Thank you so very much, Inali, for answering my questions so clearly. I am still learning and was feeling overwhelmed the past couple of days. I didn't even know that "bypass" and CABG (graft) were about the same thing. I am so so sad to hear of the diagnosis of congestive heart failure. I now understand even more why you feel exactly as you do.

I am on atorvastatin (Lipitor) now as well as vitamin K2 and CoQ10. Supposedly, K2 helps the body process calcium so that it goes more into the teeth and bones instead of kidney stones (which I had) and calcium in coronary arteries--as found in the CCS test. Many people are deficient in K2 and I think I am too.

I do know that my downing of the calcium units my Dr. prescribed for my osteopenia was a bad thing also. Articles came out a little after my kidney stone problems began in 2012 that stated that many menopausal women are now getting kidney stones most likely from the calcium carbonate pills they're taking. I take algae calcium now 1-2 times a week only and try to get the rest of calcium from spinach and organic milk along w/ vitamin D3 and magnesium pills on occasion.

I've felt a heaviness in my heart area off and on for a year. Had some shortness of breath 3 years ago but that went away with more regular exercise and some weight loss. Have minor chest ache when turning a certain way suddenly, like to grab something on my left off an end table, for example.

Will just keep monitoring how I'm doing on these pills I'm taking for now until seeing regular Dr. in May.

Your information and suggestions are invaluable to me and I again am so sad about the resistance to recognizing RIHD by so many in the medical field until just very recently. i will be extremely reluctant to get the stents, even the newer medication-laced ones. It sounds like some hospitals might do CABG for those of us with RIHD now when our arteries are very clogged and heart attack seems very likely.
That seems the best route to me at this time after all you wrote.

I would probably choose going to Mayo, like you. I read the articles from the Cleveland Clinic, as you know. But, know, as you said that one of the Drs. resistant to CCS is still on staff there as you said AND it's a long way from our house. We do live about 100 miles from Mayo and it seems like they are fully "on board" w/ CCS, RIHD, and the most up to date procedures, if any, that can help us.

Again, thank you so much for your wisdom and willingness to share it. Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. I admire your strength and honesty. Marti