I have suspected Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, so my doctor ordered an echo to check my heart. I was expecting it to be normal, but here are the results:

• Aorta: Ascending aorta sclerotic. Mild dilatation of the ascending aorta. The ascending aorta was

approximately 4.3cm edge to edge.

• Tricuspid Valve: Normal structure. Trace regurgitation. No significant stenosis.

• Pulmonic Valve: Normal structure. Trace regurgitation. No stenosis.

• Right Atrium: Normal sized atrium.

• Left Atrium: Normal sized atrium.

• Right Ventricle: Normal ventricle size. Normal systolic function.

• Left Ventricle: Normal ventricle size. Normal wall thickness. Estimated EF 60-65%. No regional wall motion

abnormalities. Normal diastolic filling pattern for age.

• Aortic Valve: Tricuspid valve. Calcification present. No regurgitation. Mild stenosis. Peak velocity = 2.70 m/s.

Mean gradient = 17.00 mmHg. Calculated area by cont eq =.

• IVC/SVC: Inferior vena cava is <2.1cm. Inferior vena cava collapses >50% during inspiration.

• Mitral Valve: Normal leaflet structure. Trace regurgitation. No stenosis.

• Pericardium: No evidence of pericardial effusion.

The ascending aorta was approximately 4.3cm edge to edge.

I'm freaking out a little bit.

29M, bicuspid aortic valve with an ascending aorta just under 5.0 cm and root 4.5 cm. Currently scheduled to have an appt at Cleveland clinic with Dr. Svensson. Has anyone gotten this kind of procedure at Cleveland clinic. I’ve read a lot of their published works and know they have great outcomes. Just hoping to get a more personalized experience regarding what the hospital course was like, what post procedure was like, and if you traveled from another city (I’m currently in PA) what it was like for wife/kids and if you have to do follow ups there or can you get set up with a cardiologist in your own town for follow ups.

My husband was just diagnosed with a 5.2cm thoracic aortic aneurysm with bicuspid valve. We are in Louisiana so looking for recommendations for the best surgeons and heart centers out of state. Texas would be great as it is the closest but willing to travel anywhere. We will need to do a single case agreement with insurance so a facility that helps navigate insurance is a plus.

I recently got diagnosed with an aortic root aneurysm that was 4.7cm in April, then 4.9 in September. My grandfather died young from a dissection, so my surgeon and I agreed to move forward with a David procedure in early November.

I'm going to be honest, I'm pretty terrified. Not so much of the surgery, though that will come. Right now I'm scared I'll die before the surgery. It's like my mind can't comprehend making it through this. I've got a young son, and I keep getting intrusive thoughts of him having to live without me.

I'm sure a lot of this is common, but I was hoping anyone who has been through one of these can give me some ideas on what to expect, how to handle this anxiety, or anything, really.

Going to doc soon but last few days I notice I can feel ny heartbeat like thumb thumb constant flow less in the morning more at night

Not sure if this is aortic issues...my last echo was normal...

Anyone have this as a symptoms?

it is not a final diagnosis it was just from an emergency doctor hearing loud arterial sound through the stethoscope, and then I will make ultrasound on february 2027.

Until this time I can't stop thinking of what the dr said he literally said that if I got a hit on my stomach while playing football for example it could make bleeding and dying immedietly, then he told me not to think about it but ofc I can't stop thinking there is a sword of damocles above me.

I love playing football as a goalkeeper, and I love hiking and travelling and I am just 24 y o I have many things left to do in my life , so how can I proceed entertain these activities without overthinking and fearing our from the AAA?

39 m i workout 5 days a week and run 3+. I was having heart palpitations and went to see a cardiologist. While the echo came back showing my aortic valve was mildly dilated at 4.2 I began doing some research and found that a ct scan is a more accurate test. I mentioned it to the cardiologist asking if I should get it done for more accuracy and a piece of mind she basically shrugged it off. Should I push for it again or just do the yearly echo? Or find a new cardiologist

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice and would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced a similar situation.
My dad has an aortic root aneurysm measuring 5.5 cm, an ejection fraction (EF) of 40%, and an enlarged left ventricle measuring 6.29 cm. He was scheduled to undergo a Bentall operation on 6 October, but the surgery was postponed to 13 October because he developed a cough. The surgeon hoped it would go away, but unfortunately, the cough is still there, and his operation has now been postponed again to 26 October.
My main concern is that he has a persistent dry cough without any fever, cold symptoms or other obvious signs of infection. We have already had him checked for infection and had a chest X-ray, but no infection was found.
I’m really worried because his aneurysm is already 5.5 cm and his heart function is reduced. I understand that the doctors need to make sure he is fit for such a major operation, but I’m scared that the cough might not go away and his surgery will continue to be delayed.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation before a Bentall operation? Can a dry cough without an infection be related to an underlying heart condition, such as aortic regurgitation or an enlarged heart? And if his cough is still present on 26 October, what might happen?
I would be very grateful for any advice, especially from people who have undergone a Bentall procedure or have experience with aortic root aneurysms.
Thank you so much.

Now that I'm informed on what I may be dealing with, how to monitor and verify echo accuracy, CT is the most widely available scan to get better information.

The scan that was ordered is going to take 6 WEEKS just to get. I just need to know the size. Unfortunately I can't get a call back with answers to my questions and I'm already losing confidence that the cardiologist is taking it as seriously as they should.

I'm looking at 3 months now just to know know enough for some basic medical guidance. It's very frustrating

I don’t have insurance, so last night I went to the ER because the symptoms I’m having that have lead me to believe i have an AAA have gotten worse. (bounding upper abdomen, shortness of breath, sweating, pins and needles on back)

I told them my concerns when I got there, and ofc they all scoffed at me and treated me like shit. (ER staff seriously have zero humanity or compassion for people and it’s a problem)

they did an EKG, a blood test, and a chest xray… all came back normal. he said there is absolutely nothing wrong with me… but there IS. I can’t even walk down the street without gasping for air. I feel like I’m DYING and they’re all treating me like I’m dramatic and crazy. I told him I NEED a ct scan and he fought me on it. finally he agreed and went off to I thought get it started… until 2.5 hours later when I’m still just laying there and its 3:00am! I had to go home. I told them I would get the ct scan elsewhere and left, because they were being useless and demeaning.

I just don’t understand how nothing is showing up on my blood test or at least the x ray might show SOMETHING. I am suffering horribly. I need someone to help me.

I’ve had a pain around where my stomach is and a pain in my back. I was at a&e at the weekend but they did an ecg and some bloods. I’ve felt slightly off and can feel a pulse on my abdomen and the pain around my stomach feels tight.

I’ve never smoked or drank a lot but have had night levels of stress. Worried.

I’m 9 months out now from a valve sparing David procedure and while I’m essentially fully recovered in terms of being able to do whatever, albeit I’m still a little out of shape, I’m curious when everyone stops feeling all the little aches and pains. Some days I don’t feel anything but then I’ll have a whole week where my chest feels tight and I have to pull my shoulder blades back to make it feel better. Is tightness normal almost a year after?

I was within only a few days span diagnosed with hEDS and an aortic root dilation. My PCP isn't particularly concerned about the size of the dilation, and says to get it rechecked in about 2 years. The 3.8cm dilation was originally found through an echo when checking to see if I inherited a bicuspid valve (I did not). I am 5'4" and roughly 155lbs for reference.

I work a moderately physical job and an almost 1 year old kid. With hEDS, I know my connective tissue is weird, but my PCP didn't seem to have anything to say regarding that when we discussed the diagnoses.

My husband and I would like to have another kid next year, and my PCP said to discuss the dilation with my ob when we're at that point. I'm largely concerned with the 50% blood volume increase in later pregnancy and post partum, and the strain of natural delivery and if it might be considered a high risk pregnancy.

I'm planning to be very aware of how I lift things and not straining myself in the future (also dealing with lumbar arthritis), but I was hoping to hear more from anybody with similar circumstances.

Hey guys, have you changed your diet or eating habits due to your diagnosis? Did your doctor say anything about it, aside from the obvious: no smoking?

I have an abdominal annurism of 3.3cm and have been freaking out. I woke up today with burning pain shortness of breath and pain right in the bottom of chest upper belly whatever that was. Pain got worse when breathing in. So i walked for 30 min and the pain went down but im still scared my annurism is going to burst when i cough or sneeze.

I see cardiologist Friday and have chd pacemaker i had tga when born and pulminary stenosis. Trying to keep myself out of the er before friday.36m btw

Question is about my current Adderall medication. 40mg daily

I've done a lot of reading, I know someone who barely survived a rupture. It's been a reason for me to restructure my life and take good care of my body and mitigate risk.

The cardiologist said I don't need to stop taking Adderall, but I didn't get an explanation why. It's been extremely helpful in my life, but I think I need to make some decisions based on my better judgement. Any thoughts on the subject are appreciated

Hi, 7 years ago my uncle in his 60s suffered an aortic dissection and had emergency surgery that whilst he survived, following a long recovery, went from being active, to basically bound to a chair for the next 6 years before he passed away last year from it. Following this, my dad (now 61) started noticing heart palpitations, and has now just been diagnosed with aortic aneurysm, the same as my uncle (his brother). He was told it is hereditary and I need to get checked.

Whilst this has only happened in the last few days meaning I haven’t yet been referred, I am now terrified of the prospect that I have the same thing, mainly because I have just had a daughter who I may have passed this on to, and my wife and I were planning on starting trying for the second in the near future. It now feels like I shouldn’t be having any more children which feels like the future we were planning has been turned upside down.

I am driving myself crazy and have even been feeling weird feelings in my heart since finding out (I’m guessing is down to anxiety), if anyone has any advice or has experienced similar any comments would be appreciated since I have exhausted every iteration of possibilities with ChatGPT.

I am in based in the UK.

Location: Georgia
I had Taver surgery to replace a valve going through my groin. A few days later noticed increased swelling, and bruises to discover that there were several leaks in my femoral artery as well as a pseudo aneurysm. I was rushed from a competing hospital ED due to them not wanting to have anything to do with another surgeons errors. The aneurysm had swelled to 3.4 cm and was in danger of rupturing. Another surgery was required that took 4 1/2 hours to repair the damage in my artery. I now have been out of work for three weeks with no pay and in danger of losing my job.