Hi just wondering if anyone has has a similar experience. I was Diagnosed with ‘dense calcification in LAD, 55-60% in January 2022. This information was in a letter from my cardiologist who had interpreted the report from my CTAngiogram. He said that it was moderate stenosis and didn’t require stents. However, I have just received a copy of the original report and it also states, “There is heavy calcification of the proximal D1 which is likely obstructive’. I am wondering why this was never included in the letter from the consultant and if this could be clinically significant. Given the fact that I am suffering from chronic fatigue on even the slightest exertion which I was assured wasn’t related to the CAD in light of the extent of a 55-60% blockage. Should I be seeking a second opinion as I am very concerned about this and hopefully someone might be able to help me understand the situation. Thanks
Heavy calcification D1: Hi just... - British Heart Fou...
Heavy calcification D1
Hi Macinleich
I hope you’re well.
My understanding of “dense” and “heavy” calcification is that there is a significant amount of plaque build up in the arteries which can disrupt the flow of blood through the coronary arteries.
I can’t offer any advice on CAD as this is not something that I’ve experienced before.
I will however, supply the BHF helpline number below where you can speak to a cardiac nurse about this.
0808 802 1234
If it were me personally, I would seek a second professional opinion.
I hope others can help.
All the best.
Tos
Thank you for your comment and concern. I think I will get a second opinion maybe just to try and put my mind to rest. Thanks also for the contact information
All the best
after my ct angiogram and finding calcification in LAD I was sent for a Dobutamine stress test which showed no flow restrictions at present time.
Hi Macinleich
I can't advise on the CAD either sorry hun but I noticed you said about the moderate stenosis as I have that and I have severe aortic regurgitation. Maybe do get another opinion if your not happy?
Thanks for your comment and I hope you’re doing well.
All the best
Yeah I'm doing ok got my check up on 21st of November and echo next month. Hope your ok? How long have you had moderate stenosis and do you have any symptoms? X
I have a 50% blockage in my LAD. My cardiologist says they don't do anything until it is over 70%
Hi thanks for your reply. Yeah I have been relatively okay thinking that it was only 60% however, on reading the scans it said ‘area stenosis 80%’ which kind of spooked me… maybe I’m reading it wrong as I have no medical background and probably shouldn’t jump to conclusions that are hopefully misguided.
Do you experience and symptoms with your level of blockage?
All the best
No, as far as I can tell. However it’s hard to tell as I have lots of medication for other heart issues. With your 80% I’d be inclined to think of that being the number. I’d be checking again with your doctor.
After mjy heart attack and 2 stents I was told I had two blockages in LAD at 64% which were not stented. That was 5 yrs a o. After getting very breathless for a year I was referred back to cardio- an 8 month wait. Fortinately I was blu=e lighted in last Friday for 4 days but at least they were able to check all previous tests and were certain it's not caused by the blockages or my previous stents. I was told physically heart is in perfect condition. It's now an electrical problem. Not the best way to get reassurance but very helpful.
Hi thanks for your reply and interest. Sorry to hear your issues and I hope you’re well now. Was your HA related to the blockages in your LAD? And did they give you any indication of when they would check your blockage for progression? I was told 5 years which seems like a long time. Did they say the electrical issue was responsible for your breathlessness?
All the best
Hi Qualipop. Have similar to you had triple by pass because of 90% blockages and HA 9 years ago. Collapsed 9 months ago. Was so upset and kept saying I had tried so hard to look after my heart. Turned out this was wiring and came home with a pacemaker + Defibrillator implanted. Plumping and wiring sorted now. is there anything else 🤪
Well I Only got tablets so will see how they go. I know exactly when this started and what caused it. Time will tell. We can only do our best and enjoy life. At least I wasn't as bad as a truly lovely lady in the bed opposite me who'd just had a brain aneurysm rupture. She was so lucky it only affected one eye and was cleared with a stent.
Oh dear poor lady. Its things like that, that makes us realise how lucky we are, with the technology there is now to keep us going. There is always some other poor soul with other much more scary things going on.
Very true. She was so lucky and utterly amazed that they could thread a stent from her groin to her brain to fix it. As the blood and the pressure cleared she was regaining her sight . There's always someone worse off than us; just watched "Love your Garden where they were doing the garden of a landscape gardener diagnosed with dementia. He was just 30 years old with two toddlers.
I watched that too. Cliche I know but reduced me to tears. My thoughts were though, that it gives his wife somewhere nice and tranquil she can have a break in and grieve in.
And grieve she will long before he's gone. They brought lady into the bed next to me , aged about 90 with very advanced dementia; had had a bad fall; screaming in agony( or terror) while they fitted a catheter then non stop trying to get out of bed to see her grandad. Some of the nurses just had no idea how to help her. What must an old unmarried lady of that age thought they we re doing with that catheter?
Oh that is so sad about the lady and like you can only wonder how scared she must have been with all the intrusive poking and prodding. My daughter is trying to cope at the moment with her mother in law they have requested an assessment but the wait is over 4 months and then another 3/4 months for decision. Everyday a new obstacle presents itself. At the moment she is cutting all her clothes up and insisting on going out with them all pinned together. There has already been some wardrobe malfunctions in the local cafe she likes to go to with my daughter 🤣 I do feel though we should go back to more age related wards as it does make it difficult for younger people to recover properly with sleep being disturbed.
They did eventually move this lady to another ward. Dementia care is dreadful. My husband's aunt; 94 and profoundly deaf was left alone , locked in her home with just 3 , 15 minute pop ins from soc services a day. We used to help her but because her confused brain made her say she was being robbed, they changed her locks and banned the whole family from seeing her. ( she thought someone had stolen her window!). Even her 92 year old sister was banned and not even told when she died.
oh dear I fear the same sort of thing is in danger of happening to my daughter. They have found her a lovely little flat near them. But I fear mother may start telling grandchildren and old friends stories as my daughter & son in law are doing all the caring and I can’t make them see the dangers. But I can only be an advisor at the end of the day.
They need to get full p ower of attorney and fast then soc services can't legally shut them out. It costs but it's essential thent hey make the decisions not soc services.
yes, thankfully that’s all done or in hand. Son in law already had EPA so automatically becomes LPA for financial stuff. They did LPA for welfare in April with family solicitor before she moved down and surprisingly still had an amount of capacity. 3 months on and she has really quite declined. In a way it would be kinder for both if the decline was fast, but there is no telling with dementia.
Well done for thinking ahead. Sad but it has to be done.
I delivered training to care sector on the mental capacity act for five years so at least they listened to my advice ….. for once 😂😂😂
If it makes you feel any better I was diagnosed with severe calcification last July with an Agatson score of 987. Anything over 100 is classed as too high. Do you know what your score is? I had a triple bypass operation in September which immediately failed (don't ask!) . I went for 5 months without any further treatment then had 4 stents in 3 arteries. My LAD was 100% blocked, and I hadn't had a heart attack! Sometimes the heart finds numerous small vessels to feed it blood. Do you get angina? My heart dealt with a severe pulmonary embolism and a damaged phrenic nerve and I'm still here. Actually lying on a beach in Jersey in tje sunshine at the moment!
Hi thanks for taking the time to reply to my question and your reassurance and I’m grateful to you for sharing your experiences with me. I’m sorry to hear that you have had such a bad time but I love your optimism… the beach sounds lovely! No I don’t know what my score is nor do I get troubled by angina, except a slight ache on exertion. My many symptom is fatigue, even after the slightest exertion. I have only just received the initial report as my cardiologist had summarised its findings in a short letter. One or two of the findings have spooked me somewhat and I’m wondering why these issues weren’t highlighted at the time. Maybe I’m overthinking it as my cardiologist basically said I was okay and didn’t anticipate any further investigations for 5 years.
I hope you’re doing okay and thank you again for your interest.
All the best
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