Need to Know

[lucy0206]

I had an endocarterectomy 3 months ago.  CT scan showed 75% blockage in left carotid and 35% blockage in the right.  I also had a CT scan of head to make sure no strokes had occurred.  It came out ok.  Needless to say, the operation was a success.  I did fine ...went home the next day and back to work in three weeks.  They also did a chest-xray before the surgery and found mild aortic calcifications in the aorta  --  heart size was normal. They also did an EKG and the said it "was great".  I asked my GP who seems to be very knowledgeable if I should see a cardiologist snd she did not deem it necessary at this time.. My cholesterol and other lipids seem to be in the normal range and she upped my pravachol to 80 mg/day to fight this athrosclerosis.  I am also on fish oil 3 tmes a day.. My blood pressure was doing fine for about 3 lmonths after operation -- the past couple of days it shot up to 143/79 and then higher (150's--bottom number stays pretty much the same) with my horrific anxiety.  I has been around 110-120 over 55-65. By the way she did prescribe Klonipin .05 mg 2 times a day for me for this  It has not seemed to help.  I have terrible anxiety about my blood pressure. I am on 50 mg metoprolol 2 times a day and .25 mg hctz a day.  Blood work right before the operation showed no problems except really low Vit. D.  She gave me med for this. My CRP was normal.  I am scared that my other arteries are blocked (heart). Iis it time to see a cardiologist?

[kenkeith]

A CT scan of the the heart vessel's inner layers may be helpful to determine if there are any beginnings of CAD and CT angiogram for any partial blockage of the vessels.. If there is plaque build up in the carotid arteries that is a good indication there may be beginnings of CAD with advancement of soft plague and/or plaque buildup in the coronary arteries.

Your medication should control high blood pressure, lower cholesterol, proper diet and exercise, etc. would be the correct protocol, and it seems you are on that regimen.  If you don't have chest pains, shortness of breath it may not be nessecary to do any further testing as the doctor may assume you have CAD and further testing for additional evidence would add no useful information.  

Thanks for sharing, and if you have any further questions or comments you are welcome to respond.  Take care,

Ken