I am seeing my first Cardio Mar 31st. Have dealt with my PC Doc up to know. Here's the first draft of a letter I plan to send him next week. The battle begins!
Dear Dr xxxxxx,
I have an appointment with you on March 31st. This letter is written to ask for some tests to be ordered before that appointment. I was a asymptomatic 72-year-old male when I paid for a heart scan at Holistica Lab in Oct of 2007. That revealed that I had a calcium score of 322. A thallium stress test done here at Kaiser showed that I am stable. I set out to try to slow down the normal 35% annual increase in plaque though diet, exercise, simvastatin and supplements. I was fortunate enough not only to be able to slow and stop my plaque growth, but to reduce it. A heart scan at this hospital in Oct of 2008 revealed a calcium score of 219. A 32% regression.
My lipid panel, per Kaiser,...4/07......10/08
CHOLESTEROL....................164 144
TRIGLYCERIDE 147 79
HDL 34 38
LDL 101 90
My "normal" lipids, combined with my low HDL and my plaque score, leads me to suspect that I am high in small, dense LDL.
So I need to know my LDL particle number, the gold standard for LDL. I need an advanced lipid panel done, either NMR, VAP, or Berkeley. I would prefer NMR because it's easier to read, or VAP, if NMR is not available though Kaiser. If the tests show I have high small, dense LDL, there are a number of steps I can take that will correct that LDL abnormality.
I attribute my plaque regression primarily to my raising my 25Hydroxy D-3 blood level to 80 by taking 6000IU of D-3 soft gels a day. My last test for this was Jan 08, and I would like another test done now.
I consider a C Reactive Protein test to be essential to check inflammation level.
A homocysteine test is also needed, as is a Magnesium one.
Very Truly Yours, |
