Get your "widowmaker" checked
 

About three weeks ago a guy tipped over dead in our parking lot...his hands weren't even abraded from checking his fall, according to the EMTs. Medium build, about 40 years old...don't be that guy.

Apparently, many people who are not overweight, pass brachial cuff tests, have good cholesterol and BP numbers, don't smoke, etc., can get undetected calcium buildup on the LAD (lower anterior descending?) artery. a/k/a "The Widowmaker".

Apparently, it can be over 90% blocked and you feel nothing, them it's "lights out". Yesterday I went for a CT scan...it was about $400 and may not be covered by Blue Cross, but it took about 15 minutes. In about a week, my MD and I get a CD ROM with pics and a report, then hopefully it's off to Krispi Kreme to do some donuts in the parking lot.

I'm assuming they would have shipped me off to the ER if something looked bad...

I did the same coronary CT about a month ago. It was very easy, and excellent to hear "your coronaries look perfect"! Well worth the cash payment.

"Apparently, many people who are not overweight, pass brachial cuff tests, have good cholesterol and BP numbers, don't smoke, etc., can get undetected calcium buildup on the LAD (lower anterior descending?) artery. a/k/a "The Widowmaker""

I was one of those guys on March 1st 2005. I was 49 then, met all the conditions above and nearly died! The only reason I lived was that I was within one hour from the onset of the event to having a Cardiac Catheterization and an Intra-aortic Balloon Pump inserted at a nearby hospital. I travel a lot and if this had happened on a plane or while I was on-the-road and in an area where getting to a hospital with these services was further away, I won’t be here enjoying all the great folks and information on X5 World. I was in the hospital 12 days compared to my dad who was 75 when he had a triple bypass. He was out in 4 days!!

Please take care of your selves my friends, I did and it still happened to me!!! Be conscious of your family history.

MJM

Actually, it is the LEFT anterior descending coronary artery. You were close....:thumbup:

Glad you are OK...Amen as regards family history. Can you vouch for the fact that there are no warning signs?

Did you do it at FL Hosp or ORMC? I did 3 years of training "once upon a time" at ORMC.

ORMC is conveniently close, but my GP sent me to Drew Medical...I know the machine they used was made by Philips...I've made note of the correct artery description and will duly stay in a Holiday Inn Express prior to any future scrubbing in. :)

Just curious: Did a radiologist or cardiologist read your scan?

I believe radiologists read the CT scan..but I am in no way qualified to take more than a guess. I believe there is a standardized scoring system that judges the degree of calcium buildup.

Equally curious: Do you have an opinion as to the relative qualifications of either to read these?