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Avatar universal

I want to go straight to a angiogram

I am a 36 year old male.  I have a history of high cholestrol for many years! I was taken lipitor 40mgs years ago, but the side effects from it were way to painfull. Besides, my numbers were still high with the meds. I used to smoke for 20 years and I had a history of drug abuse in the past! For the last 3 years I have been clean, and I no longer smoke!  I exercise every day, with weights and cardio training.  I am about 15lbs overweight, but I having a tough time getting rid of it. My cholesterol Numbers have been 260 total, ldl 213 hdl 24. My triglycerides on the last test were the best they have been in years at 160.  I have had tests done every month.  I am eating a diet high in soluable fiber, vegetables, nuts, omega 3's.  I have taken nician at high doses and I was not able to raise the hdl numbers.  I take a variety of other cholesterol lowering supplements as well.  I do this because  I cannot take statin drugs because of the severe side effects they have caused me!  Recently I have been experiencing pains in my right shoulder, neck, and I have a tingeling sensation in my fingers in both hands, but more pronounced in my right.  I have felt light headed, and I sense something is wrong.  Heres the deal!  I dont have medical insurance and I live in Costa Rica.  I dont make alot of money and I dont want to screw around with lots of different tests.  I would perfer to go straight to an angio-gram!  I did have a CRP High sensive test done, which was normal?  Am I going to far??  I take into account my past lifestlyle of daily marijuana, cigarettes and cocaine use into account, with my cholesterol that wont go down no matter how well I eat, and how much I exercise when I think about my high risk factors.  What could be the risks for me if I decide to take this test, and is it necessary?  

Thanks Noah  

By the way, under topic I didnt know what to put.  I dont have diabetes, if you were wondering
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230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
that is pretty funny.  good luck and take care.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The pain does not get worse with exercise, and it seems to affect me only at rest!  I guess I should have put the 20 towards the cardioligst vist!  

Thanks
Helpful - 0
230125 tn?1193365857
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi Noah,
That is a tough one.  First, have you tried zetia for your cholesterol? It is not a statin and does not cause myalgias.  There is a combination pill of zocor (statin) and zetia, but you can take very low does statin with the zetia. It may not cause the myalgias.

It is true that cholesterol, smoking and cocaine use all are risk factors for coronary artery disease.  you should talk to a cardiologist and let them decide if they think your chest pain is consistent with blockages in your arteries.  The major questions is does your pain get worse with exercise, improve with rest and go away with nitro.  If this is all true, a cath is probably a good first step.  If it is not all true, the decision is more difficult.  The process all starts with seeing cardiologist first and deciding if any tests are indicated at all.  They symptoms you describe can have other causes and they happen more at rest and improve with exercise, that suggests it is not a cardiac cause.

The risk to a left heart cath are very reasonable, less than a 2% risk of major complications in experienced hands.  

I hope this helps.  Thanks for posting.
Helpful - 0

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