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High calcium score: I'm in shock
Hi everyone... just wanted to share my last few days - I'm scared and lost and was just hoping to hear from some people who have been in my place. Long story short - I went in for a "routine" checkup at age 50 to make sure my heart was okay. I had a stress test two years ago that was fine. But I do have a family history, and somewhat high LDL and blood pressure so the doctor sent me for a cardiac calcium score. It came back at 407 at age 50!!! That's like the 98th percentile for my age, which is shocking. I do Crossfit and have done half marathons so it was totally unexpected. Now I'm going for another stress test in two weeks to make sure no blockages are over 70%, and I'm not sure of the steps after that.... I'm terrified of needing open heart surgery - I've gotten myself into a place of being okay with a stent if needed. I know it's better to know than not know, but I just feel like my life was suddenly ripped out from under me and to be honest I'm spinning right now... every waking second I feel like I'm going to drop over..
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How has it been for you in the last year? What did they end up doing to you?
You are absolutely kicking it!! The trick is the K2. Also, when taking D3 and K2 together, the D3 will win on the uptake and only about 40% of the K2 is absorbed. Take a good D3 supplement (10,000 IU) in the morning and then a good K2 with MK4 and MK7 with lunch. Both are fat-soluble vitamins and your Kerrygold will do just fine! Here is the study for this D3/K2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_1-13ATOOVDbEFBQXFtZlItSDQ/view
<6 mg/dL
One baby aspirin every day
Asked, aggressively, for Zetia; cardiologist said one thing at a time; you are on Rosuvastatin 40mg, you are about to go on PCSK-9, we will do another set of labs after 6 weeks of PCSK-9, and then we can do Zetia.
Did an echo stress test right after got CAC score 1,328. Echo Duke Score saying my risk was "only" 10%, walls and muscles are fine, injection great.
I am aggressively pushing cardiologist for invasive angiogram, said he would do, my PCP says "No Way." My brother had three stents put in 2 years ago, he is one year younger than me. My mother lived to be 93, died of pancreas cancer. In her mid 80's, she had quintuple bypass, only symptom, fatigue and loss of breath when climbing stairs.
kefnb, did you ever have a CAC score done? I have small and dense rather than large and fluffy. On statin 40mg, my LDL went down to 19, then 27 recently. Once cardiologist got my particle sizes, he "recalculated" my LDL, which is a calculation to begin with, and determined my "real" LDL is 110. I previously begged for PCSK-9, he said no, but now he is putting me on PCSK-9 immediately. He wants to do particle tests every six weeks, Quest Diagnostics, out of pocket $78. Thanks so much for your experience, I am not sure you want to know CAC score. I understand cardiologist saying one step at a time, but moving in direction of vitamin K2 WHILE starting PCSK-9 and also moving to start about 20 supplements I have researched to reduce insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and help other treatments to clear out, at least, the rupturable portions of my plaque. Two people on my block, in their 70's had devastating strokes, and my brother, like I said, had MI with 3 stents. It's like a time bomb, and I want an invasive angiogram to head off a heart or stroke event. Once again, thanks so much.
whineboy, thank you so much for reply. I understand my statin calcifies and densifies plaque. That's good and bad. The ligiid, rupturable part of my plaque, even if outer portion is calcified and densified, is what concerns me. I keep reading and waiting for solutions, therapies, responsive cardiologist. Darn, my CAC may have gone from 1,328 to 1,500 or more just in last 5 months on statin 40mg.
jkluv7, I've been feeding this thread with replies to everyone. In summary, when got CAC=1,328 five months ago, did echo stress, did carotid intima thickness test, went to statin 40 mg, had lipid particles and LP(a) tested, going on PCSK-9 this week, waiting for cardiologist to give me Zetia, considering 20 or so supplements, I DID do them before, ask me for list, and considering K2. Since got CAC score, there's been a lot of anxiety and stress, it's life changing in that the end is nearer that I thought, but my mother made it to 93 years old, and my brother is still alive with three stents. I want an invasive angiogram to head off waiting for a bad event, wherein they will do an invasive angiogram. Go figure. Thanks for reply. Do you have a CAC score?
Sounds like you have all the details, helpfull. I agree that soft plaques are the real concern.
One thing I'm doing in an effort to reduce my plaques is EPA/DHA omega 3 supplements (I learned of them after reading about Vascepa - medical-grade EPA - which has been shown to reduce coronary plaques by 5-10%). My health insurance won't cover Vascepa, and at $350 a month it's not something I really want to pay for out of pocket. I'm hoping a quality over-the-counter supplement will offer some similar benefits.
jkluv7, thanks so much for reply. Exactly what you said in your post is where I am going - sooner than later. Last week was second visit with "renown" cardiologist and I did press for his thoughts on supplements, especially D3 K2 MK4 MK7 (and maybe Niacin) , I was fearing doing more harm than good, but cardiologist did not say "no." He would rather me take one step at a time, first statin up to 40mg, second is PCSK-9, third would be Zetia, then there is no more left - TRUE? While measuring LP(a) and particle sizes. What I really want is for cardiologist to go in invasively, stent or bypass as needed, taking the 1 in 1,000 risk I through a clot or worse, and do everything you and others have said here.