High Coronary Calcium Score: How do others feel emotionally?

You have to be strong! While this is routine, your husband will be going through a lot of stress. And under the influence of certain medications may not be himself. So don't take his reactions soon after the surgery personally. When you bring him home he will need a lot of help and support. He will find sitting up in a recliner more restful. And the day he comes home, he will feel like he is not ever going to heal. He will. It takes time. Hold his hand, be patient. We will hold yours (virtually)! And we will pray that everything goes smoothly. The surgeons are talented, and the ICU nurses are angels. With COVID if they don't let you visit him, just let him know through the staff that you are always there. With all that this is major surgery. He will feel much better after he recovers for a few months. Be brave! Be strong! We are all here for you.

I appreciate your follow-up response. Please let us know how things go with the bypass surgery. These surgeries, while major, are pretty routine now, and should give your husband a great health future once the blockages are removed. I have a friend who had this done 10 years ago who is now the picture of health. Take care.

Sincere thanks. No indications at all and was extremely energetic and athletic until he noticed (often took his own blood pressure) that his BPM was dropping occasionally to 27; wore heart monitor and that proved it dropped often so went to ER the next time it dropped and immediately they put in pacemaker 5 months ago; at that time; saw shadow so ordered further tests (took long time due to Covid) ; as I said first the CAT scan could see nothing as he was so blocked that the dye would not go through; then the calcium scan which showed extremely high levels then the angiogram that showed 90% , 70 and 70 blockage so having triple bi pass soon. Very scary/stressful time.

All the best to your husband on his heart surgery. Did he have any indications, such as shortness of breath, that lead to the CT scans and angiogram? Age and genetics play a role, despite his athletic fitness level. My cardiologist does not want to do an angiogram, because my exercise stress test with echocardiogram showed no issues. I'm 72, a few years younger than your husband, and follow all the suggested heart-health guidelines. As bluesdoc, a physician, has mentioned, there's a lot we don't know yet about interpreting high CAC scores.

Just joined this group and love it but not sure how to make a post but wanted to share. My husband; 76; very athletic in good shape had a molecular CAT scan and arteries were so plugged , dye could not get through. Then he had a calcium screen and his score was 2330; they were shocked he hadn't had massive heart attack and was so active; told him to go home; do nothing and be close to ER till they could get him into surgery; just yesterday he had an angiogram and had 90 , 70 and 70 % blockage and he's having preop next week and triple by pass soon after. Would have been sooner but we are in Canada and many of our operating rooms have not been working 100% (not even close); holding for Covid patients. My advice; get an angiogram; it can show why other test can't.

Hi Tim. I don't have a plan for follow up. Given that there's nothing more to do, as long as I maintain tolerance of high level exercise, I'm not going to dwell on it. otoh, I'll defer to my cardiologist if he has any strong opinions. I do periodically check on tech advancements for the day when my coronaries can be scanned w/o IV contrast. Perhaps someday - but it's still academic.

Do you do any follow-up stress/echo testing, say every 2 or 3 years, since you can't get an angiogram?

i suppose giveup all sorts of fat barring olive oil...vitD3...vitK2...i dont know lipids have been around since 2014

My score is 1852. In addition to the CS you should have a NMR to get the technicolor on your lipidology. Your small particle LDL is key. My LDL on standard testing has been under 90 mostly under 80. HDL over 60. Triglycerides under 100. I was going along assuming (by the normal cholesterol testing) my CVD risk was less than 1/2 the general population. I had been on statins for twenty plus years and normal height and weight with no cormobid condition's. My curiosity was raised after a corodid ultrasound showed a 40 percent blockage. I then ordered the above tests as well as a apo(a) that all confirmed my pathogentic small particle cholesterol numbers. The calcium score for the most part shows stable plaque with much lower risk for stroke and cardiac event. The little disclosed fact with statins is they convert cholesterol to calcium abeit mostly a stable form. I asked my cardiologist why they aren't testing for the pathogentic small particle cholesterol is since there is no treatment why test. The treatment for blockage is stenting which is one of the most profitable cardiac procedures this with statins being a blockbuster profitable drug it's no wonder what I discovered is not publized by anyone.
I firmly believe in full disclosure informed consent.

In saying all of this, is there a drug that lowers only pathogentic LDL? Not based on my research. Niacin, Vit-K, fish oil ..etc may help.

To reduce my risks I keep my blood pressure on the low side less than 110/70. Take ASA get at or above your requirement for sleep.

Lipidology is a field still in it's infancy.

Just my take on the subject.

You're right about the CAC Score literature being overwhelming, but I like your statement that it is a "probability factor rather than a sentence." The fact that I have changed my diet has made me feel better about avoiding a heart attack or a stroke. Anxiety over heart health is a risk factor for heart attack. Go figure!