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Question about Triple vessel calcification

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Posted 11/24/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
 

 I was recently diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm.   My physician had me undergo a Chest CT scan to verify the diagnosis.  The CT determined the aneurysm is small enough to not require surgery.... However, it has also led to the discovery of what my physician calls  "significant triple vessel calcification".   He has ordered a heart cath to look into this.  I know that the calcification is normally a strong indicator of CAD.   My question is this...   Under normal circumstances, what type of treatment will this most likely involve?   Is this normally handled by stent/angioplasty or Bypass surgery?  I know it will depend greatly upon what the cath shows.   I am a 47 year old male with malignant hypertention and type II diabetes.  I have signicant family history on both my mother and fathers family.  This REALLY stinks because my family and I were so stressed about the aneurysm, which turned out OK, only to find this.  Now we are more stressed than EVER!

Any comments from the forum would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

Tim

 

Posted 11/25/2010 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tim,

Welcome to HealingWell.  Depending on what the angio report is will depend on the treatment the cardiologist will suggest.

Perhaps someone with the same dx will be along to advise you of the options.  I would not want to speak out of turn.

Take care and I hope all goes well for you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 11/30/2010 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
 

Possi,

Thanks so much for the reply.   I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the heart cath reveals.   I"m no fan of bypass surgery, but I lost my father at 49 to a heart attack so I've seen the impact of this firsthand.  I'm  very anxious about this due to what seems to be a difference of opinion as to treatment between my regular cardiologist and the cardioligists at Shands.   My regular cardiologist had me undergo a stress test two months ago and pronounced my heart as fit.   Only after I asked for a second opinion at Shands teaching hospital was the triple vessel calcification discovered.  The Shands physicians indicated that the stress test is practically useless, that large blockages could be missed.   They said I should insist on a heart cath due to the calcification that was revealed on the CT and my family history.   Unfortunately, the Heart Cath needs to be ordered by my regular cardiologist.   So... this was on 11/18 and I am now in waiting mode and the waiting SUCKS!!!!  Instead of ordering the cath immediately, my doctor wants me to come in and talk to him, hopefully this week!!!!!  I HOPE I'm not a victim of my insurance company trying to keep expenses down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway... thanks for the reply.   This forum definitely helps with my anxiety.

Tim

Posted 12/14/2010 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tim
just read through your post. I know from first hand experience stuff like that can be pretty scary.
I'm a little familiar with valves calicifying since that's what mine did over the last decade. I'm 26 yrs old and I just had an aortic and pulmonary valve replacement. This was my third one.
I wish you the best of luck and even if it seems difficult given your history stay positive!!!!!
Posted 12/16/2010 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
I"m having the heart cath on Monday at Shands teaching hospital.   I still don't any idea if the doctor is expecting to use stents or CABG or no treatment.  During my research i've found that half of heart attacks seem to occur when arteries aren't completely blocked.  With CAD in three arteries that is a frightening proposition.  With all of the risk factors I have(diabetes, malignant hypertension and family history) I am really concerned about the possilibity of the physician finding blockages in all three arteries, but then deciding to take a "wait and see" attitude.   I'm willing to put in all of the work for the life style changes that have been recommended, but  I truly want my doctor to be as aggressive as possible in treating the CAD.  I guess i'll know more after Monday!

Thanks for all of the replies from the board.   It's a help to know there are others out there facing similar issues.

thanks!

Tim

Posted 12/16/2010 8:23 AM (GMT 0)
Tim:
I feel for ya! I had a stress test 3 months before my heart attack after pancreatic surgery. Cardiologist said stress test was normal. My cardiologist, nor my surgeon were aggressive and I ended up in pretty bad shape. However, I survived it all and learned a lot. I have transferred to a cardiologist at Vanderbilt in Nashville. They have been great. You do not have to stay with any doctor that you don't feel is doing right by you. This is your life we are talking about and you HAVE to feel comfortable with what your doctors are doing. If your doctors are not aggressive, then YOU get aggresive until you get the treatment that you feel you need. Good Luck to you. Don't sweat the cath, it's a breeze!!! My husband had a cath 2 weeks ago and they put in two stents and he has been doing great!
Posted 12/21/2010 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Had my heart cath on Monday.  Unfortunately I didn't get the best of news.   Looks as if I'm headed for Quadruple bypass.  This finding comes after my cardiologist here in Tallahassee told me "the heart cath is a very invasive and expensive procedure, and with you passing the stress test I don't think it's necessary".  I'm so fortunate that the cardiologist at Shands was insistent that I go ahead with the procedure.  My anger at the other doctor is beyond description!!!  If I had listened to him I would have returned to work and probably ended up as another heart attack statistic!  I'm apprehensive about the surgery, but I'm just ready to get it over and get on with my life.  I truly appreciate the advice and support that I have received from the forum.   You guys really provide a service!
Posted 2/19/2011 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
 Hey... sorry for the delay in replying.   I had my bypass surgery on 1/4.   Holy Cow what an ordeal!!  I went in on Tuesday morning and woke up the following Tuesday.   I was out for an entire week..  It turned out that after the sugery I had troubled breathing without the ventilator.  Two days after the sugery I developed pneumonia.   Finally after a week I was able to have the breating tube removed.   I ended up spending two weeks in ICU, but I finally made it home.   I'm a little over six weeks out now and I'm slowly getting better.  I think my diabetes and complications have slowed my recovery down.   Something I'm dealing with now is a very pronounced burning sensation across my chest.   I"m guessing this is from nerve regeneration?   Has any else dealt with this?  How does everyone handle the sleeping issues.   I've yet to sleep more than 3-4 hours in a night.

thanks for the help with everything!

Tim

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