← Return to Extremely high calcium score at 42 - is there any positive here??

Discussion
Comment receiving replies
@steveny9

Yes, the news made me proactive. I lost 11 kilos, cut sugar, bread and pasta. Only eat between 2-7pm and once a week I drink just juices. I added niacin to my supplements. I drink no sugar kiefer milk and sauerkraut. I added AC with olive oil. I exercise 4 times a week for 50 minutes and 20 of weight lifting. This has bee my program since August, 2022.

I don't have a cardiologist that is watching over me so it has to be me to make appointments and ask questions.

I read alot. I was told by a vascular doctor they will not do anything unless there is 50% blockage. I was told by cardiologist he will not do anything unless there is 70% blockage.

I have researched which hospitals have the best heart medical team on duty with the best stents. Apparently there are the Mercedes versions of stents and then there are the 3-year old Mercedes of stents where I am living at the moment.

I read that CAC scores increase 10-25% per year.

My third cardiologist says a exercise stress echo is recommended, if the result is positive, then a Coronary artery angiography (CAG) is recommended. Have you been told that?

The other 2 cardiologist just told me to take 5 mg of statins daily.

Trying to finding some sense and peace with all this.

Stephen

Jump to this post


Replies to "Yes, the news made me proactive. I lost 11 kilos, cut sugar, bread and pasta. Only..."

At one level, it is simple.

You take statins because of the CAC test shoeing you gave heart disease.

You get a stress test with echo to provide insight into your heart's condition. If the test, and follow-on angiogram indicates you have blockages, the cardiologist will cath and stent you.

All this - "Only eat between 2-7pm and once a week I drink just juices. I added niacin to my supplements. I drink no sugar kiefer milk and sauerkraut. I added AC with olive oil." likely means you are following guidance from internet or youtube doctors.

Steveny9, you have done a lot of research on the stents. In my experience, when my blockages became severe enough, there was limited time to get the stents. Unless you live near the hospital using the most modern of stents, you will likely need to accept the stents provided by the hospital that is close by.

Daily exercising is great. Optimal weight is great. You likely will not NEED a stent until there is at least an 80% blockage. If you keep your cholesterol low via diet and statins, I think you can count on a slow growth of the blockages. From my experience and your lower CAC score, I think you might be looking at 15 to 20 years before you need stents. I do think it would be wise to be seen by a cardiologist once a year to monitor your status.

If you are a meat eater, you might try a more vegan diet which removes all animal products and thus removes all cholesterol and adds lots of fiber. Look for recipes with low salt and with proteins such as beans and lentils. If you start a vegan diet a couple of days a week, you might find you enjoy it. There are lots of on-line sources for recipes and support groups. Fruit such as apples and pears have abundant soluble fiber which removes cholesterol from your body. Most cholesterol is made by the liver so even if you are vegan, eating fruit is helpful.

I wish you well. Give this whole thing some time and you will feel more at peace, especially if you are doing everything you can to keep your cholesterol down and your exercise level up.

Donna

Just another thought: Stents can also result in blockages as plaque develops on them. Cardios don't want to stent a person until there is good reason as the stents have a limited life span. Once the stents develop blockages, the next step is by-pass surgery. I understand they don't do additional stents in the same area (although they will do a stent in a different artery that subsequently becomes blocked.) Once you have been stented you must take a blood thinner to reduce the possibility of blockages developing at the site of the stent. So, you want to delay the stent for as long as possible. And as time goes by, medical science may develop other options.

Be at peace, do what you can and follow your cardio's advice.

Donna