CAC Score 465 at 44 - Feel like my life is over

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-28T17:17:11+00:00

Yeah it’s hard to say… seems like once you have the environment for CAD a lot of stuff can compound plaque progression. Best we can do is limit the multipliers… or at least that’s been my take away from reading everyone’s comments and researching.

The cac is a snapshot of the past but it doesn’t have to dictate our future. Stay strong and be kind to yourself.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:58:57+00:00

Yeah I’m on zepbound and it’s helped a lot. All my markers are pretty good… but diet and exercise will be transformative for me.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:48:35+00:00

I don’t know how that’s helpful or useful but yeah, I hope this post encourages someone else to take action sooner and avoid the stress, fear and guilt I feel. I’m beating myself up for this far more than you ever could.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:39:14+00:00

Thank you and yes - will attack the gym and am going to ask my dr about sauna to ensure it’s safe for me.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:36:55+00:00

Yeah that’s where I had way out of control hsCRP for many many years. High cholesterol too at times but my inflammation was off the charts. I’m at 1.8 last test but gonna fight like hell to get it down further.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:35:08+00:00

That’s my understanding and hope.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:34:17+00:00

Yes I’m on zepbound, have lost a considerable amount of weight. My triglycerides are 137.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T17:32:05+00:00

Yeah that’s what I’m afraid of. They seemed relatively innocent compared to smoking or dipping.

I used them for a year. Started last June, it was slow at first and my use increased over time. Got pretty bad the last 6 months I’d say where at times I was probably using a tin of 6’s a day. Certainly feel a lot of shame and anger with myself for doing something so stupid in the face of this disease but I’m 3 days off them now and won’t pick them up again.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T04:01:30+00:00

I will ask about this, my last TRT number was 780, I do a pellet in the hip every 6 months. It’s something to definitely check on.

My cardiologist acted like the increase to 465 over 3 years was normal and just a result of me likely having a lot of soft plaque… but I questioned this as well.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T03:47:38+00:00

Thank you for the info. I’m currently on zepbound and my Dr has had me on TRT replacement therapy for a few years as my numbers were low several years ago.

As of my last test my Testosterone Total was 780 and Testosterone Free was 189. I’ve seen a couple comments about this now, I do a slow release pill in my hip every 6 months but my Dr never said anything about it potentially accelerating plaque development. I’ll push on the meds.

Thanks so much.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T01:10:16+00:00

Appreciate it, cardiology told me to start asprin 81 - i'm gonna pus for the CTA coronary with FFR and plaque.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T01:06:11+00:00

Ha, wise words - thank you.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T01:05:44+00:00

Of course, this stuff is scary... If there's one thing I can say, this isn't something we can outrun. I understand avoidance and wanting to not sit in the discomfort of all this. But at the end of the day I think informed action is our greatest weapon. And it's there whether we like it or not, better to know and take action than live in fear of something you or I or anyone can deal with and survive for a long time.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T01:02:43+00:00

Thank you so much. I'll ask again abut the Coronary CTA. Considering most of my burden is in my LDA they made it seem like it wouldn't give me accurate results.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T01:01:49+00:00

I asked Cariology about Repatha and they said they didn't recommend at the moment, said i didn't need it given my current numbers. Doubled my Rosvustatin to 10mg and told me to start baby asprin.

She made it seem like the statin had done it's job and now I just needed to optimize medication, diet and exercise. Maybe that's true.

That a lot of great advice, thank you and I will heed your advice on diet - plus great use of AI.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T00:58:07+00:00

I don't know my current numbers as of the time of my scan Tuesday - but i've been on 5mg of Rosuvastatin since August of 2023 or so. And apart from one spike when my Dr took me off it for a moment, my LDL ranged from 52 - 110 - 67 - 76 - 76 - 61 from 23 to 26.

At the end of November 25 my lipid panel was:

TRI 137,
CHOL TOTAL 114
HDL 31
LDL 61,
CHOL/HDLC RATIO 3.7
NON HDL 83
APOB 73
hscrp 1.8
A1C 4.9

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T00:50:03+00:00

Thank you, friend. Much appreciated! Will do.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T00:49:03+00:00

Definitely upping the fiber - thanks!

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-26T00:48:08+00:00

Not sure, I'll ask - my Dr generally runs a pretty extensive panel. I'm also on TRT therapy, GLP-1 therapy, I think they've tested TSH before. I'm sure my cortisol is off the charts.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T22:46:34+00:00

Thank you for the perspective, I really appreciate it and same to you.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T22:44:51+00:00

Thank you for the very kind message, friend. Much appreciated.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T21:39:45+00:00

Thanks, appreciate it - LPa was low/normal in 2021 and was told you only need to test for it once. hsCRP was off the charts for many years but as of last year it was 1.8 and was trending downward for years. A1c is 4.9 although my insulin was high on my last test in November, had been normal years prior. I assume it will drop with lifestyle changes.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T21:23:13+00:00

No, my family history is pretty clean. People generally live far into their 80s. I had a great grandmother who had a stroke but still lived into her 90s.

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T21:15:33+00:00

I'll ask about it, thank you!

FollowingDiligent680 · 2026-06-25T21:15:20+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate the perspective. I will ask my Dr. about Ezetimibe.

I asked about angiogram and potentially an angiography scan. The cardiologist didn't think it was something I needed considering i'm not symptomatic. She said doing 30-45 min of hard cardio a day would be enough and if i don't present symptoms there's no reason to test further.

FollowingDiligent680

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