were pulling up behind) to accommodate a Left Turn arrow for my direction. I watch two vehicles in the opposite side collide, not very violently, but an SUV was cutoff by a small dump truck and struck the dump truck's rear tire, which was still rotating, lifting the SUV onto two wheels, careening across the street, aimed at my car. I was in the curb lane and stabbed the wheel that way, knowing I could not make much more clearance. I don't know how, but he missed, the SUV landing on it's side. Many people rushed to help.

I worry incessantly about my health, but work at a plant that has had several explosions, I've been in car wrecks before, work around high voltage that can incinerate me in seconds if something goes wrong, almost hit as described above. Why do we worry about one facet but ignore others that are much more likely to cause our demise?

For my problem, reading online has me conflicted. Half say don't worry because, and half say worry because, often using the same issues for concern. I'm avoiding reading more. There is no sense. I believe your doctor has confidence in his/her diagnosis, they wouldn't let you walk about if they felt concern was imminent. Just keep on top of it, follow medication suggestions, diet, etc. And above all, something I cannot yet do, relax.

Best regards.
Posted 5/30/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Lindagk,

Welcome to HealingWell. You've found a safe, secure, and reliable support community for people battling a range of health issues. We have many  fellow members here who will be glad to lend an ear, offer information, and provide support for when you need it.

We are not professionals but peers just like you so if your topic requires a professional we may refer you to your Doctor.

I must comment on your great attitude and I agree, worrying is not going to fix anything other than to steal your joy. Worry is just an automatic habit of thinking and responding to certain events in life. It's produced by specific thoughts (i.e., conversations) and behaviors (i.e., action patterns) that get triggered automatically inside our bodies.

For some people worry turns into a mental health issue as they get stuck in "what if?" thinking.

For me, I accept that I cannot stop time nor my medical condition so I choose to live in the moment. I will leave you with this little ditty:

"If you have one eye on yesterday, and one eye on tomorrow, you're going to be cockeyed today." Anonymous

 

 

 

Posted 6/20/2014 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
I have been getting some flac from my job about my aneurysm. It seem as though they are blaming me for the higher insurance rates this year. We belong to a PEO aka payroll company. My supervisor told the PEO that I have an aneurysm. Now they want to know what medications I am taking and when will I need repair.

One PEO that my company is looking at denied us coverage because of me. I was told that to my face. Can my company intimidate me like that?

As anyone else been bullied like this? Thanks
Posted 6/20/2014 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
No they can not talk to you about medical information and you need to make sure to file FMLA if you have intermittent days off because of Dr. Appt or illness. Disabilities is a protected class, make sure you document everything. HR can not share or discuss with your supervisor any disclosed medical information.

Post Edited (jdiane) : 6/20/2014 8:54:07 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/6/2014 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all - I was just diagnosed with an AAA. I believe the reading from the CT scan was at 4.3. Follow-up visit on 9/19 to have a nuclear stress test. I have MANY questions, and I'm reeling from the diagnosis. Not embarrassed to say that I'm scared and confused.

I'm turning 56 this week, 5'10" 160, avid cyclist (ride very hard for an old guy!) --- no symptoms from the AAA. I had a cardiac ablation procedure in 2011 for non-sustained RVOT (Right Outflow Track Ventricular Tachycardia), which worked great. Now symptom free.

I've been on Lisinopril for high BP for several years. Lowest dose (5mg) keeps my BP at good levels; at or below 120/80.

From the initial diagnosis visit, the cardiologist told me to continue with my cycling and other exercise. Just avoid heavy weight-lifting that puts heavy strain on the body. But I'm scared to go out and do any strenuous exercise until I have the stress test in two weeks.

Any advice, or ideas for follow-up questions on 9/19? I'm guessing that some of you have more experience with this. It's so new to me.

Thanks
Posted 9/9/2014 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. First-timer. I have a 4.9mm AAA (diagnosed 3 years ago at 4.8) and I'm still working at age 65. Opinions on repair? Should I do it now? How long is recovery? I assume it is open chest? My doctor suspects Marfan Syndrome but I have not had the DNA test to confirm it. And I'm 6'4".
Posted 9/10/2014 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am 37 with 2 thoracic aortic aneurysms at the root. The one at the root is 4.35 and just above that one is a 4. I had an ablation for A-fib July 2013 and I'm an avid jogger and cyclist. I worried all the time about jogging and the aneurysms, but my doctor said the same thing, continue jogging without extreme speed bursts and no heavy lifting. Rule of thumb, if I have to strain, don't lift it. So I can lift 50lbs without straining and I am OK. After getting over the anxiety and started back jogging, I have been jogging for a year now and my heart rate gets up to 150-160 and my aneurysm has not grown at all. I jog 4 days a week and do small weight toning with 5-10 lb weights. I also am very tall and skinny, tested negative for Marfans, and have no idea why I have the aneurysms. But with no heavy lifting, and cardio to keep BP under control, all is good..
Posted 9/18/2014 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
I was just diagnosed about a week ago with a 4.75 ascending aortic aneurysm. I see a surgeon on the 25th of this month. I have significant symptoms, like extreme shortness of breath, back ache, trouble swallowing sometimes. I'm hoping they opt to fix this, because this is getting really old. I had Afib which was corrected with a cardiconversion (which lasted about 10 hours) and then an ablation which corrected it. The aneurysm was discovered by accident with a CT scan looking for bloodclots or other blockages in my lungs. Lungs were clear, but this was found. I'm not sure if knowing about it is better or not. Now, I'm scared to move wrong...LOL I'm 67 years old and really want my life back.
Posted 10/10/2014 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
Dear all,

reading this forum in hospital, since yesterday I have brand new EVAR (Endovascular Aortic Repair) which was implanted by catheter via artery. Means no "real" surgery. If it comes to "solution" of your AA, try to check this out.
As I went through 3 important and "big" surgeries in past, this is much more comfortable.
Aneurysm was about 6cm.
Considering life style - I am 34, female, born with cardio "problems", first Aortha surgery in 9y, then two surgeries on mitral valve in 20 and 29. And - I do sport (spinning, horse riding, skiing, hiking..) and work as a manager in a bank. I do not live the life of a desease. Most people around do not know and that is ok for me. I do respect my health-status and when necessery, go to hospital. I monitor myself and do avoid physical exhaustion and that is all.
The challenge will be pregnancy, as I have no children yet, aneurysm was find bcs my cardiologist decided to check everything possible :). So keep your fingers crossed that now we will get GO for a baby :)

Z
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