4cm ascending aorta aneurysm 53yrs

Hello Ana62,

3 1/2 hears ago I was diagnosed with thoracic aortic aneurysm after I started feeling sick. Irregular heartbeat, dizzy, pain in my jaw. I was 41 years old. I was put in intensive care unit to let the doctors decide what to do. They decided to wait 4 months to do surgery because I was a student at the university of Texas and they said it was safe to wait until the semester was complete. I continued to get more sick though. I couldn't breath and my lungs were filling up with fluid. It was very hard to breath. It continued to worsen even though I was in the intensive care unit. Basically I was dying. My body was reacting to the aneurysm with filling my lungs with fluid. Now I was too sick to have surgery even if they wanted to do it. The doctors thought I wouldn't survive. The then asked me to consent to being intubate dos I could let a machine breath for me so I could rest. I said ok because I just could not breathe. I said ok. After a couple days I was continuing to worsen. Even with the machine breathing for me. The aneurysm was preventing my valve from functioning properly so I just kept getting worse. Finally my cardiologist demanded I be taken to surgery because I was going to die. I needed to be transported to another hospital where they had a state of the art operating room and in the ambulance to the hospital I ruptured. It was bad and destroyed my heart valve too. Somehow they kept me alive and got me into the operating room where I watched them cut my chest open and saw my sternum. That was soooo scary and hurt sooo bad. After a ten hour surgery they replaced my aorta and installed a mechanical heart valve. I died a couple more times during surgery but somehow they brought me back. After a few days in intensive care unit they woke me up and I started my recovery. I was on the hospital for 5 more weeks. I have problems because of lack of oxygen during the times I was dead, mostly nerve damage to my legs and brain damage. After 6 months I could walk without a walker and after a year I could walk without a cane. I still limp terribly and need lots of pain meds just to function because of the severe nerve pain. The doctors say I have no business being alive, they say it's a miracle. They are also surprised I can walk with the amount of damage to my nerves. I got in trouble because I was going to the gym because I couldn't stand being so weak. That's probably why I can walk today. But I guess while I was healing it wasn't smart to be bench pressing. Lol.

I'm telling you this because you never know what will happen with aneurysms. We are all different. Maybe someone else would have had no problems waiting for surgery. But for me that was a bad idea to wait.

Seek multiple opinions and listen carefully to all of them. Talk to your family and take it very seriously. I am amazed that some people go years without rupturing.

My cardiologist saved my life demanding my surgery to be done. My surgeon was a master. I owe the doctors and nurses my life. I still bring them flowers every few months to show I'm still grateful. Unfortunately my education to be a teacher kind of ran into a tree. But I'm still working in a school helping kids. My brain damage hasn't totally limited me. Maybe I'll continue to improve and will finish my certification to teach high school math. Until then I'm taking it one day at a time.

Good luck to you and please let me know if you have any questions.

William83597 is correct, everyone has different body stature, weight, age, health conditions and others. I am 56 yrs old (57 in Oct). 5'5", approx 170 lbs, no health issues other than the aneurysm. Mine was found 8yrs ago..didn't grow until recently which prompted the surgery. I had know symptoms until the last few months when it started growing. It depends on the location of the aneurysm as to what organ it will press against. My left shoulder and chest started to hurt. My doctors said the possibility of dissection or rupture was growing along with the aneurysm. I reluctantly agreed to have the surgery but I guess feeling like a walking time bomb, got the better of me. My thoracic surgeon explained planned surgery was better for the patient's recovery and for the surgical team. Anyway, I think I told you my surgery was in May. I refuse to sugarcoat it, this surgery...ok..I had a hysterectomy and other injuries that I found to be painful. This isn't like anything else you will ever experience. Stay active, eat healthy, beware of activities that get the blood pressure up. Beware of lifting heavy items. I was a runner but stopped due to Dr recommendation. But, most of all stay positive! The hardest part is knowing, just try to get used to that first...one step at a time. It may never grow or it may take a long time, at least you will know. You can be apart of the planning and be prepared.

Hi Ana62, I just found out I too have a thoracic ascending aortic aneurysm. I'm a 50 year old woman, 5'2" and in good health. I don't have high blood pressure or any other risk factors that I know of. I found out about the aneurysm from a CT scan that was done for a different reason. So far I've only spoken to my family doctor about the CT results but I'm scheduled to see a cardiologist in a month. I've got lots of questions too. It's a pretty scary diagnosis and I'm still trying to process it. 

In sept 16 I did an echo and find out that I had an aorta ascendent aneurysm 5.5 cm with no symptoms, i had an coronography anc came out normal , all ogher tests perfect, ekg normal. Dr prescribe me a beta blocant daily morning even my blood presure is normal. a friend of mine tald me to take daily vit C it will make stronger blood vase and it will increase the colagen production. Next week i will see the cardiologist and have another echocardio.

Please let me know how you are doing

Hello.  I am a healthy 55 year old with a 4.3cm ascending aortic aneurysm.

I think about it every day.   Mine was discovered 4 years ago at 4.0 and never reported to me.  Apparently this is common.  I currently work 40 hours a week in the hospital.  As a healthcare professional I have seen what happens when someone has a rupture and yes I'm scared too.   I am grateful that I will be monitored.   Knowing is very scary.  No one really understands what it's like to live with this except those of us living with it.  I

monitor my blood pressure and I am trying to keep my diastolic under 80 and not stress out.  I have chest pain daily.  I am taking valsartin once a day to keep my blood pressure low and this is effective.  I find that I am very tired in the morning and sometimes dizzy.  Try to find the right cardiologist to follow you.  It helps to know I am in good hands.  My next ct scan is in May and I hope I am not growing.  The bright side is if it is then I will get surgery and I can stop worrying about it.  I would rather have surgery when I am fit then when I'm 89 and maybe not as fit.  Stay healthy and monitor your blood pressure and your weight.  Be careful lifting heavy objects never hold your breath and strain.  This is what my doctor advised, straining adds pressure to your aorta.  Try to remain positive.  I am going to find a counselor to try and come up with a stress relief method

I was 60 when I was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm 4.6 I am now 73, I get a CT scan done every couple of years and so far it has remained the same size.I also have high BP and on medication for it. I don't worry about the anuerysm, no point, all that would do is raise my BP.

I am so happy I found thus discussion. I'm a 63 yo female, on no medicines or any health issues other than having some weight to lose. Went in for one of those elective CT calcium scans to look for heart disease, non of that, but they noted a 4.1 cm ascending aortic anuryesm. Needless to say, I am beside myself reading about this and so nervous. Ive never had any type of surgery so the thought of open heart surgery is making me have panic attacks and the thought of rupture makes me so nervous. My primary care dr doesnt seem too overly concerned and put in an echocardiogram referral and for a cardiologist and told me to take daily bp.So is a 4.1 cm something that isnt that bad? Do they always grow? Looks like I have a familiar component with this but its with great grandfather. and grandfather. Thank you for any advice you can share or how you are doing well would really help!