← Return to High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

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@alaskat

I'll be going to a new cardiologist this coming Friday and hope he is one that connects with patients. I have learned a lot since reading everyone in this forum, reading and listening to friends (some of the friends want to play doctor and keep pushing me to get stents mainly because their husbands had heart bypass surgery, they say I am ahead of the game...). I want to have the nuke, stress and EKG tests to see how my heart is doing but at the end of the day it comes down to "to stent or not to stent". If I do decide to go through an angiogram then there is not much to say. At that moment the doctor will ask me if I want the stents. Stents will reassure that my arteries will allow blood to flow with no problem. So it is a huge decision. I read many had higher calcium scores and pretty much managed to have a normal life without stents. But wouldn't one want to close this chapter of uncertainty -with stents- for a better tomorrow? Maybe my "doctor" friends are right and I live in denial....

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Replies to "I'll be going to a new cardiologist this coming Friday and hope he is one that..."

Remember a stent is for a blockage of 70% or more. It’s no guarantee to prevent other issues. High calc does not mean automatically you need a stent. Father in law and mother in law have cac of 1000+ and 4000+ and no issue. Everyone is different…I wish you well.

alaskat,

Stents are used when needed - to know they are needed typically requires a test/scan, a catheterization, or a symptom then catheterization to confirm blockage.

Stents are not often placed preemptively - as they may not be needed.

Good advice from the previous two replies. I personally would never get invasive surgery unless I’m told there’s no choice. I have a relatively high Calcium score but did tests where the cardiologist says the blood flow is very good. I’m going with that…we never discussed a stent just so you know. But, yes, everyone is different.