Aspen's Ascending Aorta Aneurysm at 32 years old

Sunday June 14, 2020 This morning I met Dr. Aldea, the cardiothoracic surgeon, and Dr. Sweet, the vascular surgeon. They explained that I'll need to have vascular surgery on Wednesday to reroute the circulation of my right subclavian artery. It's coming from my descending aorta rather than the arch of my ascending aorta.  The carotid subclavian transposition surgery will increase the blood flow to my brain during open heart surgery and reduce the chances of having a stroke during the operation.     

Saturday June 13, 2020 Chuck returned early in the morning and kept me company until the doctors arrived.  The first doctor came in and asked a laundry list of questions to better understand my situation. He believed that the pain I was experiencing was due to costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage). I predicted that it's my body signaling that something's seriously wrong.  The cardiothoracic surgeon (CS) popped in afterward to explain how he would be requesting for a doctor at the University of Washington Medical Center, in Seattle, to accept my case because it was very complex. The CS explained that an issue was with my right subclavian artery. It should be coming off of my Brachiocephalic artery but instead it comes from my descending aorta and then over to my right arm.  In order to have open heart surgery to repair the ascending aorta aneurysm the surgeons would need to move my right subclavian artery so it can provide adequate blood flow to m...

Friday June 12, 2020 During the week I refrained from riding my bike and focused on completing my 2nd graders' report cards. I took copious naps because the symptoms spread from my heart to my chest, back, and left side of my neck. My body was exhausted from the constant thoracic pain.  I called the cardiologist's office (CO) multiple times throughout the week to schedule an appointment. I was told that they had 61 faxes to go through and that making an appointment doesn't happen in a day. This was confusing to hear. Monday night the emergency physician insisted that I see a cardiologist the following day. Why was my aneurysm not a concern to a cardiologist's office? I ended up calling the Olympia ER to remind them to fax over my patient visit information. Why was I having to connect the dots for these medical facilities? Thankfully, the nurse hotline followed up with my Monday evening phone call and asked if the pain had subsided. Their empathy was appreciated!  When I...