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High CAC Score with Optimal Cholesterol Levels
In 2020, I had a calcium screening done (age 49). It was non-negative at 32. My PCP at the time did not seem alarmed so I wasn't. 5 years later, I've head a follow up done. The score is now 458! My cholesterol has never been anything other than in the optimal range with LDL always in the low 80's. My recent Lp(a) test is 32 which PCP says is normal.
Because of my CAC score, my PCP (a different one) has prescribed a statin. This is all new to me. I don't understand how my score can be so high if my cholesterol has never been high.
Anyone else with this experience?
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No problem with Stress test. I've had 2 in 3 years - 1 via treadmill and last one was via shot. Previously diagnosed with LBBB and 40% blockage at LAD and D1 juncture on top of "mild" AFIB
Our paths to calcium score testing are similar, @tinyelvis . My 80+ year old mother was recommended by her PCP to get one. She asked me to join her. They told me my score was almost 400 and I remember thinking I needed to figure out what the scores mean, let’s move on to my mom because she is why we are here. Then…..my mom was told her score was 0. Ahhh, now I understand I have a problem.
I imagine you just want someone to tell you what is going on, and how to fix it! It sounds like you are beginning to put pieces together pinning down a hiatal hernia causing chest pain. What do you do with that? Does it impact anything else?
My best help has come from taking an integrative approach once I realized what is happening in one part of the body is happening all over the body. Kudos to you for practicing good lifestyle choices with your diet and activity. This will help you live your best life through your journey.
Re: @seniormed comment about CRP labs I agree they are a helpful piece of your puzzle. My inflammation shows up through a ceramide score that is an independent inflammation test. Just to say, there are lots of pieces you will begin putting together as your doctors walk you through this process. You are doing all you can to be the best you!
As active as you can, strong as you can, as long as you can!
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1 ReactionHi.
"...pinning down a hiatal hernia causing chest pain."
Well, that's just my theory. My gastroenterologist says I'm wrong, and it's just stress and tries to prescribe me a depression medication.
"..as your doctors walk you through this process."
I wish. They don't have time to walk their patients through the process as they see too many.
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1 ReactionWell, now you are talking my language @tinyelvis ! I by no means have this figured out but I can tell you I am making progress.
It sounds like you and your GI are not on the same page about where you are at?
“They don't have time to walk their patients through the process as they see too many.” - Is this their communication to you or what you are feeling like how you are being treated?
If I were you I would make an appointment with a cardiologist. I find that most PCP's know very little about what to look for when it comes to cholesterol numbers. You may have already had a fractional lipid test since you know your Lp(a) number but if you haven't then you should. It shows a breakdown of all of your cholesterol. It doesn't show just 4 or 5 numbers like an ordinary lipid; it shows about 15 numbers (all of which are important). Many cardiologists now seem to be more concerned with triglyceride/HDL ratios than most of the other numbers.
I am 63 and have familial cholesterol problems. My total and LDL cholesterol numbers are always a little high no matter what I eat or how much I exercise but my CAC a couple of years ago was 0. My Lp(a) is 10. I have never been put on statins even though one of my doctors wanted me to be a few years ago.
"Is this their communication to you or what you are feeling like how you are being treated?"
Both. Their patient load is too heavy. They don't have the bandwidth to really dig into an issue for a specific patient.
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1 ReactionOh, @tinyelvis you are a rock star to deal with your health head on!
Is your PCP helping coordinate with cardiology and GI? It will help so much to identify one provider that you can trust and can help put together what you are learning, especially since what you have going on may be more systemic instead of one specialty area.
I am so sorry you are in the finger-pointing stress circle. It is exhausting and gets you nowhere. I have a complex medical condition that I do not completely understand. Through figuring this out I feel like I lost my identify in my medical record, and by the time I realized what was going on so, so much bad had happened. I got put in boxes I didn’t fit in. It’s a tough hole to crawl out of. A simple but powerful recommendation I got at Mayo Clinic was a book that helped me wade through understanding what health anxiety is vs what various anxiety disorders look like, then what to do about it in terms of talking to my doctors, handling my symptoms, etc. Their words, “ignore the title, take away what is relevant, leave the rest.” This book is a good tool in the toolbox that I am realizing at this moment I could benefit from rereading. I am happy to share more about this book if it sounds helpful at all.
If there's a blockage in your LAD what do they do for that other than cholesterol medication or a low dose aspirin do they put a stent in at that point is there any danger?
Cardi said he want worry about 40% blockage until it reache 70%, then stent. Taking a blood thinner and that’s it.
70 percent blockage appears to be the “magic number” when it comes to stents.
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