r/aortic_aneurysm

44yo, ACTA2 mutation, 57mm aneurisn. used to be 50km for 3 years. I’ll be having the surgery in a bit over 24 hours.

I’ll try to keep A log.

Hope this isn’t too silly. 46 y/o, 4.5cm aneurism diagnosed a year ago (ct w/ contrast).

Has anyone ever felt their aortic root aneurism? I could be crazy or in my head, but sometime I swear I feel a bubble, a burn, a cold sensation, a tearing… etc. never would call it painful. And it never really last longer than a moment. Aortic surgeon didn’t seem too worried about it after asking if they came with pain in shoulders or neck or shortness of breath.

Just wondering if I’m crazy. Any context would be welcome.

Yesterday I went for my 18-month aorta scan at Mass General. I’ve been followed there for about five years now.  The result came back stable at 4.7cm and has been stable (no growth) for over three years.   My anxiety always builds to intense levels in the weeks leading up to these scans, so the relief was huge when my doctor told me there had been no change.

I’m posting this because I think it’s important to hear that lifestyle changes, medication, and consistent monitoring can make a meaningful difference for some people. I take hydrochlorothiazide, rosuvastatin, valsartan, and atenolol to keep my blood pressure stable and low. I’m usually around 117/78. I also run/walk regularly and lift weights but carefully without overexerting.

Will this work for me forever? Maybe, maybe not.

Would this work for everyone? Not necessarily.

But I wanted to share a positive update and confirm that there are actions we can take to help manage this condition.  Obviously, everyone should follow their own doctor’s advice based on their own details, but stability is possible.

I am in SE VA and was just diagnosed from a CT with an AAA of 3.83 cm x 3.39 cm non-buldging, then 6 months later it was 3.56 cm x 3.38 cm. Was told it was stable, for now.

The local hospitals are not highly rates for EVAR surgery. With Johns Hopkins, Duke, ECU, Wake Forrest, UVA, .....etc medical centers within in a few hours drive I am now seeking which hospital to considered. Even looking at Mayo in Jacksonville, FL or Tampa Hospitals.

Not sure how routine EVAR surgery is, such that it really doesn't make a difference where, but it's my dime so I want top tier who do this as a routine and not as side hustle.

Thanks all.

Original diagnosis on CT scan showed mildly dilated at 4.1cm. 75 days later, echo measured 3.7cm. Is this typical measurement and modality variance?

I had a baby 10 months ago. I had MRI yesterday and my root is 39 mm.

I am really scared.

My father had aneurism of abdominal aorta.

I had open heart surgery as a baby because of ASD and I had echo once a year. No one noted enlarged aorta up until 2 years ago (34 mm on echo). Afzer pregnancy 36-37 mm. Now on MRI 39 mm.

I am beyond scared and shocked and sad because I can’t have any more children.

Please, offer me some nice words and stories. I am scared of hereditary aneurysms

I'm 49 M. Figure, I'll get the Calcium test done. Went in Monday. Results a few hours ago.

Calcium Score 14 on the LAD. not the end of the world. everything else was zero.

Other observations: "Possible ascending Aortic aneurysm measuring up to 4cm with limited evaluation on this study."

My cholesterol was a little elevated in my last lipid panel. My BP is totally normal. 6ft. 195 lbs. Now I have to start researching everything about this. My primary wants me to coming in to talk in 2 weeks. I'm already researching CT scans and cardiologists.

Very good info on here. very much appreciated and it has calmed me down a bit after thinking my heart could explode at any moment.

Hi all I was wondering if anyone had a similar experience to what my family is currently going through. My dad has been diagnosed with. 7.5cm aortic aneurysm which Is pressing on the sternum. The surgeons want to do a graft but the surgery is now even more complex as there is a risk of nicking the aorta when they saw through the sternum. Has anyone had the same and lived to tell the tale? He has a very hard decision to make as the surgery is so high risk but of course not having the surgery is riskier.
Thanks

Hii frds i have second echo
The result are not good
Stenosis is moderate mean gradeint 34mmhg last year it was 22mmhg
Asending arota stable 4.1cm
Am surprised i dont have any symptoms bp is good even valve area is 1.6cm last echo it was 1.45cm
It is so confusing

Severe range will start from 40mmhg
Anybody have same experince doctors are not concerning
Am
So pissed off last year doctor said u have 10-15 years but now it looks like next 6 month i have to face surgery

I'm only 39 now. When I was 38 I had a stroke. They found a large 14mm PFO in my heart that caused the stroke when a clot went through the hole and into my brain.

Following this, I had surgery to close the PFO. Aaaaand following the surgery they found that I have a 4cm dilation of the Aorta at the level of sinus of Valsalva.

It's been a rough year!! I'm not a tall guy (5-9), I'm not heavy at all. I have a RHR of 52 and it can drop to 43. I'm healthy and have no cholesterol issues or anything. I'm trying to get back to exercise. I used to like weights and running.

So it's not been 7 months since the stroke and 5 months since the PFO surgery. I'm trying really hard. I've had other unfortunate stroke issues to deal with obviously, but those aside, I finally have the bandwidth to look into this aortic issue and it's quite serious?

The cardiologist said I may have been born this way. But should I be worried. He was there to take care of the PFO closure and follow up for which he said I don't need to see him again. So what now? Please help with advice or similar stories. Am I doomed to have to go back every year? Will this inevitably get worse? I've had enough stuff happen and I want to be done with more problems :/

28M very small build/body, pectus excavatum, and aortic root at 4.5. Brother is also in possession of an aortic aneurysm.

I was just wondering if anybody had been here for treatment or consultation. I’ll be going to see Dr. Alan Braverman in ten days. I’m both excited and nervous as im close to the recommended size for repair if I have genetic mutations.

What should I expect? I’d like to prepare myself for whatever might be recommended if it’s wait and watch or schedule repair.

Has anyone out there had an aortic aneurysm? If so what type of treatment did you receive? I was just diagnosed with one and feel like I am not getting proper treatment

Hello, I am almost a year out from an ascending aortic root replacement and hemiarch repair. I am on 50mg of metropolol twice a day as well.

I wanted to follow up with people on here as I am having a thumping pounding in my chest in the middle of my sternum (not my actual heart). If I hold my breath or take a full breath I will then feel a knocking of what I am assuming is the graft against my chest going with my heartbeat. (Prior to a few months this was happening every second of the day with my heartbeat.

I was told this is because the Dacron graft itself is noncompliant/cannot expand like your natural aorta.

For those who have had surgery /similar surgery, are any of you experiencing this? Do you still have this years later or did it go away completely? Did you never have this?

I am hoping to get more answers.

Any information is appreciated. Thank you.