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Growth rate?

Posted , 7 users are following.

expowerlifter1
expowerlifter1

Hi

Was diagnosed this week with a 4.3cm aorta. Not sure where it is as was in shock as assumed echo would return on as sonographer said heart was ok when checking as I had an atrial fibrilation.

Doctor put me on low dose beta blocker as blood pressure was marginally high and said the Bp needs to get down to 120/80 or less and said he'll see me in a year.

As you can tell from my id I was a power lifter and he thinks that might have been on of the causes.

I'm hoping now I train light it won't grow anymore and has been that size for a while.

Anyone know the growth rate if the blood pressure is controlled?

Can the aorta ever reduce in size (I assume not)?

I train weights and martial arts - can I continue?

Thanks for any replies this forum has already been useful

1 like, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • diane35061
    diane35061 expowerlifter1

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I would make a list of your concerns and questions and make a second appointment with your consultant so that he can answer these for you.

    Diane

    • expowerlifter1
      expowerlifter1 diane35061

      Posted

      Thanks Diane I'll do that as didn't ask too many questions when was told as was in shock and doc seemed very blasé about it
  • expowerlifter1
    expowerlifter1

    Posted

    Also does anyone know a good specialist in the west London area?
  • derek76
    derek76 expowerlifter1

    Posted

    My AAA was diagnosed at 3.1cm about 14 years ago. My BP has never been controlled but that seems not to have effected the rate of growth as it is now 3.6cm.

    I have it scanned yearly.

     

    • expowerlifter1
      expowerlifter1 derek76

      Posted

      Thanks Derek - 0.5cm in 14 years doesn't sound too bad.

      Unfortunately as the diagnosis is new I have no idea of the growth rate so as you can imagine I'm worried in case of I go back in a year it's reached the 5cm milestone

    • derek76
      derek76 expowerlifter1

      Posted

      I was worried the for the first year. Now (I'm 80) I hardly think about it but mine is an abdominal aortic aneurysm and yours from your description is higher up. My labile BP averages 154/78 with peaks of 210/110 and lows of 90/60.

      I did initially ask the consultant what could be done for it. His  suggestion was statins and he added they will probably give you the runs.

      I did take statins off and on in 2011/2013 before and after having my aortic valve replaced. They caused so much muscle pain that I eventually gave up on them forever.

      The problem comes when you want travel insurance as they will up the premium. When I travelled a lot I just asked them to exclude that from the policy. I was once quoted £2K for a month in America!  The sonographer said that's ridiculous...If it bursts it will only cost them the ambulance to take you to the morgue:-) My kind of humour.

    • expowerlifter1
      expowerlifter1 derek76

      Posted

      They don't give me statins Derek just a very low dose of candersten (beta blocker).

      But I am aiming to go private and see a specialist maybe he'll put me on them.

      My blood pressure was 150/90 when I was lifting very heavy weights since stopping due to injury not the heart it's now average 135/85 but since taking the b-blockers already it's in the 120s/low 80s so hopefully there is less strain on the aorta now...

      Thanks for the heads up about travel insurance

    • derek76
      derek76 expowerlifter1

      Posted

      With the age factor as well as the health one I have given up on travel though we get some cover with an E111.
  • kristi18883
    kristi18883 expowerlifter1

    Posted

    Hi Ex-

       Mine was diagnosed as 5cm just before X-mas. Further scans a few months later showed it had growon to 5.1. But I also have a bicuspid aortic valve, with minor to moderate leakage. 

       From everything I have read (haven't got much info from doctors) it says to avoid strenous activity. So heavy lifting might not be a good thing.

       I agree that you need to make a list of your concerns and make an appointment with your cardiologist. 

       Best of luck to you. 

    • expowerlifter1
      expowerlifter1 kristi18883

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply Kristi - hope your growth rate can be controlled.

      I am compiling a list of questions - if I get some useful answers I'll post them here...

    • Pawstruck
      Pawstruck kristi18883

      Posted

      Hi Kristi--From what I've been told, you need surgery immediately (I'm having surgery for my ascending aortic aneurysm in 4 days - 4.3 cm).  Your aneurysm is growing quickly and that is concerning.

      Take care!  Jill

    • kristi18883
      kristi18883 Pawstruck

      Posted

      Pawstruck, where do you live? And are you on the NHS? I'm only asking because the cardiology team here, seem to be in turmoil, as I keep getting lost in the system, and will be asking my GP to go somewhere else, when I see her tomorow. 
    • Pawstruck
      Pawstruck kristi18883

      Posted

      Kristi--I am in the US.  Does the NHS list its Cardiothoracic surgeons' bios so you can check their specialties?  There has to be a doc who specializes in bicuspid valves and aortic aneurysms that you can see--he/she will know you need the surgery sooner rather than later.  Praying that God will help you find what you need.  --Jill
  • Pawstruck
    Pawstruck expowerlifter1

    Posted

    Correction, expowerlifter1--the article you should google is "Beating a Sudden Killer"  - hope you are evaluated soon.  Take care, Jill
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