Connect
I have a very high calcium score. What next?
Just joined the site and I'm looking to share with others who have had a high calcium score. I found out today that mine is 2996 and I am scared by this. I am 61 and I am totally asymptomatic. Now I feel like a walking time bomb. I am thinking of requesting an angiogram to see if there's any narrowing anywhere and if it can be corrected with a stent. After a second heart doctor told me that the plaque buildup might be uniform over the course of years with no big problem areas, I am encouraged. But the score still freaks me out, specifically my LAD at 1333. I don't smoke or drink but I have to lose 40 lbs.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.
Connect
How bad was the 3 limb EMG? I just saw a clinical internal note debating whether to do it in one day or two. How long did it take? I was wondering why they would consider doing them over two days - time or discomfort? I had 2 separate ulnar nerve EMG's several years ago due to injury and they were extremely unpleasant to say the least. Especially when they placed the needles in the pad of my palm.
Hopefully I'll escape the ALS diagnosis! I am somewhat concerned about what seems to be some leg weakness, but it could be just anxiety causing this perception.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy 3 limb emg in 2023 was quite tolerable for me. It didn’t take very long at all. Maybe an hour total, including the placement. I can’t recall the details, but I dealt with a tech person and a neurologist. Separate from the one who ordered the tests. He reviewed everything right there and told me the results immediately.
I also had EMG on my legs for different reason in 2003 and that was more uncomfortable. Not sure why, but still tolerable. Maybe I have a high pain tolerance. Idk, but for me it was quite doable. I think you need to have the right mindset.
Good luck with everything.
Thanks!
I see this is 2018. How are you now?
I too have a high CAC score. I have lost 120 lbs put the plaque will never go away. My cardiologist bumped up my statin to 40mg of Atorvastation and a year later my CAC score rose 47 points. I too am scared and scared to travel on an airplane due to the fact of having an event. I also have heart arrthymias which I frequently feel… it’s no fun and really destroys living life to the fullest.,
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionYou need to move on with your life and forget it, you can live to be 100 with a CAC score in the 1000s. Just make the necessary lifestyle changes (diet/stress/blood pressure/smoking/sleep/exercise etc) and be sure to see a doctor the second you feel any pain or breathlessness when exerting yourself. 90% of men and 70% of women have calcification of the arteries at 70 or older so if you are younger than that it's good you know about it and have a jump start on making changes.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI too had a high calcium score on my recent blood test and my cardio was concerned as I already have 3 stents (most recent done Sept 2024). I think what has happened, I had been taking like 2/3 Tums at night due to bad indigestion. There is like 1,000 mg of calcium in one tablet. So I’ve stopped and reverted back to Prilosec. I use a LOT of foamed 1% milk in my espresso, but that’s a minimal amount of calcium compared to those Tums. I use my fitness pal . Com, for tracking all my nutrition now. I’ll wait a month and have another blood test to check my calcium.
Tums will not affect your cardiac calcium score …
She thinks we are talking about blood calcium.
Maybe read my above comment Hope it helps.
Magnesium is crucial for Cal to assimilate.
I learnt the hard way too.