1. < Heart & Blood Health

High calcium score: I'm in shock

Posted by sjy70 @sjy70, Jun 14, 2021

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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wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Apr 15, 2023
In reply to @steveny9 "Thank you. Best of luck. I just ordered the book on Amazon." + (show)
@steveny9

Thank you. Best of luck. I just ordered the book on Amazon.

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That book has helped me so much! I am sure it will help you too. Dr. Ford Brewer recommended it to me. They do have a second book also but I like the first one more but both very good.

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writer418 | @writer418 | Apr 15, 2023
In reply to @alaskat "I am 63 yrs. old and have never visited a doctor or had a PCP for..." + (show)
@alaskat

I am 63 yrs. old and have never visited a doctor or had a PCP for about 30-40 yrs. I decided to start a medical record bc I don’t know where I am at in regards of my health. I found out my LDL is high so I went to a Calcium score test and hit a record 1,536 !!! My PCP send me a statin prescription and a Cardio appt. Cardio doc gave me 2 options: a) stress test who he says is 80% accurate and b) an angioplasty procedure. Like some I am in shock. I play tennis 3/4 times a week, swim, etc… and was not ready to even imagine I would be laying in a hospital bed for this monster procedure. I googled if I could reverse my calcium score and I understand this it not possible which makes me shocked again. Right this second I have a very weird type of anxiety…. The kind that won’t go away, like having an empty box that needs to be filled with something and I won’t know what to fill it with…is like an undetermined situation that needs to be addressed. My buddy at 58 collapsed 3 months ago and ended up in a hospital with 3 bypass surgery. Tomorrow I’ll go play tennis…. Until I can’t.

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I'm not a doctor but I would not do anything invasive, not yet anyway. I'm in a similar position to you. You need to visit a good cardiologist, start taking statins to lower your LDL whatever it is. I now use Praluent which is an injectable twice a month and it lowered my LDL tremendously to the point where I almost do not need statins. Now I take a minimum does of 10 mg. You should also get a nuclear stress test and sonogram to determine if you have good blood flow. If you do and you get that LDL down, you have minimal worries, no more so than anyone else. Of course, you should cut down on red meat, lose weight and exercise but it sounds like you know that. good luck. please do not jump to invasive procedures before trying these measures. best of luck.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Apr 15, 2023

@steveny9, @wisconsin2267 and others thinking about the book “beat the heart attack gene” by Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen, you might also find the following discussion helpful since it's about the low carb healthy fat diet/lifestyle.

-- Low-carb healthy fat living. Intermittent fasting. What’s your why?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-carb-healthy-fat-living-intermittent-fasting-whats-your-why/

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alaskat | @alaskat | Apr 15, 2023
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "If you have calcified plaque that means you have soft plaque also. The soft plaque is..." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

If you have calcified plaque that means you have soft plaque also. The soft plaque is what causes strokes and heart attacks. Statins will calcify the soft plaque making it less likely to rupture. A great book is “beat the heart attack gene” by Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen. ( Bale-Doneen method). I had a 2267 score 3 years ago and follow their advice and see a Bale-Doneen doctor. Best of luck to you.

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Hi, you mentioned “you had a 2267 score 3 years ago. Does that mean you a lower score now?

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1 reply
wisconsin2267 | @wisconsin2267 | Apr 15, 2023
In reply to @alaskat "Hi, you mentioned “you had a 2267 score 3 years ago. Does that mean you a..." + (show)
@alaskat

Hi, you mentioned “you had a 2267 score 3 years ago. Does that mean you a lower score now?

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Usually does not decrease. Probably higher now that I have been on 5mg Rosuvastatin last 3 years. No symptoms and Passed nuclear stress test. Have not had another scan since initial.

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1 reply
SteveSH | @steveny9 | Apr 15, 2023

Good to know. I guess it is all about what is comfortable for each of us at this point. I'll been following Dr. Berg on Youtube. He has some interesting ideas. Check it out.

BTW, I was wondering about there second book. Thanks for commenting on that.

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alaskat | @alaskat | Apr 16, 2023
In reply to @writer418 "I'm not a doctor but I would not do anything invasive, not yet anyway. I'm in..." + (show)
@writer418

I'm not a doctor but I would not do anything invasive, not yet anyway. I'm in a similar position to you. You need to visit a good cardiologist, start taking statins to lower your LDL whatever it is. I now use Praluent which is an injectable twice a month and it lowered my LDL tremendously to the point where I almost do not need statins. Now I take a minimum does of 10 mg. You should also get a nuclear stress test and sonogram to determine if you have good blood flow. If you do and you get that LDL down, you have minimal worries, no more so than anyone else. Of course, you should cut down on red meat, lose weight and exercise but it sounds like you know that. good luck. please do not jump to invasive procedures before trying these measures. best of luck.

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My cardiologist stated that the Eco and Stress test are option 1 to determine blood flow and if there are any hiccups he will see if he adds on a higher dose of statin. Currently I am taking Rosuvastatin 10mg. The other option would be to expand the arteries with and angioplasty and put a stent. Pretty much he narrowed it to that. I am being proactive with the food choices and exercise. Thanks for your feedback 🙌🏼

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alaskat | @alaskat | Apr 16, 2023
In reply to @wisconsin2267 "Usually does not decrease. Probably higher now that I have been on 5mg Rosuvastatin last 3..." + (show)
@wisconsin2267

Usually does not decrease. Probably higher now that I have been on 5mg Rosuvastatin last 3 years. No symptoms and Passed nuclear stress test. Have not had another scan since initial.

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Understood. If I don’t perform well on the nuc and stress test then he will increase the statin dose. He -sort of- understands I do not want any invasive procedure (putting a stent on the arteries just takes two hours and is 100 % accurate as far as getting things in control). Thanks for your response. Be well.

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jackbsharp | @jackbsharp | Apr 16, 2023

Hear you.... I'm 71 and was hit with similar news at 50. Your lucky in that there are so many options these days. Men in family are have horrible cardiac histories. I lost uncles very young and my Dad had 4 heart attacks with two open heart surgeries & passed with heart failure.
I switched to a vegetarian diet, vegan at times. Maxed out the statin dose keeping my total cholesterol under 150. It been as low as 80 and rarely over 120.
That said, at 68 I had a stent for a 90% right main block and have a 40% circumflex block, both from old sins I believe. Also at 70 had a TAVR for aortic stenosis. All easy 45 minute venous procedures & home the next day feeling better.
This said, you can't beat your genes forever, but you can fight them and delay, delay, delay.... Plus the heart treatment options are astonishing now. I spent all last summer hiking in the Rockies shortly after my TAVR at age 70 and have avoided any heart attacks. We are hiking the Canadian Maritimes all summer this year.
It not over for you by a long shot. Get great Docs & Fight the genes!

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1 reply
alaskat | @alaskat | Apr 18, 2023
In reply to @jackbsharp "Hear you.... I'm 71 and was hit with similar news at 50. Your lucky in that..." + (show)
@jackbsharp

Hear you.... I'm 71 and was hit with similar news at 50. Your lucky in that there are so many options these days. Men in family are have horrible cardiac histories. I lost uncles very young and my Dad had 4 heart attacks with two open heart surgeries & passed with heart failure.
I switched to a vegetarian diet, vegan at times. Maxed out the statin dose keeping my total cholesterol under 150. It been as low as 80 and rarely over 120.
That said, at 68 I had a stent for a 90% right main block and have a 40% circumflex block, both from old sins I believe. Also at 70 had a TAVR for aortic stenosis. All easy 45 minute venous procedures & home the next day feeling better.
This said, you can't beat your genes forever, but you can fight them and delay, delay, delay.... Plus the heart treatment options are astonishing now. I spent all last summer hiking in the Rockies shortly after my TAVR at age 70 and have avoided any heart attacks. We are hiking the Canadian Maritimes all summer this year.
It not over for you by a long shot. Get great Docs & Fight the genes!

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It's great to hear your are up and hiking ! My PCP states I should choose the stent procedure regardless of the echo/stress test (which is mainly informative) which is happening in two weeks. I am 63 and play tennis, swim but I am still considered overweight: Body mass index 25-29 (8 1/2 ft- 176 lbs.) so I guess one of my next helpful steps would be to check with a nutritionist. I am worried. OK, but worried. 🙂

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