Recent content by HopefulHeart

Thank you cldlhd!! Your post made me feel a lot better.

Thank you so much epstns! Your outlook on life is amazing. And as long as I keep your example of positive thinking and kind words in my head (will probably have to read and re-read yours and the others posts), I think I'll be able to face this with more courage. Your input and the others...

Pellicle......you have lifted my spirits as only you can! Thanks for helping me keep things in perspective. I appreciate your input.

Thank you JLmatus! Congrats on your successful surgery and the fact that you're feeling so good. I feel very encouraged after reading your response.

Thanks Agian! Sounds like you're doing well and feeling good. Glad to hear that and it's very reassuring to me.

cldlhd and Superman.....thanks so much for your input! It helps me to evaluate my situation better.

I will be needing surgery at some point for my ascending aortic aneurysm. It's currently at 4.4cm but as I am a shorter person and also have a BAV (which is fine at the moment), I may need the surgery sooner rather than later. To be honest, I think I am more afraid of the heart-lung machine...

Good morning everyone. I have an ascending aortic aneurysm that will eventually need surgery. It's currently at 4.4cm. I have no symptoms, but I am a short female (5ft 2 in.) and have read that smaller people may need surgery sooner than taller people. I am able to exercise without getting...

I participated in an online chat session through Cleveland Clinic's website today and asked this question about stroke prevention during and after heart surgery. Unfortunately, they did not get to my question. But additional questions from this session will be answered and posted on their...

Thanks for your reply Richie Rich. I get depressed everytime I think about surgery also. Reading about Bill Paxton sent a lightening bolt of dread through my body. I'm planning to participate in an online Q & A session with surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic tomorrow who will be talking about...

Congrats on a successful surgery and I hope your recovery is quick and goes well. I appreciate your write up about your experience. I live every day of my life in constant limbo. Wondering will this hurt my aneurysm or will that hurt my aneurysm. I have a 4.4cm ascending aneurysm and a BAV...

Hi Catie.......I'm so sorry to hear about all the trouble you are having. I am impressed by your courage and persistence in trying to get answers. I'm finding more and more with my own Cardio that he just wants to give me a textbook answer, sign off on my sheet and be done with me. I have to...

Thanks everyone for your advice! I wish I knew of a Cardiologist here in Charlotte, NC that subscribed to the idea that body size matters when trying to determine when surgery is necessary. My Cardiologist that I've been seeing is well respected and is the director of the heart failure clinic...

Just met with my Cardio for follow up after my latest MRI scan. The MRI showed my ascending aorta has grown to 4.4 cm from the previous measurement 3 years ago of 4.2. My aneurysm had been stable at 4.2 cm since 2006. So over the course of 10 years my aorta grew 2 cm, but that growth occurred...

Catie.....I have been thinking about you every day since your surgery. I'm glad to see that the surgery went well, but not glad to hear of the complications you are dealing with. Sorry to see you are back in the ER. As the others have said it sounds like you are in a type of trial period...