Steve's Journal

Valerie Allen  Steve, commonly the size of an aortic aneurysm is 5.0 cm or larger for surgery. That is when is becomes more of a risk. I was 71 when I had that surgery. When I asked about my age, the surgeon considered me “just a baby.” I was low risk based on their rating of health factors. Lastly, I think aneurysms do need to be fixed via open heart surgery. Someone correct me if wrong. We’ve all been there, or are there. I am almost 2 years out from surgery.

Steve Hattersley  Hello Valerie .. I am in the UK are you in the US? .. Size guidelines may be different. Our procedures here are free & paid for by the NHS. Size guideline here is 5.5cm BUT if you have a family history, like I have, then they might go smaller. I am due to have another CT scan in April. I am not sure whether I want the 4.8cm reading to be unchanged or rise to 5cm. I would rather have the procedure when I am as young as possible. I also have mild Parkinson's and mobility issues. Did you have you procedure through choice or emergency? Best wishes Steve

Valerie Allen  Steve yes I am in the U.S. My cardiologist had originally said 5,5 cm but the heart hospital said 5.0. The surgery was by choice as I had been under Watch and wait for a decade. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted!

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Helpful opinion yours,  Valerie.  Steve, it is very good your engagement in the NHS "Watch & Wait" follow up, given your familiar events history. In this moment of doubt,  perhaps it might be good to seek for a second medical opinion in order to see if would be better to bring forward any suitable surgery. The best for you.

Richard Munson  Your basic body size is also a factor. 5.0 is a worse scenario for a person that is 5 ft tall vs. a person that is 6 ft tall. At least my cardiologist told me that. I just nod my head. 

Steve Hattersley  Good afternoon Fidel .. In the UK there is an Aortic charity that gives free access to a specialist Aortic nurse based at Southampton Hospital, which coincidently is where my brother went when he had his aortic rupture. The rupture made him severely disabled before a second rupture killed him. So I have been writing down a lot of the questions I have. I have a 45 minute zoom consultation with her next Tuesday. I will be asking her advice on who I should talk to etc ..

I have had a number of Atrial Fibrillation attacks, the first of which was about a year ago and by far the worst. I am now on Bisoprolol for that. Apart from these occasional attacks my heart does seem to be working really well. My entire life I have been able to hear my heart beating, since going on Bisoprolol my heart has been mostly silent.

I do feel my heart is in good working order which is a little unnerving when you are told that things are potentially quite serious. 

My younger brother was fitter than me, slim, never drank nor smoked. On the day he had his aortic rupture I spoke to him and he seemed 100%. It is still a shock to me.

I am not quite sure whether I can choose to have the operation now with my dilation measuring 4.8cm or whether I have to wait till the dilation gets larger.

Steve

Steve Hattersley  Good morning Richard. I lived 6 months of the year in a rented house in Sarasota from 2013 to 2022. I had a great time. Best wishes Steve

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Good evening Steve. I think is a good idea talking to the nurse you  say on next Tuesday and ask her about the convenience or not to bring forward surgery. Sometimes it is better having surgery even without simptoms without waiting a heart damage. Wish you good luck. Keep in touch here.