up next, AVS

[Guest guest]

My doctor just called with the results of last week's aldosterone suppresion

test/oral sodium loading test. As expected, my aldo was off the charts high,

both serum and urine. (I can post numbers when I have a hard copy in front of

me, if anyone is interested.) The interesting thing my doctor observed was that

I did not excrete a lot of sodium - he believes it's because my diet is very low

sodium. (I believe it's still trapped in my body in the form of the extra 2

pounds I've been carrying around since the test!)

This gives me the go-ahead for AVS, or, interestingly, he said I could skip the

AVS and have the adrenalectomy. I want to be good and certain that the culprit

is my left adrenal before surgery, so I think I'm going through with the AVS

first. I'm aware of the high risk of inconclusive results, and the risks of the

procedure in general.

This brings up two questions: how common is it to skip the AVS entirely? I only

heard of that recently from another member here; I had been under the impression

that standard protocol was AVS before surgery.

And, long shot I know, but - anybody here have their AVS done at UCLA? Or

anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area? If you have an interventional

radiologist in the area that you'd recommend, please let me know. Thanks!

- msmith1928

45, female, 5'3 " , 120 lbs, 1cm left adrenal nodule, aldosterone 42.3, renin 0.5,

potassium <2.9 (when not taking supplements); 25mg spiro caused gynecomastia, no

meds currently except 20MEQ K 2x/day; low sodium, fructose- and grain-free diet