Re: New to the Group, Val's friend from another board

[Guest guest]

Again, am new to group..and have been talking with Val on another

board.

Very brief history: family history - high BP, strokes, aneurysms,

diabetes, on BOTH sides; have Hashi's/Grave's AI thyroiditis - waxes

wanes; did poorly on Synthroid and did well on Armour, 1 and 1/2 gr

for 6 years until late peri. Had extreme problems with hot flashes

in peri and fatigue. D.O. at time prescribed progesterone. Took

small amt for 8 mos..started noticing coarse stiff hair on lip and

peach fuzz on face, weight gain beginning as " love handles " ..led very

fit, active, healthy diet lifestyle..always thin, 120 lbs or below,

5'8 " ..all of a sudden couldn't lose weight.

Started getting a little jittery and " wound up " feeling and stopped

pg. Started LOSING weight rapidly..notice that I would get

these " pings " of adrenaline/almost euphoria from time to time..one

day standing in yard, the " ping " became nonstop..what we

call " racing " ..like I was plugged full time into an adrenaline

machine...went on for some time.. Was diagnosed with Graves, with

high RT3 and Total T3 and suppressed TSH..estrogen levels also

swinging wildly and menstrual cycles stopped. Testosterone and free

T were also elevated.

Eventually things settled down some and then I started to GAIN

weight..Am up to 143 lbs as of today..most of it central..High

androgens are still a problem and I can post specific levels; but

remarkable for me include: thyroid AI condition waxes/wanes; pg

sometimes is high for post-meno; androgens (DHEAs, T, free T)

elevated or high-normal consistently; have EBV; potassium usually low

end of normal; iron/ferritin low; magnesium low (even after

shots);hemoglobin/hematocrit always ELEVATED (doc says from high

testosterone); sometimes elevated RBC and WBC; hemo A1C and insulin

levels good; fasting glucose good..although it has been borderline

from time to time; can post salivas/urinaries if interested..Most

recently had aldo/renin done and results for aldo were 17.2, renin

1.22 (Doc Grim pronounced this as early stage PA).

I do NOT have high BP..BP will raise during " racing " stages but not

to what would be considered " high " that I have caught anyway..Biggest

problems are mood (anxiety and depression), some cardiac

symptoms..feel like I've been kicked in the chest sometimes..like the

heart just wants to STOP and I've had one incident of SEVERE SVT

(have some minors that seem to resolve on their own). Also weight

gain despite very healthy diet (could exercise more) continues, again

most of it central.

Any comments or help would be very much appreciated..The high

aldo/androgens are familial, I think..may very well also be Cushing's

on my Dad's side. I have been unable to find a good endo in my

area.Duke completely blew me off. My very good ENT was the one that

agreed to look at aldo/renin.

I'm not a whiner, but life has been dramatically impacted since

early'04. I want to learn and help others. Thank you.

Angie

Raleigh, NC

>

> Dear Dr. Grim and all:

> I am Val's friend that you suggested had early stage PA (supine

> discussion with labs)..I've joined the group in order to learn and

will

> post a brief history later on. Currently, my BPs are OK..good even

> (sometimes systolic below 100, diastolic below 65); however with

the

> elevated aldosterone, also have family history (interestingly

enough on

> both sides) of high BP AND diabetes AND elevated androgens (in my

case,

> DHEAs and testosterone). (I also have Graves/Hashi's AI thyroid

disease)

> I am thankful to find this group.. Any early thoughts?

> Angie

> Raleigh, NC

>

[Guest guest]

Recommend you get in to see Dr. Laua Svetky at Duke HTN. Tell her

office Dr. Grim is referring you.

On Apr 16, 2008, at 9:08 AM, aviano237 wrote:

> Again, am new to group..and have been talking with Val on another

> board.

> Very brief history: family history - high BP, strokes, aneurysms,

> diabetes, on BOTH sides; have Hashi's/Grave's AI thyroiditis - waxes

> wanes; did poorly on Synthroid and did well on Armour, 1 and 1/2 gr

> for 6 years until late peri. Had extreme problems with hot flashes

> in peri and fatigue. D.O. at time prescribed progesterone. Took

> small amt for 8 mos..started noticing coarse stiff hair on lip and

> peach fuzz on face, weight gain beginning as " love handles " ..led very

> fit, active, healthy diet lifestyle..always thin, 120 lbs or below,

> 5'8 " ..all of a sudden couldn't lose weight.

>

> Started getting a little jittery and " wound up " feeling and stopped

> pg. Started LOSING weight rapidly..notice that I would get

> these " pings " of adrenaline/almost euphoria from time to time..one

> day standing in yard, the " ping " became nonstop..what we

> call " racing " ..like I was plugged full time into an adrenaline

> machine...went on for some time.. Was diagnosed with Graves, with

> high RT3 and Total T3 and suppressed TSH..estrogen levels also

> swinging wildly and menstrual cycles stopped. Testosterone and free

> T were also elevated.

>

> Eventually things settled down some and then I started to GAIN

> weight..Am up to 143 lbs as of today..most of it central..High

> androgens are still a problem and I can post specific levels; but

> remarkable for me include: thyroid AI condition waxes/wanes; pg

> sometimes is high for post-meno; androgens (DHEAs, T, free T)

> elevated or high-normal consistently; have EBV; potassium usually low

> end of normal; iron/ferritin low; magnesium low (even after

> shots);hemoglobin/hematocrit always ELEVATED (doc says from high

> testosterone); sometimes elevated RBC and WBC; hemo A1C and insulin

> levels good; fasting glucose good..although it has been borderline

> from time to time; can post salivas/urinaries if interested..Most

> recently had aldo/renin done and results for aldo were 17.2, renin

> 1.22 (Doc Grim pronounced this as early stage PA).

> I do NOT have high BP..BP will raise during " racing " stages but not

> to what would be considered " high " that I have caught anyway..Biggest

> problems are mood (anxiety and depression), some cardiac

> symptoms..feel like I've been kicked in the chest sometimes..like the

> heart just wants to STOP and I've had one incident of SEVERE SVT

> (have some minors that seem to resolve on their own). Also weight

> gain despite very healthy diet (could exercise more) continues, again

> most of it central.

> Any comments or help would be very much appreciated..The high

> aldo/androgens are familial, I think..may very well also be Cushing's

> on my Dad's side. I have been unable to find a good endo in my

> area.Duke completely blew me off. My very good ENT was the one that

> agreed to look at aldo/renin.

> I'm not a whiner, but life has been dramatically impacted since

> early'04. I want to learn and help others. Thank you.

> Angie

> Raleigh, NC

>

> >

> > Dear Dr. Grim and all:

> > I am Val's friend that you suggested had early stage PA (supine

> > discussion with labs)..I've joined the group in order to learn and

> will

> > post a brief history later on. Currently, my BPs are OK..good even

> > (sometimes systolic below 100, diastolic below 65); however with

> the

> > elevated aldosterone, also have family history (interestingly

> enough on

> > both sides) of high BP AND diabetes AND elevated androgens (in my

> case,

> > DHEAs and testosterone). (I also have Graves/Hashi's AI thyroid

> disease)

> > I am thankful to find this group.. Any early thoughts?

> > Angie

> > Raleigh, NC

> >

>

>

May your pressure be low!

CE Grim BS, MS, MD

High Blood Pressure Consulting

Specializing in Difficult to Manage High Blood Pressure

Consult the following at for details

bloodpressureline

hyperaldosteronism

[Guest guest]

Dr. Grim:

Thank you for response; honored to " meet " you..please note, I am

not " hypertensive " at this moment..Mom had low BPs all her life, now is

trying to control high BPs with 3 meds..Dad's family has high BPs.

Will Dr. Svetky still see me if not currently HTN?

Thx,

Angie

>

> Recommend you get in to see Dr. Laua Svetky at Duke HTN. Tell her

> office Dr. Grim is referring you.

>

>