High calcium score: I'm in shock

I've learned to not put complete faith in Echo's, Stress, and Nuclear test results. Echo has been mostly good for evaluating the valves & structure, although I've had some that didn't make sense and when repeated it showed things are stable. So, Echo can occasionally be misleading but mostly reliable for valves & structures.
Nuclear results in my case was totally unreliable. It did not indicate any main vessel disease. However my doc was suspicious based on my stress and general fatigue. I never had any chest pain & the fatigue was new onset.
So, the cardiac cath is the gold standard and will remove all the guess work. I found it reassuring to really know exactly what was happening. Frankly, wish now they could have saved resources and just did the diagnostic cath straight away. They used my wrist so I considered it quick & easy.
Found a 90% right main block which was stented and 40% circumflex block not requiring treatment. Also, severe aortic stenosis. They stented the right main and did TAVR, as two more separate caths, both quick and easy. After about 4 hours bedrest after the procedures, I was up and about all evening, doing laps around the ward. Went home next morning feeling great. Breezed thru about 6 wks of cardiac rehab and after back to my normal hiking trips.
The treatment options are astonishing. If you are treated, then afterward do a Cardiac Rehab program. They will get you on track learning about a heart healthy diet and exercise.
Best Wishes!

Relax. Mine at 55 was 2,845. Plus I have the beginning of an aortic aneurysm. Countless tests later and I’m popping 40 mg of statins and we are wait and watch. Once a year I’ll go in for a test. So relax. Get your MRI echo and stress test. The key is how well your body and your heart is pumping blood. You can have arteries that are 95% blocked, but still ample floods flow gets through the opening that exists.

Book is arriving today so thanks for that. Looking forward to learn some more.

alaskat,

It is unusual, from what I've read and heard, for a cardiologist to recommend catheterization in the absence of symptoms or other information indicating blockages - while the gold standard, they are considered medically invasive.

I may have misread your history? You are asymptomatic and have not had a stress with echo?

I think I have read it 5-6 times!😂

Thanks for responding. I believe at the end of day truth is my calcium score is at 1500 and there is definitely blockage. We all know a 400 score is maxed out but still manageable if you take statins, eat healthy and exercise. I would only approve catherization if the angiogram procedure shows arteries that need stents (angioplasty). I am not in a rush and will look for a second opinion. I somewhat dislike the lack of candor from my -young- cardio doctor who was vey eager to "move forward" with procedures. My PCP suggested the same and that I should not just leave it to the Gods to decide. Second opinion is a must for me and maybe an older cardiologist who can I actually have a short conversation about it. I might end up doing the angiogram but 1st things 1st: stress, nuc, and echo tests. Be well.

Well, there may be blockage, but given external modeling, there may not be.

A CTA may not provide clarity due to the amount of calcium which causes blooming on the scan - hard to assess.

But, given the opportunity to gain as much information as possible - take it.

Maybe add to your list - peripheral ultrasounds and an advanced lipid panel (sometimes called cardio IQ).

Very interesting. Can you tell us how the K2 has impacted your CAC? Trying decide if this is the route I should go.

Thank you

From my reading there is evidence of anything reducing heart calcium levels.

If anyone finds otherwise, please cite references.

It appears you do stress tests to your heart frequently as you are quite active. If you the book “beating the heart attack gene” they say stress tests are only accurate if you have more than 70% blockage. I strongly recommend you to Read the book. It is so surprising when you are fit and a high calcium score comes back. The book calls it cat in the gutter. Their approach is to keep the cat in the gutter through statins, etc.