Re: being tested for PA

[Guest guest]

Fiona,Whatever you do do not beat yourself up for what you could not do. Breastfeeding is great, but you can certainly be a great mother without it. My bp was high postpartum 3,4 and 5. I even ate raw and juiced a ton after the last one to get it down which was a lot of work. I know eating low salt is hard as it means lots of cooking from scratch which is hard to do with a little one. Take it one day at a time, thankfully you are on the road to diagnosis and recovery. You will start to feel better soon. You will be in my prayers.Thanks for all the support, nice to hear from you . Unfortunately am not nursing my daughter as was in intensive care after she was born and very ill for several weeks afterwards..s big regret of mine but not much I can do about that unfortunately

[Guest guest]

I've had a lot of muscle pain/weakness, more in arms and legs, than hands and

feet though, no paralysis. I don't have the test results yet (have been

requested) but I think my K levels have been tested many times and never

abnormal. I do eat a low salt diet anyway, we've always cooked from scratch and

don't eat processed foods.

The inherited thing does worry me, but it's hard to do any family history.

Mother died of stomach cancer at 40, not aware of any high bp probs. Not seen

father in many years, but do not know of any bp problems he has - although he

would fit the profile more - overweight, poor diet etc. I have three half

sisters and none of them have bp probs, I know some of my aunts/uncles have high

bp on fathers side. No info on either grandfather, one gran had long life,

other died in 70s of stroke I think, she did have diabetes.

I am most intrigued by an MRI that found a 1.6mm spot on one adrenal gland, but

apparently it wasn't fatty so they think it might be an incidentaloma? I'm also

waiting for a copy of that report (it takes ages here in England to get these as

we don't pay for them).

Fiona

29, female, high BP for 7 years, currently being tested for PA (awaiting saline

suppression results)

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > From: munchkinthescrunchkin <fiona_j_mcgregor@>

> > > > > > > > Subject: being tested for PA

> > > > > > > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > > > > > > Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 6:06 AM

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Sorry in advance for a long post, I'm new to all this.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I am 29 female, slim, non-smoker etc etc and was first

> > noted

> > > > to

> > > > > > have

> > > > > > > > borderline hypertension 6 years ago, although it was

> > > > dismissed as

> > > > > > > > primary hypertension then after some tests. I had a few

> > > > strange

> > > > > > > > episodes about 15 months ago where I felt like I was going

> > > > to pass

> > > > > > > > out, and kept feeling very dizzy and almost like I was

> > hugely

> > > > > > > > hungover. My GP said it was because I had high BP and

> > > > prescribed

> > > > > > > > amlodipine which did seem to help - I felt better and BP

> > came

> > > > > > down.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I got pregnant 4 months later and BP was OK til around 20

> > > > weeks,

> > > > > > > > when I was on methyldopa til induction at term after

> > > > developing

> > > > > > mild

> > > > > > > > PE. I then was very seriously ill post-partum with

> > numerous

> > > > > > > > problems, culminating in possible eclampsia on day 4.

> > Since

> > > > then

> > > > > > > > (now 10 months on) I've just never really recovered

> > properly.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > I've been back in hospital twice with elevated BP and

> > > > > > tachycardia -

> > > > > > > > always sinus tachy but makes me feel like I'm going to

> > pass

> > > > out.

> > > > > > BP

> > > > > > > > up and down, meds changed to amlodipine and ramipril but

> > not

> > > > > > > > responding, eventually put on bisoprolol which

> > stabilised my

> > > > heart

> > > > > > > > rate and BP seemed more under control. However, headache

> > > > (constant

> > > > > > > > since baby born) continues, weak, fatigued and

> > overwhelming

> > > > > > > > dizziness through my whole body. I also urinate all the

> > > > time, even

> > > > > > > > more so at night. Have been tested for lots of things to

> > no

> > > > avail,

> > > > > > > > but now turns out one was missed and it might be PA.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Aldo/renin results done in Oct were - Aldo 580, renin

> > 0.2. I

> > > > was

> > > > > > on

> > > > > > > > amlodipine and rampiril when this was taken, and beta

> > > > blocker for

> > > > > > > > 1.5 days, so hopefully didn't interfere too much. Am due

> > to

> > > > have

> > > > > > > > saline suppression test shortly so off beta blockers and

> > heart

> > > > > > rate

> > > > > > > > as gone very high again, am now v breathless and unable to

> > > > > > tolerate

> > > > > > > > any exercise whatsoever (not really ideal with a baby!

> > so am

> > > > > > unable

> > > > > > > > to care for baby either just now). I had my potassium

> > levels

> > > > > > checked

> > > > > > > > last week and they were fine, sodium I think was high

> > end of

> > > > > > normal.

> > > > > > > > I had an MRI a few weeks ago which did find a 1.6cm

> > tumour on

> > > > > > right

> > > > > > > > adrenal gland, but apparently it didn't look fatty so they

> > > > don't

> > > > > > > > think it was a Conn's tumour??? (They didn't know about

> > the

> > > > aldo/

> > > > > > > > renin result however then).

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Does this sound like PA? I hope so as I'm getting a little

> > > > > > > > desperate, having a baby makes this almost impossible to

> > deal

> > > > > > with.

> > > > > > > > I know the AVS will be recommended if it is but I don't

> > > > think I

> > > > > > can

> > > > > > > > last any longer off beta blockers or without starting

> > > > > > treatment..yet

> > > > > > > > I would really want surgery if that is an option for me.

> > > > I've no

> > > > > > > > idea how I could get through the weeks however.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Thanks

> > > > > > > > Fiona

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Suspect muscle aches due to aldo.Read my article when you have time and take to all your Drs.Tell them I trained with Dr. Conn.CE Grim MDI've had a lot of muscle pain/weakness, more in arms and legs, than hands and feet though, no paralysis. I don't have the test results yet (have been requested) but I think my K levels have been tested many times and never abnormal. I do eat a low salt diet anyway, we've always cooked from scratch and don't eat processed foods. The inherited thing does worry me, but it's hard to do any family history. Mother died of stomach cancer at 40, not aware of any high bp probs. Not seen father in many years, but do not know of any bp problems he has - although he would fit the profile more - overweight, poor diet etc. I have three half sisters and none of them have bp probs, I know some of my aunts/uncles have high bp on fathers side. No info on either grandfather, one gran had long life, other died in 70s of stroke I think, she did have diabetes. I am most intrigued by an MRI that found a 1.6mm spot on one adrenal gland, but apparently it wasn't fatty so they think it might be an incidentaloma? I'm also waiting for a copy of that report (it takes ages here in England to get these as we don't pay for them).Fiona29, female, high BP for 7 years, currently being tested for PA (awaiting saline suppression results)> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > From: munchkinthescrunchkin <fiona_j_mcgregor@>> > > > > > > > Subject: being tested for PA> > > > > > > > To: hyperaldosteronism > > > > > > > > Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 6:06 AM> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Sorry in advance for a long post, I'm new to all this.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > I am 29 female, slim, non-smoker etc etc and was first > > noted> > > > to> > > > > > have> > > > > > > > borderline hypertension 6 years ago, although it was> > > > dismissed as> > > > > > > > primary hypertension then after some tests. I had a few> > > > strange> > > > > > > > episodes about 15 months ago where I felt like I was going> > > > to pass> > > > > > > > out, and kept feeling very dizzy and almost like I was > > hugely> > > > > > > > hungover. My GP said it was because I had high BP and> > > > prescribed> > > > > > > > amlodipine which did seem to help - I felt better and BP > > came> > > > > > down.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > I got pregnant 4 months later and BP was OK til around 20> > > > weeks,> > > > > > > > when I was on methyldopa til induction at term after> > > > developing> > > > > > mild> > > > > > > > PE. I then was very seriously ill post-partum with > > numerous> > > > > > > > problems, culminating in possible eclampsia on day 4. > > Since> > > > then> > > > > > > > (now 10 months on) I've just never really recovered > > properly.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > I've been back in hospital twice with elevated BP and> > > > > > tachycardia -> > > > > > > > always sinus tachy but makes me feel like I'm going to > > pass> > > > out.> > > > > > BP> > > > > > > > up and down, meds changed to amlodipine and ramipril but > > not> > > > > > > > responding, eventually put on bisoprolol which > > stabilised my> > > > heart> > > > > > > > rate and BP seemed more under control. However, headache> > > > (constant> > > > > > > > since baby born) continues, weak, fatigued and > > overwhelming> > > > > > > > dizziness through my whole body. I also urinate all the> > > > time, even> > > > > > > > more so at night. Have been tested for lots of things to > > no> > > > avail,> > > > > > > > but now turns out one was missed and it might be PA.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Aldo/renin results done in Oct were - Aldo 580, renin > > 0.2. I> > > > was> > > > > > on> > > > > > > > amlodipine and rampiril when this was taken, and beta> > > > blocker for> > > > > > > > 1.5 days, so hopefully didn't interfere too much. Am due > > to> > > > have> > > > > > > > saline suppression test shortly so off beta blockers and > > heart> > > > > > rate> > > > > > > > as gone very high again, am now v breathless and unable to> > > > > > tolerate> > > > > > > > any exercise whatsoever (not really ideal with a baby! > > so am> > > > > > unable> > > > > > > > to care for baby either just now). I had my potassium > > levels> > > > > > checked> > > > > > > > last week and they were fine, sodium I think was high > > end of> > > > > > normal.> > > > > > > > I had an MRI a few weeks ago which did find a 1.6cm > > tumour on> > > > > > right> > > > > > > > adrenal gland, but apparently it didn't look fatty so they> > > > don't> > > > > > > > think it was a Conn's tumour??? (They didn't know about > > the> > > > aldo/> > > > > > > > renin result however then).> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Does this sound like PA? I hope so as I'm getting a little> > > > > > > > desperate, having a baby makes this almost impossible to > > deal> > > > > > with.> > > > > > > > I know the AVS will be recommended if it is but I don't> > > > think I> > > > > > can> > > > > > > > last any longer off beta blockers or without starting> > > > > > treatment..yet> > > > > > > > I would really want surgery if that is an option for me.> > > > I've no> > > > > > > > idea how I could get through the weeks however.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Thanks> > > > > > > > Fiona> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > >> >> >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thanks you're really kind. You sound like you must be busy with all your

children I am sad about it, but do know I had no choice - I also had a major

PPH and just couldn't do it. Not what I expected but just grateful she's

healthy and thriving!!

>

> Fiona,

>

> Whatever you do do not beat yourself up for what you could not do. 

Breastfeeding is great, but you can certainly be a great mother without it.  My

bp was high postpartum 3,4 and 5.  I even ate raw and juiced a ton after the

last one to get it down which was a lot of work.  I know eating low salt is hard

as it means lots of cooking from scratch which is hard to do with a little one. 

Take it one day at a time, thankfully you are on the road to diagnosis and

recovery.  You will start to feel better soon.  You will be in my prayers.

>

>

> Thanks for all the support, nice to hear from you . Unfortunately am not

nursing my daughter as was in intensive care after she was born and very ill for

several weeks afterwards..s big regret of mine but not much I can do about that

unfortunately

>

[Guest guest]

On Spiro now - it's down to 120 ish / 80 ish on 50mg a day. Took a while to get

down but when I tried 100mg, it went down to 110/70 range and I got nauseous so

I dropped back to 50mg and it's been fine since.

Prior to PA diagnosis I was on ACE which kept it in the 140/90-95 range. Not

great but better than without (had a 24 hour check in December after dropping

all meds for a while and it averaged 163/98).

Trouble for trends is that all three children were born within 4 years so I've

spent most of the last few years pregnant - and that's when my bp has been

monitored most closely. I do have a bp monitor at home which I've used from time

to time between pregnancies and for sure it was never scarily high.

So it's under control - but I'm still going down the surgery route ;-)

Hester

Fem 39, Switzerland, Unilateral Adenoma

> > >

> > > From: munchkinthescrunchkin <fiona_j_mcgregor@>

> > > Subject: being tested for PA

> > > To: hyperaldosteronism

> > > Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 6:06 AM

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Â

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Sorry in advance for a long post, I'm new to all this.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I am 29 female, slim, non-smoker etc etc and was first noted to

> > have borderline hypertension 6 years ago, although it was dismissed

> > as primary hypertension then after some tests. I had a few strange

> > episodes about 15 months ago where I felt like I was going to pass

> > out, and kept feeling very dizzy and almost like I was hugely

> > hungover. My GP said it was because I had high BP and prescribed

> > amlodipine which did seem to help - I felt better and BP came down.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I got pregnant 4 months later and BP was OK til around 20 weeks,

> > when I was on methyldopa til induction at term after developing mild

> > PE. I then was very seriously ill post-partum with numerous

> > problems, culminating in possible eclampsia on day 4. Since then

> > (now 10 months on) I've just never really recovered properly.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > I've been back in hospital twice with elevated BP and tachycardia

> > - always sinus tachy but makes me feel like I'm going to pass out.

> > BP up and down, meds changed to amlodipine and ramipril but not

> > responding, eventually put on bisoprolol which stabilised my heart

> > rate and BP seemed more under control. However, headache (constant

> > since baby born) continues, weak, fatigued and overwhelming

> > dizziness through my whole body. I also urinate all the time, even

> > more so at night. Have been tested for lots of things to no avail,

> > but now turns out one was missed and it might be PA.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Aldo/renin results done in Oct were - Aldo 580, renin 0.2. I was

> > on amlodipine and rampiril when this was taken, and beta blocker for

> > 1.5 days, so hopefully didn't interfere too much. Am due to have

> > saline suppression test shortly so off beta blockers and heart rate

> > as gone very high again, am now v breathless and unable to tolerate

> > any exercise whatsoever (not really ideal with a baby! so am unable

> > to care for baby either just now). I had my potassium levels checked

> > last week and they were fine, sodium I think was high end of normal.

> > I had an MRI a few weeks ago which did find a 1.6cm tumour on right

> > adrenal gland, but apparently it didn't look fatty so they don't

> > think it was a Conn's tumour??? (They didn't know about the aldo/

> > renin result however then).

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Does this sound like PA? I hope so as I'm getting a little

> > desperate, having a baby makes this almost impossible to deal with.

> > I know the AVS will be recommended if it is but I don't think I can

> > last any longer off beta blockers or without starting treatment..yet

> > I would really want surgery if that is an option for me. I've no

> > idea how I could get through the weeks however.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Thanks

> > >

> > > Fiona

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sounds to me like you are doing great on spiro.Are you DASHIng as well.Saying the BP was "never scarily high" is like saying you are only a little bit pregnant. The single best was to predict how long you will be around to take care of the 4 babes (after we know your age and gender and if you smoke or not) is to look at your BP.CEGrim MDOn Spiro now - it's down to 120 ish / 80 ish on 50mg a day. Took a while to get down but when I tried 100mg, it went down to 110/70 range and I got nauseous so I dropped back to 50mg and it's been fine since.Prior to PA diagnosis I was on ACE which kept it in the 140/90-95 range. Not great but better than without (had a 24 hour check in December after dropping all meds for a while and it averaged 163/98). Trouble for trends is that all three children were born within 4 years so I've spent most of the last few years pregnant - and that's when my bp has been monitored most closely. I do have a bp monitor at home which I've used from time to time between pregnancies and for sure it was never scarily high. So it's under control - but I'm still going down the surgery route ;-)HesterFem 39, Switzerland, Unilateral Adenoma> > >> > > From: munchkinthescrunchkin <fiona_j_mcgregor@>> > > Subject: being tested for PA> > > To: hyperaldosteronism > > > Date: Sunday, April 10, 2011, 6:06 AM> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Â> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Sorry in advance for a long post, I'm new to all this.> > >> > >> > >> > > I am 29 female, slim, non-smoker etc etc and was first noted to > > have borderline hypertension 6 years ago, although it was dismissed > > as primary hypertension then after some tests. I had a few strange > > episodes about 15 months ago where I felt like I was going to pass > > out, and kept feeling very dizzy and almost like I was hugely > > hungover. My GP said it was because I had high BP and prescribed > > amlodipine which did seem to help - I felt better and BP came down.> > >> > >> > >> > > I got pregnant 4 months later and BP was OK til around 20 weeks, > > when I was on methyldopa til induction at term after developing mild > > PE. I then was very seriously ill post-partum with numerous > > problems, culminating in possible eclampsia on day 4. Since then > > (now 10 months on) I've just never really recovered properly.> > >> > >> > >> > > I've been back in hospital twice with elevated BP and tachycardia > > - always sinus tachy but makes me feel like I'm going to pass out. > > BP up and down, meds changed to amlodipine and ramipril but not > > responding, eventually put on bisoprolol which stabilised my heart > > rate and BP seemed more under control. However, headache (constant > > since baby born) continues, weak, fatigued and overwhelming > > dizziness through my whole body. I also urinate all the time, even > > more so at night. Have been tested for lots of things to no avail, > > but now turns out one was missed and it might be PA.> > >> > >> > >> > > Aldo/renin results done in Oct were - Aldo 580, renin 0.2. I was > > on amlodipine and rampiril when this was taken, and beta blocker for > > 1.5 days, so hopefully didn't interfere too much. Am due to have > > saline suppression test shortly so off beta blockers and heart rate > > as gone very high again, am now v breathless and unable to tolerate > > any exercise whatsoever (not really ideal with a baby! so am unable > > to care for baby either just now). I had my potassium levels checked > > last week and they were fine, sodium I think was high end of normal. > > I had an MRI a few weeks ago which did find a 1.6cm tumour on right > > adrenal gland, but apparently it didn't look fatty so they don't > > think it was a Conn's tumour??? (They didn't know about the aldo/ > > renin result however then).> > >> > >> > >> > > Does this sound like PA? I hope so as I'm getting a little > > desperate, having a baby makes this almost impossible to deal with. > > I know the AVS will be recommended if it is but I don't think I can > > last any longer off beta blockers or without starting treatment..yet > > I would really want surgery if that is an option for me. I've no > > idea how I could get through the weeks however.> > >> > >> > >> > > Thanks> > >> > > Fiona> > >> >> >> >>