cbdheartman
Well-known member
So yesterday I was at Hopkins for a baseline CT-Scan of my whole aorta. The good news is that my aorta's measurements are all within the range of normal.
I received a prescription for the blood pressure medication, Avapro, that is supposed to have a prophylactic effect by blocking receptors in the vascular tissue that cause the tissue to dilate. I've asked about this before, but my one concern about being on the medication is that it is very speculative. It seems without doing anything the rest of my aorta may likely be fine, but there is always a chance that it could dilate at other places because they still don't understand connective tissue disorders fully. There is no way to predict whether I am one of the very few who would have aneurysms develop farther down the line or whether I am one where the rest of the aorta is normal. I am not sure if that makes sense.
But it was interesting that the PA I was taking too had never seen a BAV who had an aortic root replacement develop an aneurysm farther up the aorta. This of course begs the question: why should I bother with the medication if the likelihood of anything happening is so slim? It does seem like the medication is well-tolerated, but I was curious of the brain trusts' (you all) answers.
I am going to fill it and try it out, but I still am a bit concerned about taking a drug that very well may not be necessary. Of course if it saves me from aortic dilation then I guess it will be worth it. But there is no way of knowing.
I received a prescription for the blood pressure medication, Avapro, that is supposed to have a prophylactic effect by blocking receptors in the vascular tissue that cause the tissue to dilate. I've asked about this before, but my one concern about being on the medication is that it is very speculative. It seems without doing anything the rest of my aorta may likely be fine, but there is always a chance that it could dilate at other places because they still don't understand connective tissue disorders fully. There is no way to predict whether I am one of the very few who would have aneurysms develop farther down the line or whether I am one where the rest of the aorta is normal. I am not sure if that makes sense.
But it was interesting that the PA I was taking too had never seen a BAV who had an aortic root replacement develop an aneurysm farther up the aorta. This of course begs the question: why should I bother with the medication if the likelihood of anything happening is so slim? It does seem like the medication is well-tolerated, but I was curious of the brain trusts' (you all) answers.
I am going to fill it and try it out, but I still am a bit concerned about taking a drug that very well may not be necessary. Of course if it saves me from aortic dilation then I guess it will be worth it. But there is no way of knowing.
