Do I really need an Angiogram?

[LindaTX]

Need Guidance... I had a 256 CT heart scan and it shows mild to moderate calcification in my LAD.  The Cardiologist is suggesting an angiogram to check it out. I'm scared because he thinks I will probably need a stent!  I am in Las Vegas and went to this Cardio Dr 3 1/2 yrs ago for a 64-slice heart scan....so he does have something to compare.  Also down-turning S-T waves on my recent ECG.

[LindaTX]

Sorry about the troubles with the statins.  I've had good luck with Crestor....I think.  When I started on it 2 yrs ago, my cholesterol was 241...three months later it was 140.  No side effects...at least none that I know of.

[Occupant]

After the Echocardiogram and the Nuclear Stress Test I did exactly nothing. Not quite true, I went back on a Statin drug, Crestor this time. Because the reason why I started all this was that my total Cholesterol was 270. Alas, it didn't last, after three months I stopped it because my kidneys were beginning to fail (I had acute gout and nobody wants that) and I also had severe Rhabdomyolisis and tore a muscle in my back. And I am 75.

[LindaTX]

So what did you do?  I've been on Crestor for 2 yrs.  I went through the arrhythmia thing, got an ablation for afib last Sept, they told me time and again I had no structural problems. Well, now I guess I do! I'm just so sick and tired of this...I want to feel good again.  I'd really like to wait 2 months and then get the stent.  Oh, Occupant, how old are you?

[LindaTX]

Funny, they didn't include the calcium score in the report.  It was a newer 256 heart scan.  They said the lumen was "compormised"  so I don't know if it would be ok to wait a couple of months or not.  I have fatigue and a slight tightness in my chest, that's all

[Occupant]

I should have really asked you, why you had CT-Scan done before giving my answer. Any symptoms? In my case it was my own fault that I went. I had no symptons, but was tired of my doctor telling me to get back on Statins, which I didn't want to do. So, I suggested the CT-Scan as a way out. Well, it backfired.

[Occupant]

I had a CT Scan about 9 months ago. The Calcium Score in my LAD alone was 782 - in other words "dead meet". I went to see a cardiologist. They did an Echocardiogram and a Nuclear Stress test and told me everything is ok, but get your Cholesterol down. When I left, I asked him: "Did you even look at the result for the CT-Scan?" He said: "No" and that was the end of it.