Really bummed out (calcium test score)

FWIW, my calcium score in March of this year was 2536 (and I'm 61). So from where I sit, your score isn't too bad. 🙂 I saw a cardiologist and had an echo cardiogram and nuclear stress test done. BOTH came back showing normal blood flow (i.e. no signs of major blockage). So, my calcium must mainly be in the artery walls or on the outside of the artery walls.

I immediately went on a statin (20mg of Crestor) which really knocked down my cholesterol levels. It was shocking for me to get that score, and it's easy for me to say this now, but don't be too concerned about your score until you have further tests done. Hopefully, given what I'm going to call a relatively low score, you won't have any signs of blockage too.

If you have any medical tests done, be sure to call your insurance company and ask if any pre-approval is required before getting those tests done. I needed pre-approval for both my tests.

Best of luck to you!

I wasn’t familiar with a calcium test score, but I just looked it up and can see and understand why you’re feeling so heartbroken and maybe even some guilt. It’s completely understandable to feel that way, but it’s not your fault.

As @casey1329 said, it sounds like you’re doing great, feeling good, and you’ve been on top of your regular screenings, maybe even because of your family history (?) Those are all things to be proud of; for many people it’s more comfortable to stick our heads in the sand and NOT get those early screenings or just give up and give in, i.e. “I have a family history anyway so there’s nothing I can do…” etc. But you haven’t done that.

Because you followed through with the screenings, now you’re able to have options and decide how to address it, rather than find yourself in an ambulance with a heart attack or something else…

It still isn’t ideal =( And might feel unfair, and it is. I’m not dismissing that at all.

It’s important to remember you are living a healthy life. That your heart and your risk factors need extra support—that’s not meant to be an insult or a critique about something you did or didn’t do. It’s just a fact.

Sometimes even with the best efforts things happen. And if you’re genetically predisposed to a condition, there’s only so much you could do. Plus as we age, our bodies and brains are aging with us.

I’m hopeful with the great foundation you’ve set already, adding the treatments your doctor is recommending will help even more.

(But I’d just be cautious of the Lipitor; if it doesn’t work well for you there are other statins or other cholesterol lowering medications you can ask about—my dad was also high risk for stroke but with good cholesterol and they immediately put him on the highest dose and it didn’t work well for him at all. Don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor about it if something feels off.)

Wishing you all the best.

@cantbelievethis, Welcome to Mayo Connect. You will find a lot of information from other people who share your same concerns.
Here is a link that you may find interesting:https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/high-calcium-score/
I'm sure it must have be shocking to find out that you do everything right and still have a high calcium score. There is a lot of information available about this topic, and I hope you take time to learn as much as you can about this. You have to be as educated about your health as you can, so you can advocate for yourself and the treatment you may be advised to try. You can't pick your family, and it sounds like this is where your issue came from...you have nothing to blame yourself for that or be angry at yourself. You sound like a very healthy person, and having a single lab test define you seems unfair. Has your doctor explained what this means to you? Is your cholesterol high, and that's why they want to start a statin? When is your stress-test?

Thank you so much for this kind and supportive reply. I appreciate it. I mean that! I took lipitor years ago and stopped taking it due to side effects. A long time ago. When this new doctor, a cardiologist picked it, I didn't say anything. I wanted to "comply". Maybe I should have spoken up. I will try it again and see what happens. God bless you.

Never had a calcium score test but I can tell you that you sound like you are doing pretty good and I believe that as we age we all get something. I'm 71 and have 4 stents in my heart and take a lot of pills but still feel healthy. Why, because I can walk, drive, a little stout, sing in choir, volunteer at the zoo, have a ton of friends and think...life is good !

Mine came back as 1500 … that shook things up. Next came heart cath which found 4 blockages. Then open heart at 73 and 9 months. Found out I had the widow maker 90% blocked. Now at home trying to regain strength. I am a vet so my medical comes through the VA but fortunately I live far enough away that they sent me to a local surgeon

You’re welcome! I think that’s the same thing that happened with my dad—he had no reason to question it and neither did we. We didn’t want to be “those people” worried about the side effects of statins we’d heard horror stories about on the internet… And yet, here we are.

Now there are various types of statins and cholesterol lowering medications, and we didn’t know you could start at a lower dose and increase it slower, which probably would have benefitted him. Plus taking any dose of a statin if you’re high risk even if it’s not the highest dose indicated, is still a benefit!

Wishing you all the best.

Mine came back as 1500 … that shook things up. Next came heart cath which found 4 blockages. Then open heart at 73 and 9 months. Found out I had the widow maker 90% blocked. Now at home trying to regain strength. I am a vet so my medical comes through the VA but fortunately I live far enough away that they sent me to a local surgeon

FWIW, my calcium score in March of this year was 2536 (and I'm 61). So from where I sit, your score isn't too bad. 🙂 I saw a cardiologist and had an echo cardiogram and nuclear stress test done. BOTH came back showing normal blood flow (i.e. no signs of major blockage). So, my calcium must mainly be in the artery walls or on the outside of the artery walls.

I immediately went on a statin (20mg of Crestor) which really knocked down my cholesterol levels. It was shocking for me to get that score, and it's easy for me to say this now, but don't be too concerned about your score until you have further tests done. Hopefully, given what I'm going to call a relatively low score, you won't have any signs of blockage too.

If you have any medical tests done, be sure to call your insurance company and ask if any pre-approval is required before getting those tests done. I needed pre-approval for both my tests.

Best of luck to you!