I’m researching any possible benefits of TRT for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm patients
Any information or documentation would be appreciated
Looking particularly for any info about anyone who does or has done TRT that has had any type of heart valve replacement, prosthetic Aorta implant or currently with a dilated or aneurysmal aorta.
Thanks
This is the 19 year old prodigy you want to ask about this. I’m sure he’ll chime in when he gets done with class. @unreal24278
What’s the cause of you’re aortal dilation? Do you smoke? (no judgement here, if you enjoy darts and are well aware of the risks then so be it… in Australia we call cigarettes darts, I actually recall being in the 9th grade and some kids were like “come on Unreal24278, we’re going out for some darts” and I recall thinking “huh, cool we’re gonna play darts”… what a disappointment.)
Prolonged high blood pressure, congenital genetic abnormality, connective tissue disorder (marfans?EDS?)
The verdict regarding TRT and cardiovascular risk is a shaky one, there appears to be a large body of supporting evidence claiming in replacement doses, for the hypogonadal male, TRT has cardioprotective properties, improves endothelial functioning and whatnot. However for someone with a connective tissue disorder such as marfan or EDS it’s somewhat more complicated, furthermore individualistic response to testosterone in varying doses will dictate the level of risk at which one with aforementioned issues would put themselves under.
With Marfan syndrome TRT typically isn’t initiated due to concerns regarding cardiovascular consequences and aortic enlargement, I’d hypothesise these risks are somewhat overblown, especially is treatment remains conservative.
As to heart valve replacement, the only issue I can see (provided adequate cardiac function is now restored) would be the potentially prothrombic effects of T/androgens, that being said those with valve replacements (depending on type) typically take anticoagulants (mechanical valve replacement almost always requires lifelong anticoagulant therapy).
Cause is from a genetic disorder, Bicuspid Valve … which is why I had my valve replaced with a bio prosthetic… no metal… no drugs or blood thinners required. I am on low dose metrpolol for blood pressure… but my blood pressure is already low, its just standard procedure in these cases
From a cardiology point , my heart is healthy. Life long non smoker, always been super healthy and fit. Other than the valve, its solid
The back story is Non of this was known about, i was just in the gym pushing hard every day but my valve was failing and my aorta was swelling until finally it dissected… i rushed to the ER where they performed emergency open heart to replace valve and replaced a section of my ascending aorta with a prosthetic one.
Because time was of the essence they had to leave a small piece of dissected aorta in place which is moderately aneurysmal. (i believe its about 3.5)… the plan is at some point at their discretion to go back in and finish the job which should pretty much wrap this up.
The reason Im asking about TRT is im 51, WAS super active and thought it would be a way to continue my fast pace life…NOW Im not going to be that fast paced of an individual anymore but am now researching if TRT may be a way for me to keep myself in a better general state of health especially now with limitations of how extreme i can go with my physical activity for exercise.
Hopefully I explained that in a way you can understand. Im not looking for it as a way to abuse or push hard… just improved quality of life type usage.
Thanks
I’m hoping the 19 year old gives you the go ahead to start TRT. Fingers crossed
hmmmmmm… 3.5 cm def meets the cutoff criteria to diagnose aortic aneurysm, but is rather mild in terms of severity, you’d certainly face limitations regarding the intensity of exercise of which you’re body would be prepared to undergo. Strenuous, concentric exercises and lifting weights would put you at legitimate risk of aortic dissection. Unfortunately there isn’t much in the way aside from surgery (open and minimally invasive options such as EVAR… which is typically received for individuals of whom have a far larger cavity size to that of your’s… say like 5cm or wider)
You could run, swim, bike etc with far less risk however. The main question begs though, are you hypogonadal, do you have symptoms of low T? If not, then TRT probably isn’t for you. If you were to implement TRT, I’d be VERY careful in regard to verging on supra-physiologic doses, the pro-thrombic and pro-atherogenic effects supra doses of androgens (increased plaque deposition over time will lead to further weakening of the aortic wall, cardiac enlargement/damage etc) however legitimate TRT for a hypogonadal patient may exert a cardioprotective effect (literature still debates this, however given the mechanisms by which testosterone in physiologic concentrations acts upon I firmly believe this to be somewhat true).
TLDR, I’m not going to say “go ahead take it” as I’m not a medical professional.
How long ago was the valve replacement, non mechanical valves over time will weaken and require replacement, within the period of time in which it begins to fail, risk will exponentially increase fro stoke, clotting etc, and this might put many medical practitioners off regarding prescribing testosterone.
Furthermore… out of curiosity… what does aortic dissection feel like? On a scale of 1-10, the level of pain?
Sorry if this post appears incoherent, I’m heavily sleep deprived at the moment (a combination of intense studying followed by going out and behaving like a moron… rinse repeat the next day and so on)
still 18, not 19 for about 3.5-4 months
We round up in Merica
I legitimately lived in America for six and a half years (ages 9-15.5)
It was… different
Then there was my brief stint in Tokyo for 1 month… that was a SERIOUSLY strange one. I recall after we were about to leave America one of my parental guardians proposed the idea of living in Tokyo. I was adamantly against it… how would I make friends if I can’t even speak the language?
From what I hear about the Aussie ladies i can see why you haven’t come back. A lot of talent across the pond
Then again it’s merely cultural differentiation. What would appear strange to me may be designated as commonplace for an inhabitant of Tokyo, thus I shouldn’t be passing judgement, that was uncalled for and I apologise. Had we decided to live there I’d probably have adapted to new societal norms, just as I did in America, thus coming back to Aus was a bit of a shock.
Depends, the culture is fairly different in regard to picking up girls, furthermore depending on where you live in the US (like where I lived), people tend to have very puritanical/conservative attitudes towards sex, that wasn’t/isn’t the case here, and thus people tend to be having sex at far younger ages here (and the parents don’t typically particularly freak out about it as long as it’s done within a reasonable, responsible context), so a guy taking out a 16 y/o girl isn’t going to lead to the father having a massive confrontation with the boy.
I recall in America when I was 15 I was with one of my mates (who his mate was also with us) and we had to drive by his GF’s house at like 2am to sneak her out of the back window without her parents knowledge in order to get him to go out with her… SERIOUSLY??? (I’m surprisingly quite mischievous however I do have a cut-off point that resides with me being unwilling to partake in any action that harms others and/or damages property that isn’t mine)
I recall my school didn’t teach me sex ed until YEAR NINE, in which the message was pushed “the only way to not get pregnant is to not have sex at all”… no mention of birth control
And thanks for replying, This seems like a dead end for me. It wouldn’t be a very responsible choice at this point in my opinion… Thanks for the quick education!
Honestly, hardly any pain… I was sitting at my desk working on the PC (of all things) when I felt a huge amount of pressure in my right upper chest and push into my lower neck.
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Traditionally they say the ‘heart attack’ pain is in your left just and intense so I wasnt thinking that… plus I was super fit so why would I have a heart attack, right?? In fact, i was in the middle of training camp for BJJ world Championships that year.
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Because of my training I first thought I had pulled a trap or tore a pec or something. Niether of which I had ever done so I dont know what they feel like.
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after about 15min of bullshitting around my room and it slowly feeling worse, and starting to come to the realization that something bad is happening I need to go to the hospital.
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I lived directly across the street from the hospital so I just ran over there to the ER (about 2 mins travel time) and within 15 or 20 min there I was starting to feel the full affects of no blood flow to my body, nausea, started getting dizzy and tired, wanting to go to sleep, I dont remember much after that but honestly I’d admit it’s probably not a bad way to go
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DR’s in the ER said I had to go into surgery immediately which is were the above post picks up the story.