My Story

December 2, 2004

My younger son at the age of 17 got his scuba diving equipment on, and went looking for lobsters off the jetty where we lived, I am glad I was there following his bubbles, he came up a long way from the boat, otherwise he would have possibly died , he did not know where he was and had not put out a marker buoy

Anne

December 2, 2004

Hello Joe

Would that be a 110 pound cat as well? Maybe you should work on

SpaceShip One, laughing gas has gotta to be at least more fun to breathe

than most Rocket fuels.

Maybe you could tell us which disabilities do not prohibit one from

taking scuba diving classes. I suspect that my Congestive Heart

Failure/ Cardiomyopathy and type II diabetes might be a problem for

scuba diving, probably should've certified in my twenties but diving is

cold in Canada. They would certify divers in Ghost Lake for the open

waters part and not only is the water ice cold but it's very murky since

it's an abandoned quarry, can't tell which way is up once you're in the

water.

Once during marine survival training, while in one of those cold water

gumby survival suits, I jumped into the water but with the suit zipped

up, wound up bobbing around upside down, head down because of the air

trapped in the legs of the suit. Fortunately the instructor pulled me

upright, I would not have been able to right myself without

assistance. Apparently one should not zip up any of these suits until

you get all the air out of them and the water into them.

Regards,

Joe wrote:

>

>Hey Everyone

>

>Thanks for welcoming me to the group.

>

>I live in Cocoa Beach, Florida about 3 blocks from the beach. Really

>love this area. I'm a scuba instructor. One of my certs allows me to

>teach people with disabilities to dive...really interesting...Diving

>is a passion to me been doing it almost 40 years. However passions

>don't pay the bills so my main job is an engineer for NASA at the

>Kennedy Space Center...yes I am a real rocket scientist.

>

>I'm married to Cheryl 25 years this year just before New Years eve. We

>have 2 boys (21 & 19 living at home and going to school. We also have

>a 110 pound black lab and cat.

>

>I have neuropathy in my feet...not incapacitating but painful and very

>annoying. It is progressing. The Neurologist feels I got the disease

>from of all thing inhaling rocket fuel...he has several cases similar

>to mine with one thread in common, we worked around rocket fuel. As

>far as the diving goes...it's thereputic to me...I'm weightless

>underwater with no pressure on my feet. The fin kicks happen from the

>thighs and feet just tag along. Additionally you breathe a higher

>concentration of O2 almost like hyperbaric treatment.

>

>I'll post my website and picture of family and underwater later

>

>Joe

>

....

December 2, 2004

Hey

Nah...the cat's a regular cat...Friend of mine used to keep a tank of

laughing gas at his house...told you to breathe 3 hits of the stuff

and bang your at 240 ft!

For diving the cardio vascular is important...mainly the lungs. People

do dive after major bypass surgary. A lot of research is going into

Diabetics and diving...NOAA say OK with diet controlled diabetes...But

another medical organization is doing alot to expand these bounds

Joe

December 2, 2004

Hey

Space One is a cool concept...On the first flight when he went into

the rolls...Shuttle would have ripped apart. That is one super spaceship

Joe

December 3, 2004

Hello Joe

Who gets to make the judgement call as to whether one should or

shouldn't take diving lessons? A Doctor, the student, the teacher, the

insurance company? Seems to me that there's no shortage of people

making recommendations but that's about it.

I have no doubt that back when I was diagnosed with CHF at an EF of 15%,

diving would've been out of the question then, hell lifting ten pounds

or walking across a room was out of the question back then but now at

between 50% and 65%, my blood seems to be fairly oxygenated most of the

times. Still, there's not much recourse if something goes wrong under

water.

I'm not worried about the diabetes, my glucose regulation has been

fairly rock solid unless I get sick and even then it's solid as long as

I keep with the once a day injection of Lantus, it's only a basing

injection so there's no danger of going hypoglycemic; when I was on oral

meds, I would be going hypo every morning at 11:00 am. I'd imagine

that a bite of chocolate would be difficult to find under water. It

was nice to have an excuse to pig out on candy at 11:00 am though.

Regards,

Joe wrote:

>

>Hey

>

>Nah...the cat's a regular cat...Friend of mine used to keep a tank of

>laughing gas at his house...told you to breathe 3 hits of the stuff

>and bang your at 240 ft!

>

>For diving the cardio vascular is important...mainly the lungs. People

>do dive after major bypass surgary. A lot of research is going into

>Diabetics and diving...NOAA say OK with diet controlled diabetes...But

>another medical organization is doing alot to expand these bounds

>

>Joe

>

....

December 3, 2004

Hello Joe

I liked how simple it is, slung underneath a plane so that it drops away

when released, rubber for the rocket fuel but the oxidizer could be

controlled and very little electronics. Avoid burning up in the

atmosphere from going too fast by not going too fast, and using a stable

geometry for re-entry. Must've been a challenge to keep it within the

25 miles of the home airport required by FAA for experimental aircraft

though.

I wonder if Burt Rutan was inspired by the inflatable balusta idea

proposed by student engineers in a contest for inexpensive re-entry by

changing the geometry to something that would re-enter slowly. The

swing wing is uniquely Rutan but I think credit should be given to the

young engineers that first figured out that wings were bad to have on

re-entry, balls, teakettles and inverted cones had nothing to slow them

down or keep them stable and that badminton cocks were the way to go.

I bet that he will put a large de-orbit engine on his orbital space ship

just to reduce the re-entry profile back to his proven sub-orbital

re-entry profile instead of trying to do a minimum energy re-entry burn

like NASA always does. The classic max min calculations that NASA

favours tends to overlook simpler solutions that are not the nearest

local minimum much as those same classical approaches favoured drum

brakes and rear wheel drive instead of disc brakes and front wheel

drive. Then again, I always wanted to see someone build a spaceship

that would re-enter that way ever since BattleStar Galactica tended to

show the Cylons doing a flip over when re-entering an atmosphere.

Now, the spaceship that I really wanted to see get made was the Delta

Clipper SSTO. True, no major advances like the aerospike engine or

scramjets and the retractable tripod was bound to fail but everything

was proven and it was just showing the advantages of modern composites

in saving weight. The X-33 orient express type stuff they picked over

the clipper was just asking for trouble with difficult pressure tank

geometries. my impression with NASA designs is that they always bite

off more than they can chew cause it's not just one person's vision but

rather always a design by committee.

As a child, when they kept changing the shuttle design, I kept saying

but what about the three seater that it was supposed to be...

Regards,

Joe wrote:

>

>Hey

>

>Space One is a cool concept...On the first flight when he went into

>the rolls...Shuttle would have ripped apart. That is one super spaceship

>

>Joe

>

....

January 4, 2005

In a message dated 1/4/05 7:43:31, hopelesslyob@... writes:

The reason I have come to this forum is to find out if what I am

experiencing has anything to do with my previously diagnosed and

treated hyperaldosteronism. I am 5 years post op and I gained 100

pounds the first year after my surgery, my story goes like this:

My first symptoms 12 years ago were fatigue and heart palpitations

and sleep attacks. I went to a doctor who treated me for

hypothyroidism and anxiety and high blood pressure over the course I

spent countless nights in the hospital when my blood pressure would

shoot out of control and they would give me large amounts of

colnadine to lower my pressure my head would hurts so much that I

could barely stand it they would release me and the doctor would

increase my blood pressure meds write me a prescription for xanax

and tell me to get a hold on my stress. M

HTNN is almost never due to stress alone.

Clonidine is like the Shaqdow-it clouds mens minds.

y pressure continued to

rise and fall and my head pounded and I got constant jolts of

adrenaline, my fatigue made my life terrible I couldn't clean my

house when I got home from work I had anxiety attacks and lost every

friend I had because everyone got sick of me wining that something

was wrong and my constant agitated state, this went on for 7 years

Until I went to the emergency room one night and my husband

confronted the ER doctor and said is there anything that could cause

this and he said well it is really rare - but an adrenal tumor could

cause this.

Cause what? Was K low as well?

The next morning at my doctor's office I asked the

doctor if a tumor could cause my problems and he laughed and said,

it was too rare and would be a waste of my money.

They are rare unless you have one yourselt then they are universal. This is very poor doctoring.

]

At this time I was

taking 7 pills a day included in this was a potassium pill because

the doc seemed to think my blood pressure meds was causing this

problem. An EKG from the ER had pointed out I had low potassium.

He just put me on potassium and didn't check it again.

This is not good medical judgement.

Anyway to

make a long story short. I went to another doctor, I was on so many

medications that I though I was going nuts (and I was) The doctor

thought I was a fruit until he saw my lab report and my almost non

existent potassium level. Then my journey began he ordered a ct

scan and my 3 centimeter tumor showed up and the a 24 hour urine

showed my aldostorone levels were off the chart, they started me on

Spiro and my blood pressure went down my head stopped hurting. Then

I went to an Endo Doc in Atlanta and the monitoring began I called

in my BP everyday and then my Spiro was stopped and my change was

monitored and test were performed to see if my left adrenal gland

was effected 3 months later I went into the hospital and had the

gland removed laparoscopic.

What did the tumor show? I assume they did tests to see if the problem was on both sides or only on one ie an adrenal vein cath study? If tnot they were not very experienced in this area.

I went home two days later a different

person with normal blood pressure an end to seven years of drugs and

the Endo doctor would not let me go back on synthroid. Maybe this

caused my weight gain? My thyroid is registering normal levels on

the low side. since that time in addition to the weight gain I have

severe depression that is controlled with medication and I have

severe sleep apnea that is controlled with a full face mask and now

my blood pressure is up again and I am on BP meds again and my sight

is terrible when I went to have my glasses increased the optometrist

says my eyes seem fine, and they are when they are dilated and

relaxed. My day to day life I have visual disturbance and I can

hardly see anything. I appreciate your listening.

Suspect SA came on as weight went up.

What were you on for depression-many will gain weight on some of these drugs.

How much do you weigh now?

Have renin and aldos been remeasured?

Do others in your fajiily have HTN and or low K?

January 4, 2005

Incredible story. Thanks for sharing it. Many of the parts have

probably been experienced in one form or another by many of us in the

group.

The part about losing friends because people don't like illness much to

begin with, but something physicians are less familiar or tolerant

about. . .

I am requesting DR Grim consult w/my endo now. He says to find a

hypertension specialist via a professional association I can't find

yet. .

Dr Grim?

Pearson

On Jan 4, 2005, at 5:42 AM, hopelesslyob wrote:

>

> The reason I have come to this forum is to find out if what I am

> experiencing has anything to do with my previously diagnosed and

> treated hyperaldosteronism. I am 5 years post op and I gained 100

> pounds the first year after my surgery, my story goes like this:

>

> My first symptoms 12 years ago were fatigue and heart palpitations

> and sleep attacks. I went to a doctor who treated me for

> hypothyroidism and anxiety and high blood pressure over the course I

> spent countless nights in the hospital when my blood pressure would

> shoot out of control and they would give me large amounts of

> colnadine to lower my pressure my head would hurts so much that I

> could barely stand it they would release me and the doctor would

> increase my blood pressure meds write me a prescription for xanax

> and tell me to get a hold on my stress. My pressure continued to

> rise and fall and my head pounded and I got constant jolts of

> adrenaline, my fatigue made my life terrible I couldn't clean my

> house when I got home from work I had anxiety attacks and lost every

> friend I had because everyone got sick of me wining that something

> was wrong and my constant agitated state, this went on for 7 years

> Until I went to the emergency room one night and my husband

> confronted the ER doctor and said is there anything that could cause

> this and he said well it is really rare - but an adrenal tumor could

> cause this. The next morning at my doctor's office I asked the

> doctor if a tumor could cause my problems and he laughed and said,

> it was too rare and would be a waste of my money. At this time I was

> taking 7 pills a day included in this was a potassium pill because

> the doc seemed to think my blood pressure meds was causing this

> problem. An EKG from the ER had pointed out I had low potassium.

> He just put me on potassium and didn't check it again. Anyway to

> make a long story short. I went to another doctor, I was on so many

> medications that I though I was going nuts (and I was) The doctor

> thought I was a fruit until he saw my lab report and my almost non

> existent potassium level. Then my journey began he ordered a ct

> scan and my 3 centimeter tumor showed up and the a 24 hour urine

> showed my aldostorone levels were off the chart, they started me on

> Spiro and my blood pressure went down my head stopped hurting. Then

> I went to an Endo Doc in Atlanta and the monitoring began I called

> in my BP everyday and then my Spiro was stopped and my change was

> monitored and test were performed to see if my left adrenal gland

> was effected 3 months later I went into the hospital and had the

> gland removed laparoscopic. I went home two days later a different

> person with normal blood pressure an end to seven years of drugs and

> the Endo doctor would not let me go back on synthroid. Maybe this

> caused my weight gain? My thyroid is registering normal levels on

> the low side. since that time in addition to the weight gain I have

> severe depression that is controlled with medication and I have

> severe sleep apnea that is controlled with a full face mask and now

> my blood pressure is up again and I am on BP meds again and my sight

> is terrible when I went to have my glasses increased the optometrist

> says my eyes seem fine, and they are when they are dilated and

> relaxed. My day to day life I have visual disturbance and I can

> hardly see anything. I appreciate your listening.

>

January 5, 2005

>

> In a message dated 1/4/05 7:43:31, hopelesslyob@y... writes:

>

> >

> HTNN is almost never due to stress alone.

I agree, I spent a lot of time trying to tell my doctor that I was

not stressed. His asumption was that because I had a high pressure

job that I had brought it on my self. Like you said rare as it is

many doctors may never know to look at it. My biggest mistake was

staying with this doctor I was orginally sent to him because of my

palpatations and I saw him every two months. In hind sight he was

very bad because he did not do blood work like he should of and he

went out of his way to make me feel like I was a hypocondriac. I

left my job on his advice that it was too stressful and derailed my

career for about ten years. The GP I went to for a second oppinion

diagnoised hypo aldostorone in two weeks, he also chastised the

doctor who had treated me for all those years.

>

> Clonidine is like the Shaqdow-it clouds mens minds.

> >> >

>

> Cause what? Was K low as well?

Yep>

>

> > > >

> They are rare unless you have one yourselt then they are

universal. This is

> very poor doctoring.

> >

> This is not good medical judgement.

>

> >

>

> What did the tumor show? I assume they did tests to see if the

problem was

> on both sides or only on one ie an adrenal vein cath study? If

tnot they

> were not very experienced in this area.

They tested both sides and felt only the right side was effected,

Here is the kicker, right after my surgery the doctors group split

up and my medical records were lost two months later they found them

and my 24 hour follow up urnialyist showed I had low cortisol. When

I asked my GP he took a blood test and said it was fine. My GP says

my routine blood work looks fine and does not see a reason to run

any furthur tests.

>

>> >

> Suspect SA came on as weight went up. I had sleep problems before

I got fat and of course the weight has made it much worse.

>

> What were you on for depression-many will gain weight on some of

these drugs. Zoloft>

>

> How much do you weigh now? 289

>

> Have renin and aldos been remeasured? what is that and how is it

checked?

>

> Do others in your fajiily have HTN and or low K?

yes high blood pressure is predominate don't know about anyones

potasium levels.

My oldest son has Narcalepsy and high blood pressure, his

neuroligist is constantly ajusting his medication because it also

increases his already high blood pressure. He was involved in a

study at a drug company and they have him on better meds.

> >

January 5, 2005

> Incredible story. Thanks for sharing it. Many of the parts have

> probably been experienced in one form or another by many of us in

the

> group.

>

> The part about losing friends because people don't like illness

much to

> begin with, but something physicians are less familiar or tolerant

> about. . .

>

I have to agree with you that medicine needs to evolve into the

treatment of the whole person - mind and body. The very fact that

low K causes anxity is not well known by the average person. Many

mental conditions can be symptoms of physical disease and visea

versa. Many doctors who treat endo disease like diabetes and and

adrenal disease etc.. ignore the effect it has on the person and

their everyday ability to cope with everyday life.

My worse experience in dealing with doctors through this was that I

was scoffed at and made to feel guilty that I was seeking an answer

to how I felt. I even asked the endo doctor to let me off work for a

couple of weeks prior to my surgery because I was coming unglued

after all the hormone therapys and drug changes and her answer was

why? After the surgery she commented to me that it was just

incredible how different I was.

January 5, 2005

Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the inherited form of PA.

Called GRA and there is info on it at our site.

In a message dated 1/5/05 6:43:58 AM, hopelesslyob@... writes:

My oldest son has and high blood pressure, his

neuroligist is constantly ajusting his medication because it also

increases his already high blood pressure. He was involved in a

study at a drug company and they have him on better meds.

A

January 6, 2005

> Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the inherited form of PA.

>

> Called GRA and there is info on it at our site.

>

> In a message dated 1/5/05 6:43:58 AM, hopelesslyob@y... writes:

>

> > My oldest son has and high blood pressure, his

> > neuroligist is constantly ajusting his medication because it also

> > increases his already high blood pressure. He was involved in a

> > study at a drug company and they have him on better meds.

> >

>

> A

I don't know what your site is?

but I did find a web page for Yale medical school that will test for

free and even pays for the shipment.

I did find it interesting that GRA is prominate among people of

Scotish and Irish backrounds, I was born on the UK and I my family

is primarley from Scotland. My son and I are both blonde and blue

eyed. I also found an interesting article on sleep apnea and PA it

follows:

extracted on 01/06/05 from

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/5/1863

Aldosterone Excretion Among Subjects With Resistant Hypertension and

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea*

A. Calhoun, MD; Mari K. Nishizaka, MD; Mohammad A. Zaman, MD

and M. Harding, MD, FCCP

* From the Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, Division of

Cardiovascular Disease (Drs. Nishizaka and Zaman), Veterans Affairs

Medical Center (Dr. Calhoun), and the UAB Sleep/Wake Disorders

Center, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

(Dr. Harding), University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

Correspondence to: A. Calhoun, MD, 520 ZRB, 703 South

Nineteenth St, Birmingham, AL 35294-0007; e-mail: dcalhoun@...

Objective: The severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) correlates

with the difficulty of controlling BP. The mechanism, however, by

which sleep apnea contributes to the development of resistant

hypertension remains obscure. Having observed a high prevalence of

OSA among hypertensive subjects with primary hyperaldosteronism, we

hypothesized a possible association between sleep apnea and

aldosterone excretion.

Design: In consecutive subjects referred to a university clinic for

resistant hypertension, we prospectively determined plasma renin

activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), and 24-h

urinary aldosterone excretion during high dietary salt ingestion. In

addition, all subjects completed the Berlin Questionnaire, a survey

designed to identify subjects at risk of having sleep apnea. Primary

hyperaldosteronism (PA) was defined as a PRA < 1.0 ng/mL/h and 24-h

urinary aldosterone excretion > 12 µg during high urinary sodium

excretion (> 200 mEq/24 h).

Results: Of the 114 subjects evaluated, 72 subjects had a high

probability and 42 subjects had a low probability of having sleep

apnea based on their responses to the Berlin Questionnaire. Subjects

at high risk for sleep apnea were almost two times more likely to

have PA diagnosed (36 vs 19%, p < 0.05), tended to have lower PRA

(1.2 ± 1.8 ng/mL/h vs 1.9 ± 4.1 ng/mL/h), and had significantly

greater 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion (13.6 ± 9.6 µg vs 9.8 ±

7.6 µg, p < 0.05) compared to subjects at low risk of sleep apnea.

Conclusion: These data provide evidence of increased aldosterone

excretion in subjects with resistant hypertension and symptoms of

sleep apnea. While the causality of this association is unknown, it

is hypothesized that sleep apnea contributes to the development of

resistant hypertension by stimulating aldosterone excretion.

Key Words: hyperaldosteronism • hypertension • renin • sleep apnea

January 6, 2005

Hi

My son is sixteen; he was fifteen when diagnosed with

hypertension and LVH.

He's a good kid. He does live with several of the

effects of sleep apnea. We are hoping he will find

relief, perhaps through tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.

He still gets severe otitis media (ear infections)

from time to time, so we have a feeling the surgery

might help and we are looking into it.

He is overweight, and is active in a program here at

Cincinnati Children's Hospital called " HealthWorks! " .

He has been making more healthy eating choices and

being more physically active. He's lost over 23 lbs

so far.

He was worked up in a reasearch study for sleep apnea

as part of the HealthWorks! program. That is how we

found out about his diagnosis.

Warmly,

Pam

--- hopelesslyob <hopelesslyob@...> wrote:

>

> How old is your son? That must be so hard for him,

> has he started on

> a cpap machine yet--- They know that sleep

> deprivation causes weight

> gain, because the body (excuse my attempt at

> discribing:) as I was

> saying the body goes into a kind of emergeny

> defensive posture.

>

> Having sleep apnea is like running a marathon

> every night. The

> body is fighting to breath. A person with severe

> apnea will actually

> feel better rested on three hours of sleep than

> eight hours. Their

> metabolisum will slow to protect the body's organs

> and so the person

> is in a constant state of exhaustion. Sleep apnea

> also has a direct

> coralation with high blood pressure and in some

> studies was found to

> cause high blood pressure. Of course you would want

> to confirmed my

> comments with a professional.

>

> In hyperaldosteronism , Pamela

> s

> <spirlhelix@y...> wrote:

> > Thanks for sharing this!

> >

> > We just found out that my son with hypertension

> and

> > LVH has sleep apnea. I have been tested for GRA

> and

> > do not have it. This is useful information for

> us.

> >

> > I recently also saw an article that connected

> sleep

> > deprivation with increase in appetite,

> particularly

> > associated with cravings for sweet or salty foods.

>

> > Very interesting!

> >

> > Warmly,

> >

> > Pam

> >

> > --- hopelesslyob <hopelesslyob@y...> wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > > Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the

> > > inherited form of PA.

> > > >

> > > > Called GRA and there is info on it at our

> site.

> > > >

> > > > In a message dated 1/5/05 6:43:58 AM,

> > > hopelesslyob@y... writes:

> > > >

> > > > > My oldest son has and high blood pressure,

> his

> > > > > neuroligist is constantly ajusting his

> > > medication because it also

> > > > > increases his already high blood pressure.

> He

> > > was involved in a

> > > > > study at a drug company and they have him

> on

> > > better meds.

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > A

> > >

> > > I don't know what your site is?

> > >

> > > but I did find a web page for Yale medical

> school

> > > that will test for

> > > free and even pays for the shipment.

> > >

> > > I did find it interesting that GRA is prominate

> > > among people of

> > > Scotish and Irish backrounds, I was born on the

> UK

> > > and I my family

> > > is primarley from Scotland. My son and I are

> both

> > > blonde and blue

> > > eyed. I also found an interesting article on

> sleep

> > > apnea and PA it

> > > follows:

> > >

> > > extracted on 01/06/05 from

> > >

> >

>

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/5/1863

> > >

> > > Aldosterone Excretion Among Subjects With

> Resistant

> > > Hypertension and

> > > Symptoms of Sleep Apnea*

> > > A. Calhoun, MD; Mari K. Nishizaka, MD;

> > > Mohammad A. Zaman, MD

> > > and M. Harding, MD, FCCP

> > > * From the Vascular Biology and Hypertension

> > > Program, Division of

> > > Cardiovascular Disease (Drs. Nishizaka and

> Zaman),

> > > Veterans Affairs

> > > Medical Center (Dr. Calhoun), and the UAB

> Sleep/Wake

> > > Disorders

> > > Center, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and

> Critical

> > > Care Medicine

> > > (Dr. Harding), University of Alabama at

> Birmingham,

> > > Birmingham, AL.

> > > Correspondence to: A. Calhoun, MD, 520

> ZRB,

> > > 703 South

> > > Nineteenth St, Birmingham, AL 35294-0007;

> e-mail:

> > > dcalhoun@u...

> > > Objective: The severity of obstructive sleep

> apnea

> > > (OSA) correlates

> > > with the difficulty of controlling BP. The

> > > mechanism, however, by

> > > which sleep apnea contributes to the development

> of

> > > resistant

> > > hypertension remains obscure. Having observed a

> high

> > > prevalence of

> > > OSA among hypertensive subjects with primary

> > > hyperaldosteronism, we

> > > hypothesized a possible association between

> sleep

> > > apnea and

> > > aldosterone excretion.

> > > Design: In consecutive subjects referred to a

> > > university clinic for

> > > resistant hypertension, we prospectively

> determined

> > > plasma renin

> > > activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration

> > > (PAC), and 24-h

> > > urinary aldosterone excretion during high

> dietary

> > > salt ingestion. In

> > > addition, all subjects completed the Berlin

> > > Questionnaire, a survey

> > > designed to identify subjects at risk of having

> > > sleep apnea. Primary

> > > hyperaldosteronism (PA) was defined as a PRA <

> 1.0

> > > ng/mL/h and 24-h

> > > urinary aldosterone excretion > 12 µg during

> high

> > > urinary sodium

> > > excretion (> 200 mEq/24 h).

> > > Results: Of the 114 subjects evaluated, 72

> subjects

> > > had a high

> > > probability and 42 subjects had a low

> probability of

> > > having sleep

> > > apnea based on their responses to the Berlin

> > > Questionnaire. Subjects

> > > at high risk for sleep apnea were almost two

> times

> > > more likely to

> > > have PA diagnosed (36 vs 19%, p < 0.05), tended

> to

> > > have lower PRA

> > > (1.2 ± 1.8 ng/mL/h vs 1.9 ± 4.1 ng/mL/h), and

> had

> > > significantly

> > > greater 24-h urinary aldosterone excretion (13.6

> ±

> > > 9.6 µg vs 9.8 ±

> > > 7.6 µg, p < 0.05) compared to subjects at low

> risk

>

=== message truncated ===

=====

" I'd rather learn from one bird how to sing, than to teach ten thousand stars

how not to dance. "

__________________________________________________

January 7, 2005

> My worse experience in dealing with doctors through this was that

I

> was scoffed at and made to feel guilty that I was seeking an

answer

> to how I felt. I even asked the endo doctor to let me off work for

a

> couple of weeks prior to my surgery because I was coming unglued

> after all the hormone therapys and drug changes and her answer was

> why? After the surgery she commented to me that it was just

> incredible how different I was.

I can't tell you how many times I was told to see a psychiatrist.

It was a humiliating and awful experience. At one point, only my

family doctor believed me. I was so ill. I was totally disabled.

I had many peripheral diagnoses. I had to beg doctors to support my

disability claims. My now ex-wife thought it was all depression. I

was humiliated that I even was on disability. " What do you do all

day? " Like you are on vacation. Bastards!!!! Now that I have

muscle strength, I would like to go back and punch those <censored>

in the face--and that inculdes a couple of arrogant doctors. For

those who advocate medical liability reform, please include an

exception for arrogant doctors. They should be sued out of

existance.

I, too, am a totally different person after treatment. I can't

believe how much better I feel (knock on wood). It seems too good

to be true. I feel like the hammer has got to fall again,

sometime! It can't possibly be this good! I making preparations to

get my life back after 5 hellish years. I hope this isn't too good

to be true! I lost my wife, my career, almost my house, and my

health. It's time to get all those back!!!! I hope that this

improvement lasts--I worry that it won't!

Thanks,

Mike (on 100mg of Inspra in divided doses--Please Pfizer, don't ever

discontinue this drug--you can have anything, but please don't

discontinue this drug!!!)

January 7, 2005

> Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the inherited form of PA.

>

Doc, what specifically are these test. My nephrologist won't do

them. He thinks my age for diagnosis is too old for the inherited

types. My family doctor will do anything I ask, but I need to know

what to ask for.

Thanks,

Mike

January 7, 2005

Mike,

A side from my whineing, life is so much better. I have read several

posts here in this forum that confirm the way I felt. I was an

absolute nut case beside the poor doctoring I received.

The drug induced state I was kept in I came out of it understanding

that it was an illness that made me fee so screwed up and I only

confirmed my feelings through my own studies.

I understood that unless a doctor was interested in that particular

chapter in their medical studies they almosted acted like it was

something manifested in my mind- hence the word Syndrome from

websters dictionary 1 : a group of signs and symptoms that occur

together and characterize a particular abnormality

2 : a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usually

form an identifiable pattern.

I think that the word syndrome needs to go- it is a disease and it

is directly atributed to the Adrenal Gland.

Dr. Grim said it well " it is extremely rare, until it is your

disease then it is the center of the universe "

I sought counciling about a year after my surgery because I felt

ready to start my life back up I had lost my career and a good

income. I am now just about back where I should be.

January 7, 2005

I ditto this. My endo wants to do it, but can't find what this test is.

Dave

On Jan 7, 2005, at 1:17 AM, lord_mike_the_great wrote:

>

>> Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the inherited form of PA.

>>

>

> Doc, what specifically are these test. My nephrologist won't do

> them. He thinks my age for diagnosis is too old for the inherited

> types. My family doctor will do anything I ask, but I need to know

> what to ask for.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mike

>

January 7, 2005

Mike, I share your feelings. Arrogance is there with some, but fear

can masquearade as many compensatory things. Docs don't like to be

seen as ignorant of fearful. Nobody does. The truth is this disease

is just getting established in the praticum and various clinical

resources. They just don't know what to do, and many won't admit it.

Blaming patients for having anxiety or panic is the standard cop-out.

The liability picture has gotten much worse too, because both

government as well as medical institutions are on this fashionable

laissez faire or " free market " approach, and nobody wants to be

accountable for anything. You can see why. Civil lawyers have gotten

the power to determine what the " free market " does. SOME regulation is

needed in medicine and education. Reagan was wrong about that. The

neoliberals and their GATT/NAFTA free trade cult as just as bad.

I experience the opposite of this arrogance coverup, sometimes. I am

mid 50's, grey beard, and with a PhD. They SHOW that they are scared

of me. They don't want to educate me because what they CAN say is so

damn silly and fragmented. " Uh, we don't really know anything. . .we

used to think it was rare, but now it looks more common in BP cases. .

..but it seems to be one component. . .but the tests are not definitive.

.. .K in the blood reflects tissue K activity only imperfectly and the

ratios aren't that clear. . .and there are these embryonic tissues so

even if you have both glands out there is a 40% chance you'll end up

still having hyperalosteronism. . .etc. "

That last one is my favorite, I must say!

Dave

On Jan 7, 2005, at 1:15 AM, lord_mike_the_great wrote:

>

>> My worse experience in dealing with doctors through this was that

> I

>> was scoffed at and made to feel guilty that I was seeking an

> answer

>> to how I felt. I even asked the endo doctor to let me off work for

> a

>> couple of weeks prior to my surgery because I was coming unglued

>> after all the hormone therapys and drug changes and her answer was

>> why? After the surgery she commented to me that it was just

>> incredible how different I was.

>

> I can't tell you how many times I was told to see a psychiatrist.

> It was a humiliating and awful experience. At one point, only my

> family doctor believed me. I was so ill. I was totally disabled.

> I had many peripheral diagnoses. I had to beg doctors to support my

> disability claims. My now ex-wife thought it was all depression. I

> was humiliated that I even was on disability. " What do you do all

> day? " Like you are on vacation. Bastards!!!! Now that I have

> muscle strength, I would like to go back and punch those <censored>

> in the face--and that inculdes a couple of arrogant doctors. For

> those who advocate medical liability reform, please include an

> exception for arrogant doctors. They should be sued out of

> existance.

>

> I, too, am a totally different person after treatment. I can't

> believe how much better I feel (knock on wood). It seems too good

> to be true. I feel like the hammer has got to fall again,

> sometime! It can't possibly be this good! I making preparations to

> get my life back after 5 hellish years. I hope this isn't too good

> to be true! I lost my wife, my career, almost my house, and my

> health. It's time to get all those back!!!! I hope that this

> improvement lasts--I worry that it won't!

>

> Thanks,

>

> Mike (on 100mg of Inspra in divided doses--Please Pfizer, don't ever

> discontinue this drug--you can have anything, but please don't

> discontinue this drug!!!)

>

January 7, 2005

I can tell you I have been hearing this story for over 40 years-you are ARE a

different preson when your K and BP is normal.

This disease was first reported over 50 years ago and I have spent my career

saying it sis common. Maybe its time for a class action law suit or at least a

few to get the point acrss.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

January 7, 2005

--

Or we need to get a bunch of patient's on Ophra!

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

January 7, 2005

Its a DNA test. Done in Dr. Lifton's lab at Yale.

You are never too old and it will help portect the rest of th eamily who have

not yet had strokes etc.

If your family has it, 50% of your 1st degree relatives will have it on the

average. Tell them to read about it.

It is called GRA for Glucocorticoid Remedial Aldosteronism.

In a message dated 1/7/2005 2:35:25 PM Eastern Standard Time, " Molly & Co. "

<dp@...> writes:

>

>I ditto this. My endo wants to do it, but can't find what this test is.

>

>Dave

>

>On Jan 7, 2005, at 1:17 AM, lord_mike_the_great wrote:

>

>>

>>> Ask his Dr. to test the two of you for the inherited form of PA.

>>>

>>

>> Doc, what specifically are these test. My nephrologist won't do

>> them. He thinks my age for diagnosis is too old for the inherited

>> types. My family doctor will do anything I ask, but I need to know

>> what to ask for.

>>

>> Thanks,

>>

>> Mike

>>

January 7, 2005

here here i was just like all of that also.

but did not lose my wife she is the greatest.

but question to u is did the inspra make the most of the difference or was some of this in your head like the drs told me from time to time .

like the one in e-r said MR what r we going to do for u today its been the 3rd time we have seen u in a month and we do not treat hypertension that would be your drs call.

by the way my dr told me to go to the e-r.

lol drs are so into there selves!!!!!!!

like little gods most just make me sicker( by the way im being very nice).

im on spero 50 2x aday and 25 mlg of toperol 2x aday.

and the truth is i feel like dog shit. ( sorry ).

was u on spero and when it was gone was it better?

Thanks

Mark

Re: my story

> My worse experience in dealing with doctors through this was that I > was scoffed at and made to feel guilty that I was seeking an answer > to how I felt. I even asked the endo doctor to let me off work for a > couple of weeks prior to my surgery because I was coming unglued > after all the hormone therapys and drug changes and her answer was > why? After the surgery she commented to me that it was just > incredible how different I was.I can't tell you how many times I was told to see a psychiatrist. It was a humiliating and awful experience. At one point, only my family doctor believed me. I was so ill. I was totally disabled. I had many peripheral diagnoses. I had to beg doctors to support my disability claims. My now ex-wife thought it was all depression. I was humiliated that I even was on disability. "What do you do all day?" Like you are on vacation. Bastards!!!! Now that I have muscle strength, I would like to go back and punch those <censored> in the face--and that inculdes a couple of arrogant doctors. For those who advocate medical liability reform, please include an exception for arrogant doctors. They should be sued out of existance.I, too, am a totally different person after treatment. I can't believe how much better I feel (knock on wood). It seems too good to be true. I feel like the hammer has got to fall again, sometime! It can't possibly be this good! I making preparations to get my life back after 5 hellish years. I hope this isn't too good to be true! I lost my wife, my career, almost my house, and my health. It's time to get all those back!!!! I hope that this improvement lasts--I worry that it won't! Thanks,Mike (on 100mg of Inspra in divided doses--Please Pfizer, don't ever discontinue this drug--you can have anything, but please don't discontinue this drug!!!)

January 7, 2005

Molly,

There would be a lot letss lawsuits if doctos said 3 words.

" I don't know. " oh, and add.. " I'm sorry "

My family doc says I don't know to me all the time. He says, " I

just don't know the answer to that, . " He has the confidence

to say, " I don't know " to a patient. I have a friend who's a

lawyer. He says that doctors who treat their pateints with dignity

and respect never get sued, even if they are total screwups. I

think I have to concur. My good docs have made plenty of mistakes,

but I 've always felt that they looked out for my best interests. I

owe them a lot! On the other hand, my bad docs--well, I hope they

eventually lose their license for treating their patients like

garbage and refuse.

Thanks,

Mike

>

> >

> >> My worse experience in dealing with doctors through this was

that

> > I

> >> was scoffed at and made to feel guilty that I was seeking an

> > answer

> >> to how I felt. I even asked the endo doctor to let me off work

for

> > a

> >> couple of weeks prior to my surgery because I was coming unglued

> >> after all the hormone therapys and drug changes and her answer

was

> >> why? After the surgery she commented to me that it was just

> >> incredible how different I was.

> >

> > I can't tell you how many times I was told to see a psychiatrist.

> > It was a humiliating and awful experience. At one point, only my

> > family doctor believed me. I was so ill. I was totally

disabled.

> > I had many peripheral diagnoses. I had to beg doctors to

support my

> > disability claims. My now ex-wife thought it was all

depression. I

> > was humiliated that I even was on disability. " What do you do

all

> > day? " Like you are on vacation. Bastards!!!! Now that I have

> > muscle strength, I would like to go back and punch those

> > in the face--and that inculdes a couple of arrogant doctors. For

> > those who advocate medical liability reform, please include an

> > exception for arrogant doctors. They should be sued out of

> > existance.

> >

> > I, too, am a totally different person after treatment. I can't

> > believe how much better I feel (knock on wood). It seems too

good

> > to be true. I feel like the hammer has got to fall again,

> > sometime! It can't possibly be this good! I making

preparations to

> > get my life back after 5 hellish years. I hope this isn't too

good

> > to be true! I lost my wife, my career, almost my house, and my

> > health. It's time to get all those back!!!! I hope that this

> > improvement lasts--I worry that it won't!

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Mike (on 100mg of Inspra in divided doses--Please Pfizer, don't

ever

> > discontinue this drug--you can have anything, but please don't

> > discontinue this drug!!!)

> >

January 7, 2005