Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Someone else will get you the rules for drawing K on this site. Did you down load my article on the evolution of PA? If not do it and take it to your Drs. If you can get the exact numbers for your renin and aldo that would help. If spiro has really improved your BP then you like have excess aldo or aldo like problem. I assume there is not family Hx of this problem or low K? Many pts with PA have headaches that go away with spiro. May your pressure be low! Clarence E. Grim, BS (Chem/Math), MS (Biochem), MD, FACP, FACC, FAHS Clinical Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology Director, Hypertension Diagnosis and Treatment Center Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Hypertension Published over 220 scientific papers, book chapters and 220 abstracts in the area of high blood pressure epidemiology, physiology, endocrinology measurement, treatment and how to detect curable causes. Listed in Best Doctors in America Specializing in Difficult to Control High Blood Pressure and the History and Physiology of High Blood pressure in the African Diaspora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 , Thanks for the info. It is interesting. My fear (which isn't really fear, but dread) is that I do not react normally to anything. It seems now that ANY drug and even certain brands of vitamins cause pain or burning in my feet. I can usually cope with the burning although it often keeps me awake at night. However, the pain on the bottom of my feet often takes two weeks after I stop the offending drug before they get better. I went thru one period when I tried a new drug and I couldn't even do all of my grocery shopping in one trip, I had to go back the next day to finish and altogether, I only bought about 15 items. My feet just hurt so bad that I couldn't walk up and down the isles. My eyes also hurt because they are very dry. When my feet are worse, so are my eyes. It is interesting, but not surprising that the test often does not pick up small tumors and mine is 9mm or was in April so I hope it has grown. I never could keep my potassium up with pills, food worked better for me. Every day I had an 8 or 10 oz glass of OJ, a bananna, cantaloupe and dried apricots. Sometimes I would substitute strawberries for the cantaloupe. After 3 years on spiro, my K is 4.9 so I cut back on the apricots and cantaloupe. I suspect that this Dr is just running tests for the sake of running tests and making money but I guess he is my last resort because another dr would probably just do the same. I plan to schedule the test for Nov 2-4 if all goes well here. I came up to PA today, drove 7 hours and then had to head for the kitchen the minute I got here to cook dinner for my dad. He thinks he is starving if he doesn't eat at 5:00 pm and I didn't get here until after 5. Fran > > Fran, I had an octreotide scan in Sept and it's nothing to fear from a test > perspective. I found it far easier than a stress test. The thing with the > scan that I learned AFTER I was done (and I went 140 miles between San > Diego and LA 3 times in 7 days as well) is that it won't necessarily pick > up a neuroendocrine tumor. My neuroendocrinologist calls the scan UNclear > (NUclear) medicine and says it may be helpful but often is not for small > tumors under 1CM. I suffer from Cushing's Disease as well and have > hyperaldosteronism (right now apparently secondary), am panhypopit and my > kidneys are struggling to the point I'm almost ready for dialysis. My > potassium has run very low for 9 months now and I take huge doses to keep it > in the normal range. Where I am weird is my BP has run normal/low normal. > > Don't let the test scare you, it's painless although boring. You're not too > radioactive to be around family. It may be helpful if you have a tumor but > it may not. For me it was not and there is still a question if I have a > neuroendocrine tumor hanging around somewhere. I'm still in diagnostics and > confusing the devil out of my doctors. > > And if you don't mind my opinion....get a new cardiologist! Sheesh. > > > (who has seen too many doctors like your cardio) > -------Original Message------- > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Love the term Unclear Scan. Will steal it. In a message dated 10/19/05 9:28:51 PM, friday@... writes: Fran, I had an octreotide scan in Sept and it's nothing to fear from a test perspective. I found it far easier than a stress test. The thing with the scan that I learned AFTER I was done (and I went 140 miles between San Diego and LA 3 times in 7 days as well) is that it won't necessarily pick up a neuroendocrine tumor. My neuroendocrinologist calls the scan UNclear (NUclear) medicine and says it may be helpful but often is not for small tumors under 1CM. I suffer from Cushing's Disease as well and have hyperaldosteronism (right now apparently secondary), am panhypopit and my kidneys are struggling to the point I'm almost ready for dialysis. My potassium has run very low for 9 months now and I take huge doses to keep it in the normal range. Where I am weird is my BP has run normal/low normal.  Don't let the test scare you, it's painless although boring. You're not too radioactive to be around family. It may be helpful if you have a tumor but it may not. For me it was not and there is still a question if I have a neuroendocrine tumor hanging around somewhere. I'm still in diagnostics and confusing the devil out of my doctors.  And if you don't mind my opinion....get a new cardiologist! Sheesh.  (who has seen too many doctors like your cardio) -- Re Test Results  Dr. Grim, For some reason I couldn't find a way to reply to your message so am starting a new one. I don't know if my K was tested properly or not, but am guessing it probably wasn't. All I know is it was a blood test and I didn't do anything special for it. A patient can't tell a doctor how to do something, they just ignore it. Where can I find the post that tells how to do it. I don't read all of the messages on this site, there are now far too many to keep up with and not many of them seem to apply to me. It seems like I am the only one of Earth with these particular symptoms. The last I know, my K was 4.9 but before spiro it was kind of low but still within range. At the time I started having PVCs and sudden weight gain, my dr just sent out notes saying everything was normal or comments on what wasn't OK. As I said before I saw one blood test done when I was in the hospital and I pointed out to him that it was on the bottom of the range and he insisted that it was within normal range but OK. It is such a pain to get test results from doctors because if you don't get it when you see him, you have to write a letter and it takes a couple of weeks to get them. Usually I find that other doctors run their own tests anyway. From everything I have read in the internet about aldosterone that is exactly my problem. Although my levels are only slightly high or even within normal range. My bp is always worse in the morning then go down. When I took labetalol and clonodine, it frequently surged way up a couple of times a day. A cardiologist told me that the two drugs were a bad combination but couldn't find anything else that worked, so I always went back to it.  A few weeks before I was put on spiro, I had some episodes when I felt like my head was being squeezed in a vice. The first time this happened, I checked my bp and it was 220/100+. I took clonidine as directed and waited a half hour and checked again and it hadn't changed. I went to the ER and they gave me more clonidine and it didn't come down. They called my dr but she didn't call back. Finally it was time for me to take my labetalol so they told me to take 2. The bottom number came down but the top stayed at 220. They tried my dr again and after a couple more hours, she called them back. Since I had an appt with her first thing in the morning, she told them to send me home and that was about 1:00 am. When I got up the next morning it was down to something reasonable 170/??. When I saw the Dr, she complained about being called in the middle of the night and I thought, what a bitch! If she had returned the first page, she wouldn't have been called at midnight. I went to the ER around 6 pm. The whole time I was there, I was laying flat with a pillow under my head. The next night, I felt the pressure in my head again and checked my bp. It was around 220/100+ but I ignored it and continued cooking dinner. When I checked it a couple of hours later, it was down. Before spiro, it was always worse when I was laying down. Also most nights, I would wake up and my feet would start hurting and my eyes would start hurting at the same time.  I know it is all related but only because I am the one living in this body. Most doctors don't even try to find anything wrong, they just want to push pills and think that solves everything. When it doesn't, they just try another pill. The next test they want to do at UVA is an Octreoscan. I called to schedule it today and the nurse told me I would have to go down there 2 or 3 days in a row and I freaked out. It is 87 miles each way. They have to inject some nuclear stuff in my veins and I have to go back the next day for the scan and if they decide they need more pics, I will have to go a third day. Meanwhile, no one is saying anything about the nodule on my adrenal gland. In the end, I bet that is what they will find. I had hoped that I would have surgery by this time, but this testing is going to drag on for months until they can't think of any more tests to do. Since I need to allow 3 days for this test, I can't schedule it until I know what is going on with my father and the brain tumor.  I may be able to squeeze it in before I have to go back up there but will wait and see. Sorry for my attitude but I have seen far too many ignorant doctors and only two who even tried to help me. Fran  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 My guess the cost of the scan was not unclear. In a message dated 10/19/05 9:28:51 PM, friday@... writes: Fran, I had an octreotide scan in Sept and it's nothing to fear from a test perspective. I found it far easier than a stress test. The thing with the scan that I learned AFTER I was done (and I went 140 miles between San Diego and LA 3 times in 7 days as well) is that it won't necessarily pick up a neuroendocrine tumor. My neuroendocrinologist calls the scan UNclear (NUclear) medicine and says it may be helpful but often is not for small tumors under 1CM. I suffer from Cushing's Disease as well and have hyperaldosteronism (right now apparently secondary), am panhypopit and my kidneys are struggling to the point I'm almost ready for dialysis. My potassium has run very low for 9 months now and I take huge doses to keep it in the normal range. Where I am weird is my BP has run normal/low normal.  Don't let the test scare you, it's painless although boring. You're not too radioactive to be around family. It may be helpful if you have a tumor but it may not. For me it was not and there is still a question if I have a neuroendocrine tumor hanging around somewhere. I'm still in diagnostics and confusing the devil out of my doctors.  And if you don't mind my opinion....get a new cardiologist! Sheesh.  (who has seen too many doctors like your cardio) -- Re Test Results  Dr. Grim, For some reason I couldn't find a way to reply to your message so am starting a new one. I don't know if my K was tested properly or not, but am guessing it probably wasn't. All I know is it was a blood test and I didn't do anything special for it. A patient can't tell a doctor how to do something, they just ignore it. Where can I find the post that tells how to do it. I don't read all of the messages on this site, there are now far too many to keep up with and not many of them seem to apply to me. It seems like I am the only one of Earth with these particular symptoms. The last I know, my K was 4.9 but before spiro it was kind of low but still within range. At the time I started having PVCs and sudden weight gain, my dr just sent out notes saying everything was normal or comments on what wasn't OK. As I said before I saw one blood test done when I was in the hospital and I pointed out to him that it was on the bottom of the range and he insisted that it was within normal range but OK. It is such a pain to get test results from doctors because if you don't get it when you see him, you have to write a letter and it takes a couple of weeks to get them. Usually I find that other doctors run their own tests anyway. From everything I have read in the internet about aldosterone that is exactly my problem. Although my levels are only slightly high or even within normal range. My bp is always worse in the morning then go down. When I took labetalol and clonodine, it frequently surged way up a couple of times a day. A cardiologist told me that the two drugs were a bad combination but couldn't find anything else that worked, so I always went back to it.  A few weeks before I was put on spiro, I had some episodes when I felt like my head was being squeezed in a vice. The first time this happened, I checked my bp and it was 220/100+. I took clonidine as directed and waited a half hour and checked again and it hadn't changed. I went to the ER and they gave me more clonidine and it didn't come down. They called my dr but she didn't call back. Finally it was time for me to take my labetalol so they told me to take 2. The bottom number came down but the top stayed at 220. They tried my dr again and after a couple more hours, she called them back. Since I had an appt with her first thing in the morning, she told them to send me home and that was about 1:00 am. When I got up the next morning it was down to something reasonable 170/??. When I saw the Dr, she complained about being called in the middle of the night and I thought, what a bitch! If she had returned the first page, she wouldn't have been called at midnight. I went to the ER around 6 pm. The whole time I was there, I was laying flat with a pillow under my head. The next night, I felt the pressure in my head again and checked my bp. It was around 220/100+ but I ignored it and continued cooking dinner. When I checked it a couple of hours later, it was down. Before spiro, it was always worse when I was laying down. Also most nights, I would wake up and my feet would start hurting and my eyes would start hurting at the same time.  I know it is all related but only because I am the one living in this body. Most doctors don't even try to find anything wrong, they just want to push pills and think that solves everything. When it doesn't, they just try another pill. The next test they want to do at UVA is an Octreoscan. I called to schedule it today and the nurse told me I would have to go down there 2 or 3 days in a row and I freaked out. It is 87 miles each way. They have to inject some nuclear stuff in my veins and I have to go back the next day for the scan and if they decide they need more pics, I will have to go a third day. Meanwhile, no one is saying anything about the nodule on my adrenal gland. In the end, I bet that is what they will find. I had hoped that I would have surgery by this time, but this testing is going to drag on for months until they can't think of any more tests to do. Since I need to allow 3 days for this test, I can't schedule it until I know what is going on with my father and the brain tumor.  I may be able to squeeze it in before I have to go back up there but will wait and see. Sorry for my attitude but I have seen far too many ignorant doctors and only two who even tried to help me. Fran  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Oh no, the cost was quite clear...got that bill last week. Thankfully insurance covered it 100% or I'd be out on the street. :-) Sadly it gave us no useful information other than I didn't have a glaring tumor somewhere which in itself was good news but we're hunting something tiny if it even exists. My IGF-2 was elevated which is why they ordered the octreotide scan. I feel like a guinea pig in all honesty but there isn't much more I can do but keep trying to find the answer and doing weekly blood work to be sure I stay stable with my electrolytes. -- Re: Re Test Results My guess the cost of the scan was not unclear.In a message dated 10/19/05 9:28:51 PM, friday@... writes: Fran, I had an octreotide scan in Sept and it's nothing to fear from a test perspective. I found it far easier than a stress test. The thing with the scan that I learned AFTER I was done (and I went 140 miles between San Diego and LA 3 times in 7 days as well) is that it won't necessarily pick up a neuroendocrine tumor. My neuroendocrinologist calls the scan UNclear (NUclear) medicine and says it may be helpful but often is not for small tumors under 1CM. I suffer from Cushing's Disease as well and have hyperaldosteronism (right now apparently secondary), am panhypopit and my kidneys are struggling to the point I'm almost ready for dialysis. My potassium has run very low for 9 months now and I take huge doses to keep it in the normal range. Where I am weird is my BP has run normal/low normal. Don't let the test scare you, it's painless although boring. You're not too radioactive to be around family. It may be helpful if you have a tumor but it may not. For me it was not and there is still a question if I have a neuroendocrine tumor hanging around somewhere. I'm still in diagnostics and confusing the devil out of my doctors. And if you don't mind my opinion....get a new cardiologist! Sheesh. (who has seen too many doctors like your cardio)-------Original Message------- From: pagirl1946Date: 10/18/05 22:32:04hyperaldosteronism Subject: Re Test Results Dr. Grim,For some reason I couldn't find a way to reply to your message so amstarting a new one. I don't know if my K was tested properly or not,but am guessing it probably wasn't. All I know is it was a bloodtest and I didn't do anything special for it. A patient can't tell adoctor how to do something, they just ignore it. Where can I findthe post that tells how to do it. I don't read all of the messageson this site, there are now far too many to keep up with and not manyof them seem to apply to me. It seems like I am the only one ofEarth with these particular symptoms. The last I know, my K was 4.9but before spiro it was kind of low but still within range. At thetime I started having PVCs and sudden weight gain, my dr just sentout notes saying everything was normal or comments on what wasn'tOK. As I said before I saw one blood test done when I was in thehospital and I pointed out to him that it was on the bottom of therange and he insisted that it was within normal range but OK. It issuch a pain to get test results from doctors because if you don't getit when you see him, you have to write a letter and it takes a coupleof weeks to get them. Usually I find that other doctors run theirown tests anyway. From everything I have read in the internet aboutaldosterone that is exactly my problem. Although my levels are onlyslightly high or even within normal range. My bp is always worse inthe morning then go down. When I took labetalol and clonodine, itfrequently surged way up a couple of times a day. A cardiologisttold me that the two drugs were a bad combination but couldn't findanything else that worked, so I always went back to it.  A few weeksbefore I was put on spiro, I had some episodes when I felt like myhead was being squeezed in a vice. The first time this happened, Ichecked my bp and it was 220/100+. I took clonidine as directed andwaited a half hour and checked again and it hadn't changed. I wentto the ER and they gave me more clonidine and it didn't come down. They called my dr but she didn't call back. Finally it was time forme to take my labetalol so they told me to take 2. The bottom numbercame down but the top stayed at 220. They tried my dr again andafter a couple more hours, she called them back. Since I had an apptwith her first thing in the morning, she told them to send me homeand that was about 1:00 am. When I got up the next morning it wasdown to something reasonable 170/??. When I saw the Dr, shecomplained about being called in the middle of the night and Ithought, what a bitch! If she had returned the first page, shewouldn't have been called at midnight. I went to the ER around 6pm. The whole time I was there, I was laying flat with a pillowunder my head. The next night, I felt the pressure in my head againand checked my bp. It was around 220/100+ but I ignored it andcontinued cooking dinner. When I checked it a couple of hours later,it was down. Before spiro, it was always worse when I was layingdown. Also most nights, I would wake up and my feet would starthurting and my eyes would start hurting at the same time.  I know itis all related but only because I am the one living in this body. Most doctors don't even try to find anything wrong, they just want topush pills and think that solves everything. When it doesn't, theyjust try another pill. The next test they want to do at UVA is anOctreoscan. I called to schedule it today and the nurse told me Iwould have to go down there 2 or 3 days in a row and I freaked out. It is 87 miles each way. They have to inject some nuclear stuff inmy veins and I have to go back the next day for the scan and if theydecide they need more pics, I will have to go a third day. Meanwhile, no one is saying anything about the nodule on my adrenalgland. In the end, I bet that is what they will find. I had hopedthat I would have surgery by this time, but this testing is going todrag on for months until they can't think of any more tests to do. Since I need to allow 3 days for this test, I can't schedule it untilI know what is going on with my father and the brain tumor.  I maybe able to squeeze it in before I have to go back up there but willwait and see. Sorry for my attitude but I have seen far too manyignorant doctors and only two who even tried to help me. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I'm sure he won't mind. Listening to him talk to the radiologists and figure out how in the world they make heads or tails of gray blobs is beyond me. I have something on my kidney that is questionable and I just squint trying to figure out where my kidney is let alone some 5mm abnormality. -- Re: Re Test Results Love the term Unclear Scan. Will steal it.In a message dated 10/19/05 9:28:51 PM, friday@... writes: Fran, I had an octreotide scan in Sept and it's nothing to fear from a test perspective. I found it far easier than a stress test. The thing with the scan that I learned AFTER I was done (and I went 140 miles between San Diego and LA 3 times in 7 days as well) is that it won't necessarily pick up a neuroendocrine tumor. My neuroendocrinologist calls the scan UNclear (NUclear) medicine and says it may be helpful but often is not for small tumors under 1CM. I suffer from Cushing's Disease as well and have hyperaldosteronism (right now apparently secondary), am panhypopit and my kidneys are struggling to the point I'm almost ready for dialysis. My potassium has run very low for 9 months now and I take huge doses to keep it in the normal range. Where I am weird is my BP has run normal/low normal. Don't let the test scare you, it's painless although boring. You're not too radioactive to be around family. It may be helpful if you have a tumor but it may not. For me it was not and there is still a question if I have a neuroendocrine tumor hanging around somewhere. I'm still in diagnostics and confusing the devil out of my doctors. And if you don't mind my opinion....get a new cardiologist! Sheesh. (who has seen too many doctors like your cardio)-------Original Message------- From: pagirl1946Date: 10/18/05 22:32:04hyperaldosteronism Subject: Re Test Results Dr. Grim,For some reason I couldn't find a way to reply to your message so amstarting a new one. I don't know if my K was tested properly or not,but am guessing it probably wasn't. All I know is it was a bloodtest and I didn't do anything special for it. A patient can't tell adoctor how to do something, they just ignore it. Where can I findthe post that tells how to do it. I don't read all of the messageson this site, there are now far too many to keep up with and not manyof them seem to apply to me. It seems like I am the only one ofEarth with these particular symptoms. The last I know, my K was 4.9but before spiro it was kind of low but still within range. At thetime I started having PVCs and sudden weight gain, my dr just sentout notes saying everything was normal or comments on what wasn'tOK. As I said before I saw one blood test done when I was in thehospital and I pointed out to him that it was on the bottom of therange and he insisted that it was within normal range but OK. It issuch a pain to get test results from doctors because if you don't getit when you see him, you have to write a letter and it takes a coupleof weeks to get them. Usually I find that other doctors run theirown tests anyway. From everything I have read in the internet aboutaldosterone that is exactly my problem. Although my levels are onlyslightly high or even within normal range. My bp is always worse inthe morning then go down. When I took labetalol and clonodine, itfrequently surged way up a couple of times a day. A cardiologisttold me that the two drugs were a bad combination but couldn't findanything else that worked, so I always went back to it.  A few weeksbefore I was put on spiro, I had some episodes when I felt like myhead was being squeezed in a vice. The first time this happened, Ichecked my bp and it was 220/100+. I took clonidine as directed andwaited a half hour and checked again and it hadn't changed. I wentto the ER and they gave me more clonidine and it didn't come down. They called my dr but she didn't call back. Finally it was time forme to take my labetalol so they told me to take 2. The bottom numbercame down but the top stayed at 220. They tried my dr again andafter a couple more hours, she called them back. Since I had an apptwith her first thing in the morning, she told them to send me homeand that was about 1:00 am. When I got up the next morning it wasdown to something reasonable 170/??. When I saw the Dr, shecomplained about being called in the middle of the night and Ithought, what a bitch! If she had returned the first page, shewouldn't have been called at midnight. I went to the ER around 6pm. The whole time I was there, I was laying flat with a pillowunder my head. The next night, I felt the pressure in my head againand checked my bp. It was around 220/100+ but I ignored it andcontinued cooking dinner. When I checked it a couple of hours later,it was down. Before spiro, it was always worse when I was layingdown. Also most nights, I would wake up and my feet would starthurting and my eyes would start hurting at the same time.  I know itis all related but only because I am the one living in this body. Most doctors don't even try to find anything wrong, they just want topush pills and think that solves everything. When it doesn't, theyjust try another pill. The next test they want to do at UVA is anOctreoscan. I called to schedule it today and the nurse told me Iwould have to go down there 2 or 3 days in a row and I freaked out. It is 87 miles each way. They have to inject some nuclear stuff inmy veins and I have to go back the next day for the scan and if theydecide they need more pics, I will have to go a third day. Meanwhile, no one is saying anything about the nodule on my adrenalgland. In the end, I bet that is what they will find. I had hopedthat I would have surgery by this time, but this testing is going todrag on for months until they can't think of any more tests to do. Since I need to allow 3 days for this test, I can't schedule it untilI know what is going on with my father and the brain tumor.  I maybe able to squeeze it in before I have to go back up there but willwait and see. Sorry for my attitude but I have seen far too manyignorant doctors and only two who even tried to help me. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2005 Report Share Posted October 20, 2005 With my insurance, I will probably have to pay 20% of the customary and reasonable amout. I forgot to tell you that I fired that cardiologist years ago. I only went to her for help with my bp and she did nothing but try different RX that didn't work. The last straw was when I called one time and begged to talk to her because my bp was extremely high. Their answer was to call me back and tell me that they had set up an appointment on Mon at 4pm which was right in the middle of rush hour. I cancelled it and never went back. After that, I got an appointment with a nephrologist whonfound out that aldosterone was the problem and put me on Spiro. The latest echo that I had done last Feb showed some regurgitation between valves or something like that, but my dr said that he doesn't think I need to see a cardiologist at this time. Fran > > Oh no, the cost was quite clear...got that bill last week. Thankfully > insurance covered it 100% or I'd be out on the street. :-) Sadly it gave us > no useful information other than I didn't have a glaring tumor somewhere > which in itself was good news but we're hunting something tiny if it even > exists. My IGF-2 was elevated which is why they ordered the octreotide scan > I feel like a guinea pig in all honesty but there isn't much more I can do > but keep trying to find the answer and doing weekly blood work to be sure I > stay stable with my electrolytes. > > > > -- Re Test Results > >  > Dr. Grim, > > For some reason I couldn't find a way to reply to your message so am > starting a new one. I don't know if my K was tested properly or not, > but am guessing it probably wasn't. All I know is it was a blood > test and I didn't do anything special for it. A patient can't tell a > doctor how to do something, they just ignore it. Where can I find > the post that tells how to do it. I don't read all of the messages > on this site, there are now far too many to keep up with and not many > of them seem to apply to me. It seems like I am the only one of > Earth with these particular symptoms. The last I know, my K was 4.9 > but before spiro it was kind of low but still within range. At the > time I started having PVCs and sudden weight gain, my dr just sent > out notes saying everything was normal or comments on what wasn't > OK. As I said before I saw one blood test done when I was in the > hospital and I pointed out to him that it was on the bottom of the > range and he insisted that it was within normal range but OK. It is > such a pain to get test results from doctors because if you don't get > it when you see him, you have to write a letter and it takes a couple > of weeks to get them. Usually I find that other doctors run their > own tests anyway. From everything I have read in the internet about > aldosterone that is exactly my problem. Although my levels are only > slightly high or even within normal range. My bp is always worse in > the morning then go down. When I took labetalol and clonodine, it > frequently surged way up a couple of times a day. A cardiologist > told me that the two drugs were a bad combination but couldn't find > anything else that worked, so I always went back to it.  A few weeks > before I was put on spiro, I had some episodes when I felt like my > head was being squeezed in a vice. The first time this happened, I > checked my bp and it was 220/100+. I took clonidine as directed and > waited a half hour and checked again and it hadn't changed. I went > to the ER and they gave me more clonidine and it didn't come down. > They called my dr but she didn't call back. Finally it was time for > me to take my labetalol so they told me to take 2. The bottom number > came down but the top stayed at 220. They tried my dr again and > after a couple more hours, she called them back. Since I had an appt > with her first thing in the morning, she told them to send me home > and that was about 1:00 am. When I got up the next morning it was > down to something reasonable 170/??. When I saw the Dr, she > complained about being called in the middle of the night and I > thought, what a bitch! If she had returned the first page, she > wouldn't have been called at midnight. I went to the ER around 6 > pm. The whole time I was there, I was laying flat with a pillow > under my head. The next night, I felt the pressure in my head again > and checked my bp. It was around 220/100+ but I ignored it and > continued cooking dinner. When I checked it a couple of hours later, > it was down. Before spiro, it was always worse when I was laying > down. Also most nights, I would wake up and my feet would start > hurting and my eyes would start hurting at the same time.  I know it > is all related but only because I am the one living in this body. > Most doctors don't even try to find anything wrong, they just want to > push pills and think that solves everything. When it doesn't, they > just try another pill. The next test they want to do at UVA is an > Octreoscan. I called to schedule it today and the nurse told me I > would have to go down there 2 or 3 days in a row and I freaked out. > It is 87 miles each way. They have to inject some nuclear stuff in > my veins and I have to go back the next day for the scan and if they > decide they need more pics, I will have to go a third day. > Meanwhile, no one is saying anything about the nodule on my adrenal > gland. In the end, I bet that is what they will find. I had hoped > that I would have surgery by this time, but this testing is going to > drag on for months until they can't think of any more tests to do. > Since I need to allow 3 days for this test, I can't schedule it until > I know what is going on with my father and the brain tumor.  I may > be able to squeeze it in before I have to go back up there but will > wait and see. Sorry for my attitude but I have seen far too many > ignorant doctors and only two who even tried to help me. > Fran > > > >  > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2005 Report Share Posted October 23, 2005 In a message dated 10/20/05 1:16:44 PM, frand.2@... writes: The latest echo that I had done last Feb showed some regurgitation between valves or something like that, but my dr said that he doesn't think I need to see a cardiologist at this time. Fran If you have PA, which it sounds like you might, the regurge will get better as the heart gets smaller. Sort of a Pam's story on our site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Hi Sheila & All,just posted test results? Not sure if done properly hubby scaned them and i have tried to forward them. Can someone e mail me if they can see them. If not i will try to type them up. Fingers are cut to ribbons at the moment the pain is terrible. Will wait to see if anyone replies. Thank's. Luv Connelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 They are attached fine and I have already responded with my first thoughts about these. Luv - Sheila From: thyroid treatment [mailto:thyroid treatment ] On Behalf Of Connelly Sent: 06 January 2012 17:05 thyroid treatment Subject: re test results Hi Sheila & All, just posted test results? Not sure if done properly hubby scaned them and i have tried to forward them. Can someone e mail me if they can see them. If not i will try to type them up. Fingers are cut to ribbons at the moment the pain is terrible. Will wait to see if anyone replies. Thank's. Luv Connelly No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1901 / Virus Database: 2109/4725 - Release Date: 01/05/12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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