29 aortic dilation and aneurysm

[jennarate]

Hi, I am a 29 yr old female in Atlanta, GA. Eight years ago, I was in an auto accident that severed my aortic arch, and the arteries stemming off of. I was frozen and on a bypass machine while my dox took arteries from my breast and thigh to to grafting. This left me with an aneurysm on my left carotid artery and mitral valve prolapse.
Recently, I have had some very odd symptoms. Random vomitting, extreme fatigue, nagging cough and my arms tucker out abnormally fast. Washing my hair tends to take allot out of me. I am aware of being a time bomb but it finally hit me. I scheduled an appt with a cardiologist this past week. I had a scan and found that my aneurysm is measuring 2.4 and my aorta is dilated to 3.9. My Dr. says that he doesnt feel surgery is needed at this point. When is it??? Its bad enough to have these issues but it seems that every time I have a check up, there is something new.
Any advice?

[laujac]

Hi...I was diagnosed a month ago with an ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm..measuring 4.7 cm. I am scheduled for another ct scan in November. My cardiologist told me that surgery is usually done 5.0 - 5.5 cm. I had a valve replaced 22 years ago with a St. Jude mechanical valve and will have that replaced when the anuerysm is repaired. I am 60 years old and not looking forward to having open heart again but that is what I need to continue to live. I too am worried about the ticking time bomb but I trust my doctor so will abide by what he tells me. Good luck to you.

[jennarate]

thanks for the reply. My docs told me they perform surgery at 4.5. I wonder what the difference is or maybe it is just discretion. I wish you the best on your surgery and hope you get atleast 22 more years out of it!!!