High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

@mla504 Thanks for that info. I'm going to lobby for an angiogram when I see a cardiologist next month. CAC is high but stress echo was totally normal and all blood work is normal. Hoping the CAC is a false alarm!

@harrydog …I would encourage you to get an LPa and APOb test. That is a much better picture of what is going on. Don’t panic…at least now you know to be followed by a cardiologist.

Hello all,
Just received a CT calcium score of 1146 on the Multi-Ethnic Score for Atherosclerosis. My PCP says this is “very high” but it appears to be “very severe” by other criteria.

My question is this: am I a “walking time bomb” for a stroke or heart attack? And secondly, some doctors think the CT calcium scan is useless.

My PCP just quadrupled my Rosuvastatin from 5 mg to 20 mg.
I’m asking him to add into upcoming bloodwork an analysis of 2 specific lipoproteins: ApoB and Lp(a).

And do I need to check on my parathyroid gland?

I’m rather scared right now.

Thank you.

I completely understand how you are feeling as I went through this about 9 months ago. My bloodwork has always been fine and in normal ranges. I just happened to mention to my doctor about a scan just to see and it came back 1160. Freaked out and with every little twinge, it was the end. Saw a cardiologist and she ordered at PET scan which came back completely normal. No blockage or issues. I took this as a second chance and have completely altered my lifestyle. Diet and exercise has become important and a priority. I've incorporated it into my life and I don't feel like I'm sacrificing or living less of a life. My thought process is that I'd rather live an extra week than have that donut or order of fries. The thought of eating really terrible things is not appealing to me anymore.

Everyone's situation will be different, but my advice to you is to learn how food affects your body and find a diet that is satisfying to you and can help stop the progression of plaque in your system. There are things you can actively do to greatly improve your longevity. Listen to your doctor and try to get in the mindset that every day you do positive things for your body, can help you be around for your family and friend longer.
Good luck to you!

I went through a similar process, was prescribed and had some extremely serious side effects that put me in the hospital. When in the hospital, they did an angiogram and it came back completely clear. The angiogram is the Gold standard. I’m very skeptical now of the CAC. I do not believe it to be relevant for people who exercise heavily and have normal numbers for BMI, blood pressure, etc. I was very anxious about all of this for 4 months until last week when I had the emergency angiogram.

Thank you so much for your reassuring words. It really, really means so much to me. I am trying to keep my anxiety in check , my appt. is next week. Many, Many many thanks!!

@harrydog

@sheriy

@harrydog I was 72 and had a routine CAC scan due to family history. It came back 1160. A cardiologist contacted me and wanted me to come in for more tests. It took me two weeks for the initial consult, then almost a month to get an echo, and another month before a heart catheterization. I was beyond nervous. I felt like I was a walking time bomb during that time. I was petrified to exert myself at all. The echo came back normal and my heart cath showed minor blockages of 30 and 40%. I am 73 now and I am losing weight and eating healthier, but at this point in my life, I’m enjoying living. If I should keel over with a massive heart attack and die, in my mind that’s better than dying with dementia. I don’t mean to sound glib, but get further tests done and follow the cardiologist’s recommendations.

My calcium score was a little over 600 and my liver enzymes were up due to taking red yeast rice. My doctor told me to never take red yeast rice again and I could not take a statin, since it was such a similar thing to red yeast rice. Now, my blood pressure is about 120/ 68 and I feel good. Blood work was good and everything else. I exercise almost every day with some cardio and hand weights. However, in a month, I have to go and have a tread mill test, again. Not looking forward to that but all else is normal. What do i do if my cardiologist says take a statin? I am listed in his notes as being allergic to them since they cause so much pain.