: re VA

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Be sure to take my evolution article to your VA team. Most have not seen it. Even HTN experts in the VA.Some will refuse to look at it because it is "off the net" despite being in a published peer reviewed J.CE Grim MDVA not likely to pay DHMC to do this surgery. They have there own surgeons that can do this. Even if you have to go to Boston. If meds work then even less likey VA will do surgery. > > > >> > > > 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> > > >> > >> >>