Has anyone had heart issues with myelofibrosis?

Posted by rhollis @rhollis, Jan 19 8:31am

I am only 46, just diagnosed with Phase I MF. I am a non smoker with an active lifestyle and relatively healthy diet. We cook with olive oil, and I avoid processed foods. My cholesterol was normal but an inflammatory marker (mpo) was severely elevated. I had read that MF can increase risk of Artherosclerosis, so my Dr ordered a calcium test. My test results were abnormal and he is talking about putting me on statins to prevent progression.

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kapow | @kapow | Jan 20 8:18am

Do you mean cholesterol testing? I don't think atherosclerosis has any association with calcium.

I have high cholesterol and have been on Crestor (rosuvastatin actually) for over a decade. And I have ET which is also an MPN. So I am also taking Hydroxyurea and apixaban (Eloquis generic) I have had a stroke and pericarditis (an inflammation of the pericardium, the sac that surround the heart ....but was told that this is not related to ET).
I also had a bout with atrial fibrillation that lasted about 12 hours. Again I was told not related to ET.

rhollis | @rhollis | Jan 20 9:06am

In reply to @kapow "Do you mean cholesterol testing? I don't think atherosclerosis has any association with calcium. I have..." + (show)

The test was a CT, which showed calcium deposits in my arteries. My cholesterol and lipids are normal, or on the low end, but I have plaque build up and need to go on statins. The dr indicated that this must be from inflammation due to MF, since my bloodwork was otherwise normal.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jan 20 9:08am

In reply to @kapow "Do you mean cholesterol testing? I don't think atherosclerosis has any association with calcium. I have..." + (show)

Hi @kapow, I think @rhollis was referring to a Calcium Score test which is a scan which looks for calcium deposits in the heart arteries.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/heart-scan/about/pac-20384686

kapow | @kapow | Jan 20 12:04pm

In reply to @rhollis "The test was a CT, which showed calcium deposits in my arteries. My cholesterol and lipids..." + (show)

oh, I am sorry for the assumption I made. My apologies.

kapow | @kapow | Jan 20 12:13pm

In reply to @loribmt "Hi @kapow, I think @rhollis was referring to a Calcium Score test which is a scan..." + (show)

Thank you for this info. I have apologized for my assumption to @rhollis. I won't presume I know more than the patient. (My Dad had atherosclerosis that resulted in his loss of both legs from just above the knee, and it was a result of cholesterol buildup blocking blood flow.)

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jan 20 1:20pm

In reply to @kapow "Thank you for this info. I have apologized for my assumption to @rhollis. I won't presume..." + (show)

Oh no worries, @kapow! We all learn something new every day here in Connect! That’s why it’s great to ask questions and also impart wisdom we’ve garnered along the way with our own life journeys. ☺️

I’m so sorry to hear about your dad losing his legs from arteriosclerosis. How awful for him. Was this a slow progression with loss of circulation?

kapow | @kapow | Jan 20 10:14pm

In reply to @loribmt "Oh no worries, @kapow! We all learn something new every day here in Connect! That’s why..." + (show)

Only Six months between amputations. His feet were swollen more than twice or three times their normal size and an infection set in. Happened over about a year. He was in awful pain. He lived about 5 years after the double amputation in the DVA hospital. (His death was not related to the atherosclerosis. Instead it was prostate cancer that had metastasized and was in his bones.)

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jan 21 9:20am

In reply to @kapow "Only Six months between amputations. His feet were swollen more than twice or three times their..." + (show)

Oh my goodness, your poor dad! I can’t even imagine the pain he must have gone through with the infection and amputations, then his cancer journey.
It appears he was a veteran so I’m very grateful for his service to our nation but also incredibly sorry for his and your loss. What a courageous man…
Thank you for sharing your father’s story. I hope you have many fond memories of your life together. They don’t take away the sadness or loss but they can help hold those we’ve loved and lost close to us.

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