CT Scan - Dr. Kramer

July 7, 2010

I will be traveling tomorrow morning to Dr. Kramer's office in Charlotte, NC. I

will be having blood draws prior to the ct scan and I will be asking the

phlebotomist to not use a tourniquet nor do I want to squeeze any object or make

a fist. I plan on taking Dr. Grims notes on what not to do or should do for a K

draw.

The ct scan I believe is with and without contrast if I heard Dr. Kramer

correctly focusing on the adrenals. I do not know if I will know anything

tomorrow or not but I will post to let everyone know.

I am also carrying urine across the state line. One aldo and one na/K. I hope

I don't get caught doing that. this wouldn't be the first time in my family!

True!

TIP: I almost voided today without catching but thankfully enough I had put

measures in place to help should I forget about catching the urine. I have a

master bath upstairs and early today before my shower I closed the lid on the

toilet seat and put the toilet plunger on top of it should I try to use the

bathroom and forget to catch. I knew if I saw the plunger I would realize that

I was doing something I shouldn't be doing. Well I did make an effort to go

right before my shower and the toilet plunger kept me from making a mistake.

Thank Goodness! Just a tip for you urine catchers!

Looking for a diagnosis soon!

Charlotte Zahnd

July 8, 2010

Glad you got everything done.

When I had my CT and ultrasound done on my adrenals and kidney, I was put on a special diet with very little sodium allowed for 48 hours before them. Did you have to do anything like that or was life normal for you.

So when do you return for the results?

Pam

I have returned home and continue to be impressed by Dr. Kramer but also everyone working at the Mecklenburg Medical Group in Charlotte, NC.Today I turned in my urine for na/k and aldo and also had blood draws taken for the following:

AldoReninBMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)18-b oxycortisol ??? I believe this is testing for GRA (glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism)Seems that there were 5 stickers on my chart, I must be missing one!

The Phlebotomist did as I asked by not using a tourniquet or hand squeeze an object, so that my blood potassium would be checked properly. She seemed to understand that.I went downstairs to Carolina Imaging and did my ct scan first without contract and then later with contrast.

First, I drank approximately 8 oz. water and waited 30 minutes. I went in and out the machine a few times without contrast. There was difficulty getting a vein to insert the iodine contrast (150cc) but it was managed. i did get a minor warm feeling but almost immediately my bladder was getting full. I was told this is normal.

After going in and out of the machine a few times after the contrast, I told my lab tech that I wasn't sure if I would be able to wait the 10 minutes before the next scan, because I desperately needed to urinate but would try my best to hold as long as possible, maybe she could find a bed pan so I wouldn't have to get up. She said if I had to go to the bathroom that they would have to take an extra scan for some reason I don't recall. She saw how miserable I was becoming holding my urine, so she helped me get up (only because my bladder felt like it was about to explode), relieved myself and then returned for the last scan plus the extra one.

So that's that! These trips take a total of 4 hours but very worth it for peace of mind and expertise of Dr. K.The fact that Dr. Kramer is looking at all avenues regarding aldosteronism (meaning testing the 18-b steroid) has blown my socks off. I feel certain he will arrive at some conclusion as far as PA goes and get me on my way back to better health whether it's PA or not!

I'm so happy that I am in good hands! What a relief! I finally feel like someone has taken me seriously and that good health is just a few trips away. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!Charlotte Zahnd

July 8, 2010

Excellent Tiped sad Send form miiPhone ;-)May your pressure be low!CE Grim MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertension

I have returned home and continue to be impressed by Dr. Kramer but also everyone working at the Mecklenburg Medical Group in Charlotte, NC.

Today I turned in my urine for na/k and aldo and also had blood draws taken for the following:

Aldo

Renin

BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)

18-b oxycortisol ??? I believe this is testing for GRA (glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism)

Seems that there were 5 stickers on my chart, I must be missing one!

The Phlebotomist did as I asked by not using a tourniquet or hand squeeze an object, so that my blood potassium would be checked properly. She seemed to understand that.

I went downstairs to Carolina Imaging and did my ct scan first without contract and then later with contrast.

First, I drank approximately 8 oz. water and waited 30 minutes. I went in and out the machine a few times without contrast. There was difficulty getting a vein to insert the iodine contrast (150cc) but it was managed. i did get a minor warm feeling but almost immediately my bladder was getting full. I was told this is normal.

After going in and out of the machine a few times after the contrast, I told my lab tech that I wasn't sure if I would be able to wait the 10 minutes before the next scan, because I desperately needed to urinate but would try my best to hold as long as possible, maybe she could find a bed pan so I wouldn't have to get up. She said if I had to go to the bathroom that they would have to take an extra scan for some reason I don't recall. She saw how miserable I was becoming holding my urine, so she helped me get up (only because my bladder felt like it was about to explode), relieved myself and then returned for the last scan plus the extra one.

So that's that! These trips take a total of 4 hours but very worth it for peace of mind and expertise of Dr. K.

The fact that Dr. Kramer is looking at all avenues regarding aldosteronism (meaning testing the 18-b steroid) has blown my socks off. I feel certain he will arrive at some conclusion as far as PA goes and get me on my way back to better health whether it's PA or not!

I'm so happy that I am in good hands! What a relief! I finally feel like someone has taken me seriously and that good health is just a few trips away. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Charlotte Zahnd

July 8, 2010

Hey Pam,

Glad to hear from you. I was not asked to

change diet, just collect urine as required and show up at appointment from ct

scan. Man, what a difference health care is at Mecklenburg Medical Group

compared to our hoity toity doctors here in Greenville, SC.

Email me and let me know how you have

been.

Charlotte Zahnd

From: hyperaldosteronism [mailto:hyperaldosteronism ] On Behalf Of Pam Scriber

Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 5:35

PM

To: hyperaldosteronism

Subject: Re:

CT Scan - Dr. Kramer

Glad you got everything done.

When I had my CT and ultrasound done on my adrenals and kidney, I was

put on a special diet with very little sodium allowed for 48 hours before

them. Did you have to do anything like that or was life normal for you.

So when do you return for the results?

Pam

On Thu, Jul 8, 2010 at 4:30 PM, Charlotte

wrote:

I have returned home and

continue to be impressed by Dr. Kramer but also everyone working at the

Mecklenburg Medical Group in Charlotte,

NC.

Today I turned in my urine for na/k and aldo and also had blood draws taken for

the following:

Aldo

Renin

BMP (Basic Metabolic Panel)

18-b oxycortisol ??? I believe this is testing for GRA (glucocorticoid

remediable aldosteronism)

Seems that there were 5 stickers on my chart, I must be missing one!

The Phlebotomist did as I asked by not using a tourniquet or hand squeeze an

object, so that my blood potassium would be checked properly. She seemed to

understand that.

I went downstairs to Carolina Imaging and did my ct scan first without contract

and then later with contrast.

First, I drank approximately 8 oz. water and waited 30 minutes. I went in and

out the machine a few times without contrast. There was difficulty getting a

vein to insert the iodine contrast (150cc) but it was managed. i did get a

minor warm feeling but almost immediately my bladder was getting full. I was

told this is normal.

After going in and out of the machine a few times after the contrast, I told my

lab tech that I wasn't sure if I would be able to wait the 10 minutes before

the next scan, because I desperately needed to urinate but would try my best to

hold as long as possible, maybe she could find a bed pan so I wouldn't have to

get up. She said if I had to go to the bathroom that they would have to take an

extra scan for some reason I don't recall. She saw how miserable I was becoming

holding my urine, so she helped me get up (only because my bladder felt like it

was about to explode), relieved myself and then returned for the last scan plus

the extra one.

So that's that! These trips take a total of 4 hours but very worth it for peace

of mind and expertise of Dr. K.

The fact that Dr. Kramer is looking at all avenues regarding aldosteronism

(meaning testing the 18-b steroid) has blown my socks off. I feel certain he

will arrive at some conclusion as far as PA goes and get me on my way back to

better health whether it's PA or not!

I'm so happy that I am in good hands! What a relief! I finally feel like

someone has taken me seriously and that good health is just a few trips away.

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!

Charlotte Zahnd

July 8, 2010

I have another HTN expert in ton SC at Tiped sad Send form miiPhone ;-)he May your pressure be low!CE Grim MDSpecializing in DifficultHypertension