74 years old, received CAC score 6 months ago 1,328. Using web, I entered numbers and found my coronary arteries are equivalent to a 92-year-old, and 10-year risk of heart event or stroke is 39%. Immediately went on very strict raw vegetables diet. This diet is very hard to maintain. I had to back off, adding only fish, but as time goes by, it’s only been 6 months, I cheat. Sugar free chocolates, KETO cookies, but these put pounds back. I am 5’6” and my weight went down from 160 to 134. Was on a low dose statin for decades, but primary care physician (PCP) immediately put me on Rosuvastatin 40mg and ordered Stress Test with Echocardiogram. This stress test produced a Duke Score saying my risk was "only" 10%, walls and muscles are fine, injection great. So high CAC Score, low Duke score. PCP said I was doing everything I could, so don't worry, eat well, exercise, end enjoy remaining life. Few months later, I had to see a cardiologist. First meeting was perfunctory BUT HE DID order LIPOPROTEIN FRACTIONATION MOBILITY, and carotid arteries intima thickness MRI, because, “There is correlation between plaque in carotid arteries and plaque in coronary arteries” whatever that means. This test showed plaque blockage in lowest 10% risk category. So now, 95% risk based on CAC and 10% risk based on other two tests. My LDL went from 50’s to 19 on Rosuvastatin 40mg. Now it’s 27. I read over 100 scholarly papers and started to beg for PCSK-9. Cardiologist said no because diet plus Rosuvastatin 40mg tested at an LDL of 19. Great, yes? Well, wait. The fractionation mobility test came back, with small, medium and large particle sizes and risk panel B - not good at all. Since the particle labs are absolute measurements, not the LDL-C which is calculated, my cardiologist now says my REAL LDL is 110 and I will be on the PCSK9 Inhibitor immediately to get my “real” LDL-P (particle) lower than 40. I will soon go on Zetia in 6 weeks after I have another fractionation mobility test done. I am willing to share any numbers about my chemistry if you ask. I am still alive, happier that I have a much better hold on my numbers. Risk is still 39%. I begged for an invasive cardiology and doc doesn’t want to do it because risk of shedding a clot is 1 in 1,000. He WILL do it if I beg for it. There is so much knowledge I have now, would like to refresh this thread and get it going again. Ask me questions, there is supplements, for one thing, to talk about.
For what it’s worth, here’s my experience.
I can’t recall exact numbers, but my total cholesterol was (for multiple tests) over 300. My LDL very high, but recently had a VLD included in my labs and that was very low. HDL was about 60 (I’m female).
Triglycerides also very low. Doctors wanted to put statins but I have refused for two reasons:
1.). I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fatigue being one of the SE I, couldnt tolerate it
2.). I read decades ago that the size rather than the amount of cholesterol might be a better indicator of risk. When my doctor agreed to test for that (I had to pay out of pocket) my cholesterol molecules were “large and fluffy)
I had osteopenia even though I drank a gallon of milk a week and took a D3 supplement. So I started researching and came across the Weston Price Book and it made a lot of sense to me. I increased vitamin K foods to help get calcium in my bones and ate mostly grass-fed and finished beef. We raised our onn chickens and I switched from cheddar cheese to Guda and Brie-all towards that effort. My score when I divide my Triglycerides/HDL is less than 1 or 1.
I don’t exercise, but I try to be busy, since my chronic fatigue improved.
I also take Thorne Brand D3/K2 drops daily as an effort to get the calcium out of my arteries and into my bones. I eat Kerry Gold Butter and am quite liberal with it. I sauté veggies in that or lard from grass fed and finished beef.
I know this all goes against the prevailing opinions, but it seems to be working for me