My calcium score was 122 and I am a 67 yr old female. I have low to normal blood pressure and my overall cholesterol is ok LDL was borderline but I usually have a lot of good cholesterol. I have no chest pain . My GP gave me a form for a nuclear perfusion test but I’m not sure I should have a it . I have had my fat share of ct scans done as well. Had 4 over about 6 weeks when the emergency department did not realise the extreme pain I was in was a very tight pudendal nerve. I’ve had a lot of others throughout my life as well .
As I have not been referred to a cardiologist and just told I could take a baby aspirin and perhaps a statin I’m not sure if having a test which will give me a high level of radiation ( equal to 400 X-rays) is worth the other health risks at this stage.
I’m interested in your opinion . Ultimately I understand it is my decision but sounds like a score of 122 is not high and I have basically been following a vegetarian diet . I feel the anxiety after a test like that may give me more anxiety about cancer risk. I had Greaves disease for the third time in December 2021 and the cardiologist didn’t check the bloods that were ordered and sent me home after a stress test on a treadmill with ultrasound saying I’m just unfit and should make an appointment with a psychiatrist for anxiety other than that my heart was pumping fine. My heart rate was reaching 154 beats a minute and I was so sick over the next 2 weeks I asked my son to take be to the emergency department on Christmas Day as I could barely walk . The doctor in emergency got the blood tests from the other hospital and the heart specialist had never looked at them and never ever owned up to it or advised my Gp of the results . The emergency department could not believe it as I had Greaves . I was put on thyroid medication immediately along with a beta blocker . Unfortunately due to reaction to medication I ended up having my thyroid removed.
My parathyroid went into shock and stopped working so I was kept in intensive care for 4 days and given intravenous calcium and calcitrol and then needed calcium tablets and calcitrol for about 3-4 months after. Not sure if this could have affected any calcification that is now in my heart.
Eating well and walking more now to increase fitness. I feel it’s easy to just ask for all these tests and nothing was said to me about the amount of radiation . Does everyone with a calcium score automatically need a nuclear perfusion test.