new to this

[Guest guest]

Dr. Grim,

I a very glad that an experienced MD is on this board. There isn't

much information out there on this condition, and I'm sure I speak for

everyone, that we are very grateful for your time and efforts on this

board.

I was wondering if know anyone good for PA in Cleveland.

Oh, and a tag-along question, is aldosterone pro-inflammatory, or,

conversely, does inflammation increase aldosterone? I have mild

colitis and wonder if there was any relationship.

Thanks,

Mike

> Your 24 hour urine is very high and if your renin is low and the

sodium was high in the same urine then you have primary aldosteronism.

Please get the values and their normals.

>

> The great majority of folks today do not have a tumor that can be

seen on CT or MRi because we are diagnosing it earlier before the

tumor becomes large enough to see. There also inherited forms so ask

all your family if they have ever had HTN and low K as well. How long

have you been on spiro and how much. has your BP improved on it?

>

> I would recommend you try to see Dr. Addision at Baylor in

Houston. He is one of the best experts in PA in the area. Tell his

office that Dr. Grim asked you to contact him.

>

> --

> May your pressure be low!

>

> CE Grim MD

> Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

> Professor of Epidemiology

>

> Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/30/2004 11:17:01 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

The great majority of folks today do not have a tumor that can be seen on CT or MRi because we are diagnosing it earlier before the tumor becomes large enough to see. There also inherited forms so ask all your family if they have ever had HTN and low K as well. How long have you been on spiro and how much. has your BP improved on it?

Thanks for the info Dr. Grim. I've been on spiro for a little over a month now, about 5 weeks, I guess. So far I haven't seen any changes in my BP.

Please explain what HTN is for me. I will check with family to see if they've had problems with this once I find out what it is. I'm seeing Abdul Abu Shamat in Lake , LA, and one of the first questions he asked me in the hospital was about the "buffalo hump", which I've had, albeit not noticable, as far back as childhood. I'm now 50. He also mentioned hereditary, and we discussed my having English, Irish and ish ancestry. I'm also descended from a group of people that supposedly have Portuguese ancestry, and some have one or more of the "Mediterranean diseases" (Sarcoidosis, FMF, etc.) There's also been a lot of stress factors in my life recently, from the death of my mother 6 months ago, to the empty nest syndrome almost 2 years ago, and even the loss of my two pets(this was probably the hardest one to deal with) a year ago. Thanks for all that you do Dr. Grim.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/30/2004 11:17:01 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

The great majority of folks today do not have a tumor that can be seen on CT or MRi because we are diagnosing it earlier before the tumor becomes large enough to see. There also inherited forms so ask all your family if they have ever had HTN and low K as well. How long have you been on spiro and how much. has your BP improved on it?

Thanks for the info Dr. Grim. I've been on spiro for a little over a month now, about 5 weeks, I guess. So far I haven't seen any changes in my BP.

Please explain what HTN is for me. I will check with family to see if they've had problems with this once I find out what it is. I'm seeing Abdul Abu Shamat in Lake , LA, and one of the first questions he asked me in the hospital was about the "buffalo hump", which I've had, albeit not noticable, as far back as childhood. I'm now 50. He also mentioned hereditary, and we discussed my having English, Irish and ish ancestry. I'm also descended from a group of people that supposedly have Portuguese ancestry, and some have one or more of the "Mediterranean diseases" (Sarcoidosis, FMF, etc.) There's also been a lot of stress factors in my life recently, from the death of my mother 6 months ago, to the empty nest syndrome almost 2 years ago, and even the loss of my two pets(this was probably the hardest one to deal with) a year ago. Thanks for all that you do Dr. Grim.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 7:37:22 AM Central Standard Time, spirlhelix@... writes:

HTN is hypertension.

What was your blood pressure before spironolactone,

and after?

Thanks Pam, I knew it would probably be something simple!! <smile>

My BP had started slowly increasing over the past year, and my dr. increased my Lotrel from 5/20 to 10/20. That seemed to tame things down again, although it wasn't outrageous before then. It's difficult for me to give you a direct answer, because the med change was in February. After that, my BP was ranging 110-130/70-85. It doesn't seem to have altered since getting on the spiro. As I said previously though, we lost my mom in February(AFTER my dr. changed my meds, so her death had nothing to do with my problem at hand.), and now, my dad is about to die too, so there's been a terrible amount of stress.

Again, thanks for the info!!!

By the way, I spoke with my sister's daughter today, and found out that her urine output is always high in potassium.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 7:37:22 AM Central Standard Time, spirlhelix@... writes:

HTN is hypertension.

What was your blood pressure before spironolactone,

and after?

Thanks Pam, I knew it would probably be something simple!! <smile>

My BP had started slowly increasing over the past year, and my dr. increased my Lotrel from 5/20 to 10/20. That seemed to tame things down again, although it wasn't outrageous before then. It's difficult for me to give you a direct answer, because the med change was in February. After that, my BP was ranging 110-130/70-85. It doesn't seem to have altered since getting on the spiro. As I said previously though, we lost my mom in February(AFTER my dr. changed my meds, so her death had nothing to do with my problem at hand.), and now, my dad is about to die too, so there's been a terrible amount of stress.

Again, thanks for the info!!!

By the way, I spoke with my sister's daughter today, and found out that her urine output is always high in potassium.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

Hi, Bev

Most of us on this list have fairly high hypertension

that is not controlled, even without several

medications, until we start spironolactone. Mine was

as high as 260/200; usually, it hovered around

180/120. And that's on up to five kinds of

medication. Although I think I recall reading about

rare cases where there is aldosteronism without

hypertension.

So did your doctor put you on spironolactone to treat

your low serum potassium?

I can see why Dr. Grim asked about your serum

aldosterone renin ratio, and the normal numbers that

your labs use. Do you have a sheet of paper from the

doctor with those numbers? You want four numbers:

1) Your serum aldosterone

2) Normal serum aldosterone for the lab that did your

tests

3) Your serum renin

4) Normal serum renin for the lab that did your

tests.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Warmly,

Pam

--- bev2454@... wrote:

> In a message dated 7/31/2004 7:37:22 AM Central

> Standard Time,

> spirlhelix@... writes:

> > HTN is hypertension.

> >

> > What was your blood pressure before

> spironolactone,

> > and after?

> Thanks Pam, I knew it would probably be something

> simple!! <smile>

>

> My BP had started slowly increasing over the past

> year, and my dr. increased

> my Lotrel from 5/20 to 10/20. That seemed to tame

> things down again, although

> it wasn't outrageous before then. It's difficult for

> me to give you a direct

> answer, because the med change was in February.

> After that, my BP was ranging

> 110-130/70-85. It doesn't seem to have altered since

> getting on the spiro. As I

> said previously though, we lost my mom in

> February(AFTER my dr. changed my

> meds, so her death had nothing to do with my problem

> at hand.), and now, my dad

> is about to die too, so there's been a terrible

> amount of stress.

>

> Again, thanks for the info!!!

>

> By the way, I spoke with my sister's daughter today,

> and found out that her

> urine output is always high in potassium.

> bevAnnie

> http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

>

=====

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

how not to dance. "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi, Bev

Most of us on this list have fairly high hypertension

that is not controlled, even without several

medications, until we start spironolactone. Mine was

as high as 260/200; usually, it hovered around

180/120. And that's on up to five kinds of

medication. Although I think I recall reading about

rare cases where there is aldosteronism without

hypertension.

So did your doctor put you on spironolactone to treat

your low serum potassium?

I can see why Dr. Grim asked about your serum

aldosterone renin ratio, and the normal numbers that

your labs use. Do you have a sheet of paper from the

doctor with those numbers? You want four numbers:

1) Your serum aldosterone

2) Normal serum aldosterone for the lab that did your

tests

3) Your serum renin

4) Normal serum renin for the lab that did your

tests.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Warmly,

Pam

--- bev2454@... wrote:

> In a message dated 7/31/2004 7:37:22 AM Central

> Standard Time,

> spirlhelix@... writes:

> > HTN is hypertension.

> >

> > What was your blood pressure before

> spironolactone,

> > and after?

> Thanks Pam, I knew it would probably be something

> simple!! <smile>

>

> My BP had started slowly increasing over the past

> year, and my dr. increased

> my Lotrel from 5/20 to 10/20. That seemed to tame

> things down again, although

> it wasn't outrageous before then. It's difficult for

> me to give you a direct

> answer, because the med change was in February.

> After that, my BP was ranging

> 110-130/70-85. It doesn't seem to have altered since

> getting on the spiro. As I

> said previously though, we lost my mom in

> February(AFTER my dr. changed my

> meds, so her death had nothing to do with my problem

> at hand.), and now, my dad

> is about to die too, so there's been a terrible

> amount of stress.

>

> Again, thanks for the info!!!

>

> By the way, I spoke with my sister's daughter today,

> and found out that her

> urine output is always high in potassium.

> bevAnnie

> http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

>

=====

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

how not to dance. "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

You need to get as much info as you can on your family roots, thier health, what

they died form and if any had low K/High BP problems-my guess is your relative

with high yrine K also has PA butthe Urine K would be done only if the blood K

were low.

What was your BP before Lotrel?

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

You need to get as much info as you can on your family roots, thier health, what

they died form and if any had low K/High BP problems-my guess is your relative

with high yrine K also has PA butthe Urine K would be done only if the blood K

were low.

What was your BP before Lotrel?

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

PS- I assume someone has asked if you eat licorice every day or so. This can

cause what looks like PA but plasma and urine aldo will be very low.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

PS- I assume someone has asked if you eat licorice every day or so. This can

cause what looks like PA but plasma and urine aldo will be very low.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

for some reason your email has a picture in it each time.

Anyone know why?

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

for some reason your email has a picture in it each time.

Anyone know why?

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

I a very glad that an experienced MD is on this board.  There isn't

much information out there on this condition, and I'm sure I speak for

everyone, that we are very grateful for your time and efforts on this

board.

I would try to see Dr. Mannie Bravo at the Cleveland Clinic-a worlds authority.

Tell him Dr. Grim sent you.

Colitis would increase aldo if you were having diarrhea and were dehydrated.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

I a very glad that an experienced MD is on this board.  There isn't

much information out there on this condition, and I'm sure I speak for

everyone, that we are very grateful for your time and efforts on this

board.

I would try to see Dr. Mannie Bravo at the Cleveland Clinic-a worlds authority.

Tell him Dr. Grim sent you.

Colitis would increase aldo if you were having diarrhea and were dehydrated.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

PS But with diarrhea renin and aldo would both be high.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

PS But with diarrhea renin and aldo would both be high.

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim MD

Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine

Professor of Epidemiology

Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension

[Guest guest]

Pam wrote

Although I think I recall reading about

rare cases where there is aldosteronism without

hypertension.

bev writes

My BP had went up as high as 203 /139 prior to getting on medication. Since then, meds has helped in bringing it down, but it never was really stabilized until I switched to Lotrel, 5 1/2 years ago.

So did your doctor put you on spironolactone to treat

your low serum potassium?

Ok, I'm showing my lack of knowledge here, but I'm assuming that by 'low serum potassium', you're speaking of the blood tests. Yes, the dr. put me on the spiro almost immediately, but was still having trouble getting my potassium to go up. Once we got it up, they stopped the IV's and the oral meds.

I can see why Dr. Grim asked about your serum

aldosterone renin ratio, and the normal numbers that

your labs use. Do you have a sheet of paper from the

doctor with those numbers? You want four numbers:

1) Your serum aldosterone

2) Normal serum aldosterone for the lab that did your

tests

3) Your serum renin

4) Normal serum renin for the lab that did your

tests.

I don't have the numbers you speak of, but will try to get them. The renin blood tests had to be sent off to a lab in CA to complete, so do I need to get the numbers from them?

Thanks again for all your help.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

Pam wrote

Although I think I recall reading about

rare cases where there is aldosteronism without

hypertension.

bev writes

My BP had went up as high as 203 /139 prior to getting on medication. Since then, meds has helped in bringing it down, but it never was really stabilized until I switched to Lotrel, 5 1/2 years ago.

So did your doctor put you on spironolactone to treat

your low serum potassium?

Ok, I'm showing my lack of knowledge here, but I'm assuming that by 'low serum potassium', you're speaking of the blood tests. Yes, the dr. put me on the spiro almost immediately, but was still having trouble getting my potassium to go up. Once we got it up, they stopped the IV's and the oral meds.

I can see why Dr. Grim asked about your serum

aldosterone renin ratio, and the normal numbers that

your labs use. Do you have a sheet of paper from the

doctor with those numbers? You want four numbers:

1) Your serum aldosterone

2) Normal serum aldosterone for the lab that did your

tests

3) Your serum renin

4) Normal serum renin for the lab that did your

tests.

I don't have the numbers you speak of, but will try to get them. The renin blood tests had to be sent off to a lab in CA to complete, so do I need to get the numbers from them?

Thanks again for all your help.

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 10:48:56 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

You need to get as much info as you can on your family roots, thier health, what they died form and if any had low K/High BP problems-my guess is your relative with high yrine K also has PA butthe Urine K would be done only if the blood K were low.

What was your BP before Lotrel?

I was on a number of different meds before finally being put on Lotrel. I don't recall all the different ones that the drs. have tried. Before getting on any meds, my BP had went up to 203/139. That wasn't the norm, but I knew it was time for some help.

I will continue to try to contact family members and see if they have had low potassium problems. What other symptoms do I/they look for? I had absolutely NO idea that my potassium was low when it was 2.8. I just felt completely wiped out, no energy, and was having some neck pain that sent me to the cardiologist to make sure there wasn't blockage. As it turned out, everything was ok there, after a number of tests and scares.......

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 10:48:56 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

You need to get as much info as you can on your family roots, thier health, what they died form and if any had low K/High BP problems-my guess is your relative with high yrine K also has PA butthe Urine K would be done only if the blood K were low.

What was your BP before Lotrel?

I was on a number of different meds before finally being put on Lotrel. I don't recall all the different ones that the drs. have tried. Before getting on any meds, my BP had went up to 203/139. That wasn't the norm, but I knew it was time for some help.

I will continue to try to contact family members and see if they have had low potassium problems. What other symptoms do I/they look for? I had absolutely NO idea that my potassium was low when it was 2.8. I just felt completely wiped out, no energy, and was having some neck pain that sent me to the cardiologist to make sure there wasn't blockage. As it turned out, everything was ok there, after a number of tests and scares.......

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 10:50:11 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

PS- I assume someone has asked if you eat licorice every day or so. This can cause what looks like PA but plasma and urine aldo will be very low.

No, no one has asked if I eat licorice, and the only licorice I eat is maybe a black jelly bean once in a while. I keep jelly beans in my purse in case my sugar drops.......or I get a craving.....<smile>......it's usually only two or three when I do though, but they're seldom black..... would that hurt?

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 10:50:11 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

PS- I assume someone has asked if you eat licorice every day or so. This can cause what looks like PA but plasma and urine aldo will be very low.

No, no one has asked if I eat licorice, and the only licorice I eat is maybe a black jelly bean once in a while. I keep jelly beans in my purse in case my sugar drops.......or I get a craving.....<smile>......it's usually only two or three when I do though, but they're seldom black..... would that hurt?

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 11:06:54 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

But with diarrhea renin and aldo would both be high.

Dr. Grim,

I had a colonoscopy 9 days prior to my blood work. I mentioned this to the drs. but they said that my body would have recovered from the laxative clean out by then. Comments??

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 11:06:54 PM Central Standard Time, lowerbp2@... writes:

But with diarrhea renin and aldo would both be high.

Dr. Grim,

I had a colonoscopy 9 days prior to my blood work. I mentioned this to the drs. but they said that my body would have recovered from the laxative clean out by then. Comments??

bevAnnie

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/shepherdsrest