This seems strange....

[csutherland]

Something new has popped up that we're puzzled about: As I mentioned earlier, Jerry was found (quite by accident) to have a 5.2 cm ascending aortic aneurysm. Along with those tests he was given a stress test to check for blockages, etc. We received the following letter from his cardio: "The results of your stress test shows your heart was functioning normally and getting adequate blood supply. On yur TEE your ascending aorta was enlarged somewhat. I am going to make you an app't to discuss this with Dr Steinberg. There is no evidence that your heart valve was causing a problem and your heart function appears to be absolutely normal. Your heart is not the culprit for your shortness of breath."

His app't with the surgeon is Tues, the 25th. Now for the weird thing. Suddenly Jerry's ankles are swollen and pitted, the left more than the right. In my research on aneurysms I haven't noticed edema as being mentioned. He has been walking over 2 miles a day for the past 2-3 weeks and something has made his BP lower drastically, either the walking or the change of BP med from Altace to Norvasc. For the sake of the aneurysm they wanted his BP kept at 110/70. I thought that was impossible, but it hovers in that area now.

In light of the heart function being great less than 3 wks ago we're sure stumped about the ankles. And BTW the SOB is not constant, only occasional. We've actually been somewhat more careful with our diets lately--fats, salt, sugar, etc. Luckily neither of us has ever had to be concerned with weight so we've always eaten heartily to say the least!

To anyone with aneurysm experience: I would appreciate your input.

 

[Arlyss]

Re. Your Husband's Aneurysm

Re. Your Husband's Aneurysm

Hi,

As you mentioned from your reading, aneurysms in and of themselves are not typically associated with fluid retention or shortness of breath. They are very often completely silent in the body, which is one reason they are so treacherous. However, your husband has had AVR and bypass for coronary artery disease, so he has multiple cardiac considerations, as well as the functioning of other areas of his body and his medications that all need to be sorted out.

Your medical caregivers need to carefully look at everything. There are answers, they just need to find them! Several specialists are sometimes needed to get to the bottom of things.

I am glad that your husband's blood pressure is low. It provides a margin of safety for him.

Best Wishes,
Arlyss

PS
I also have sent you a private message.

 

[tobagotwo]

The TEE is usually very accurate, although nothing is 100%.

I have not heard any references to fluid retention from aneurisms, either.

I am astonished that they did a stress test on someone with an ascending aortic aneurism (or any aneurism).

I have to think that the next logical step would be to check Jarry's lungs. I hope a fixable explanation shows up for you soon.

Best wishes,

 

[csutherland]

It wasn't the normal stress test that causes BP to raise. They discarded that idea as soon as they saw the aneurysm. The next day they did the 4-hr test that involves nuclear medicine, thallium, etc. etc. I'm pretty ignorant of the terminology but as I quoted the doctor, all looked well.

 

[Granbonny]

My aneurysm was found by accident too (Thank goodness)..Found on a Thursday by cath of heart..surgery was the following Monday. It was a 5.0 and the surgeon told my family..That's the cutoff for him to operate. Didn't want it to grow anymore...I'm confused to why they are waiting? I lost my dear B/I/L at the age of 50 when his ruptured.... I, too, had no signs...Weight was in range. Wish I could say the same today. Need to start that diet soon. Bonnie

 

[Ross]

5.2! That's a disaster waiting to happen. It's likely even more worse then that too. I have no clue what is causing the edema, but it could be not enough flow of blood through the kidneys. Hopefully this next Doctor has some sense on danger. He should be operated on at 5.0.

 

[csutherland]

To bring you up to speed Rachel, he learned about the aneurysm 3 weeks ago tomorrow during a routine echo. An ensuing nuclear/thallium (or whatever) stress echo indicated the heart function and the 3-yr old St Jude's aortic valve are working perfectly and there are no blocked arteries.

Ross we see the surgeon tomorrow. Apparently the usual threshold for surgery is at 5.5 cm from what I've read. And that's what the cardio who performed the TEE said. He's not Jerry's cardio, but the man who did the procedure. It seems that if you're a Marfan's patient (which Jerry is not) they do the surgery at 5 cm. I do wish Jerry's was either at 5.5 or less than 5. This in-between stage is kinda scary!

Of course we don't know what the surgeon will say. I personally would like one more test done, either a CT scan or MRI or whatever would give one more confirmation of the size of the thing. Maybe it's smaller and we're worrying needlessly.

 

[csutherland]

P.s.

P.s.

I forgot! Nancy tells me that his new BP med, Norvasc, that is so beautifully keeping his pressure down, has a side effect of ankle edema.

 

[Granbonny]

Which test, showed Jerry's aneurysm?I had a CT and MRI..and neither showed it..until I went in for a Cath of heart...That was on a Thursday and surgery was the following Monday...It was (Cath of heart) a few days after my MRI..so, maybe they saw something and didn't want to scare me. Confirmed it with the Cath of heart...Thank goodness... I read somewhere, that John Ritter's family was planning on suing the hospital..for not diagnosing his ruptured aneurysm... At least, Jerry's doctors know, he has one..And will keep a good watch on it..Bonnie

 

[csutherland]

Update on swollen ankles

Update on swollen ankles

Cardiologist's nurse and our pharmacist confirm that it's probably the Norvasc that's causing the edema in the ankles. She'll confer with the cardio as to how to proceed from here. Maybe they'll prescribe a diuretic--we'll see. I hope he can stay on the Norvasc because it's really helping his BP.

I'm starting another thread on his visit w/the surgeon regarding the aneurym.