1. < Heart & Blood Health

High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

Posted by mcphee @mcphee, Dec 14, 2016

I have a calcium score of 1,950 which is extremely high which means I am at a very high risk for a cardiac event,heart attack,stroke or sudden death.

I take a statin and baby aspirin. I have never been sick, have excellent cholesterol, low blood pressure and I am not overweight. I have no other health problems and I have never been sick. But I feel like a walking time bomb which has caused me a lot of stress. I am 70 yrs old.

I wonder how others with this condition feel emotionally?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Feb 28, 2019
In reply to @suchasmed1 "Ok, I know it's not a contest, and I'm very new to the high calcium club...." + (show)
@suchasmed1

Ok, I know it's not a contest, and I'm very new to the high calcium club. I haven't read all the posts, so I don't know for sure what the highest score is, but I was called today within 2 hours of the test with my score of 6451.12.
First question to ricochet around my skull is "How am I alive?"
So far I haven't found anyone at this level to reassure me.
It is reassuring that a high score is not a grenade with the pin pulled, and that people are managing it.

So right now I have been scheduled for a consult with a cardiologist next Friday, March 8.
My pcp says the'll do a stress test and go from there.
59 3/4 y.o. Male
6'3", 270 lbs.
Last July had a physical
5.9 A1C
187 total cholesterol
161 Trigly
38 HDL
32 VLDL
117 LDL
Blood Pressure generally 120something over 80ish.
Just started going to the gym and am tolerating 20 mins cardio and 20 mins weights without pain or dizziness.
I get occasional dizziness when standing up suddenly, but no chest or side pain.

What can I expect in terms of testing and protocols in the weeks to come?
Apparently my risk is pretty high. Are they not being aggressive enough? I mean, a week?

Jump to this post

Your welcome to join the high CAC Club. https://www.facebook.com/groups/2390693934337849/

REPLY
1 reply
jeffkirc | @jeffkirc | Feb 28, 2019
In reply to @suchasmed1 "Ok, I know it's not a contest, and I'm very new to the high calcium club...." + (show)
@suchasmed1

Ok, I know it's not a contest, and I'm very new to the high calcium club. I haven't read all the posts, so I don't know for sure what the highest score is, but I was called today within 2 hours of the test with my score of 6451.12.
First question to ricochet around my skull is "How am I alive?"
So far I haven't found anyone at this level to reassure me.
It is reassuring that a high score is not a grenade with the pin pulled, and that people are managing it.

So right now I have been scheduled for a consult with a cardiologist next Friday, March 8.
My pcp says the'll do a stress test and go from there.
59 3/4 y.o. Male
6'3", 270 lbs.
Last July had a physical
5.9 A1C
187 total cholesterol
161 Trigly
38 HDL
32 VLDL
117 LDL
Blood Pressure generally 120something over 80ish.
Just started going to the gym and am tolerating 20 mins cardio and 20 mins weights without pain or dizziness.
I get occasional dizziness when standing up suddenly, but no chest or side pain.

What can I expect in terms of testing and protocols in the weeks to come?
Apparently my risk is pretty high. Are they not being aggressive enough? I mean, a week?

Jump to this post

"My pcp says they'll do a stress test" Just a fyi....I was told that the stress test will not pick up any artery blockages less then 70%.....

REPLY
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Mar 2, 2019

I have a calcium score of 2267 with no symptoms . Had a nuclear stress test yesterday. The treadmill test I believe went fine but have not heard back from the Dr. about the imaging. Still stressed but hoping imaging went well as maybe they would have called me by now? Anxiously waiting.

REPLY
2 replies
tim1028 | @tim1028 | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "I have a calcium score of 2267 with no symptoms . Had a nuclear stress test..." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

I have a calcium score of 2267 with no symptoms . Had a nuclear stress test yesterday. The treadmill test I believe went fine but have not heard back from the Dr. about the imaging. Still stressed but hoping imaging went well as maybe they would have called me by now? Anxiously waiting.

Jump to this post

I can relate to your anxiety. I'm in a similar situation with a CAC score of 1562 with no symptoms. I had a stress test with echocardiogram, which was normal, i.e., no blockages above 70%. I am now on a daily aspirin and a high dose statin. I have no risk factors other than a low HDL. I am currently trying to exercise and eat according to health-heart guidelines. Simply because 4 months has passed since I was tested and I am a lot more knowledgeable about coronary artery atherosclerosis, I am less anxious than I was, but there is still a low-volume steady anxiety that underlies daily life. I'm 70 and still hope live another 10 to 20 years.

REPLY
3 replies
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Mar 2, 2019
In reply to @tim1028 "I can relate to your anxiety. I'm in a similar situation with a CAC score of..." + (show)
@tim1028

I can relate to your anxiety. I'm in a similar situation with a CAC score of 1562 with no symptoms. I had a stress test with echocardiogram, which was normal, i.e., no blockages above 70%. I am now on a daily aspirin and a high dose statin. I have no risk factors other than a low HDL. I am currently trying to exercise and eat according to health-heart guidelines. Simply because 4 months has passed since I was tested and I am a lot more knowledgeable about coronary artery atherosclerosis, I am less anxious than I was, but there is still a low-volume steady anxiety that underlies daily life. I'm 70 and still hope live another 10 to 20 years.

Jump to this post

You sound like me I also have a little low Hdl. What Statin are you on and how much? Thanks for your post it means a lot. The Nuclear imaging can only detect blockage if over 70% ?? That’s not too reassuring.

REPLY
tim1028 | @tim1028 | Mar 2, 2019

The test that you had, a nuclear imaging stress test is different from what I had, because no radioactive dye was injected and the imaging was through echo ultrasound. I'm not sure how much blockage is necessary to make the test abnormal. You got tested, which is the right thing to do. Your cardiologist will review the results with you and formulate a reasonable treatment based on the results. I'm on Lipitor (atorvastatin) 40 mg, which both my PCP and cardiologist recommend. For purposes of full disclosure I am more anxious than most people and have been taking citalopram for anxiety for the last 10 years. It works well, but I also use techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to help with day-to-day generalized anxiety. Take care, hang in there, and take it a day at a time. There is some controversy regarding statins and there side effects, but for me it is the right path to follow and thankfully I am without side effects.

REPLY
1 reply
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @tim1028 "The test that you had, a nuclear imaging stress test is different from what I had,..." + (show)
@tim1028

The test that you had, a nuclear imaging stress test is different from what I had, because no radioactive dye was injected and the imaging was through echo ultrasound. I'm not sure how much blockage is necessary to make the test abnormal. You got tested, which is the right thing to do. Your cardiologist will review the results with you and formulate a reasonable treatment based on the results. I'm on Lipitor (atorvastatin) 40 mg, which both my PCP and cardiologist recommend. For purposes of full disclosure I am more anxious than most people and have been taking citalopram for anxiety for the last 10 years. It works well, but I also use techniques like cognitive behavior therapy to help with day-to-day generalized anxiety. Take care, hang in there, and take it a day at a time. There is some controversy regarding statins and there side effects, but for me it is the right path to follow and thankfully I am without side effects.

Jump to this post

Thank you Tim

REPLY
pcspetpro | @pcspetpro | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @tim1028 "I can relate to your anxiety. I'm in a similar situation with a CAC score of..." + (show)
@tim1028

I can relate to your anxiety. I'm in a similar situation with a CAC score of 1562 with no symptoms. I had a stress test with echocardiogram, which was normal, i.e., no blockages above 70%. I am now on a daily aspirin and a high dose statin. I have no risk factors other than a low HDL. I am currently trying to exercise and eat according to health-heart guidelines. Simply because 4 months has passed since I was tested and I am a lot more knowledgeable about coronary artery atherosclerosis, I am less anxious than I was, but there is still a low-volume steady anxiety that underlies daily life. I'm 70 and still hope live another 10 to 20 years.

Jump to this post

What are your LDL, HDL & TRIGS? There is a lot of controversy about what is a heart healthy diet.

REPLY
2 replies
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Mar 3, 2019
In reply to @pcspetpro "What are your LDL, HDL & TRIGS? There is a lot of controversy about what is..." + (show)
@pcspetpro

What are your LDL, HDL & TRIGS? There is a lot of controversy about what is a heart healthy diet.

Jump to this post

LDL- 114. Hdl- 36. Triglycerides- 76. Total cholesterol- 165

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