My Mystery.....

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Here is my story.

I am a 33 year old female, and was diagnosed with diabetes 1.5 years ago.

Approximately 9 months before that diagnosis, I was hit very hard with an

infection of Campylobacter (like Salmonella, only worse!). That infection was

misdiagnosed (the lab lost the sample) and went untreated with the correct

medicine for nearly two weeks. I ended up in the hospital and did not feel

'normal' again until after my diabetes diagnosis. I am telling you about this

infection because I believe it may have had something to do with later health

issues, in some way.

Anyhow, after the attack of Campylobacter, I did not feel well again. I was

tired and run down all the time. I was also drinking a lot of water (I thought

it was due to poor ventilation in the work place causing my thirst). I was

exercising a lot and on a reduced calorie diet at the time but could not lose

any weight. I was also under extreme stress (due to my job) at this time, so

much that I had developed a tic (my eyelid would not stop twitching!) that,

unsurprisingly went away immediately when I quit my job!

9 months after the Campylobacter incident, I contracted what I thought was a

urinary tract infection. I went to the doctor and was asked to provide a urine

sample. They could tell from the smell of the urine that something was wrong

(it was very sweet) and immediately took blood tests. My blood sugar was 432

mg/dl (24 mmol) fasting. I was rushed to a laboratory for further testing,

which confirmed a diagnosis of diabetes.

I was crushed. This was one week before a final exam that would determine the

future of my life and career, so I was also very emotionally stressed. My family

has a LONG history of diabetes (my mother and her father both have it, possibly

other family members as well) and we are part native american (genetic tendency

to develop diabetes). I had always known the risk was there, but I did not

expect to get it so early. I don't know if the campylobacter infection

contributed to this, but I have been told that it is a possibility, as

camplyobacter can cause pancreatitis, which can kill some of the cells that

produce insulin. In the end, it does not matter what caused the disease. I have

it and I have to live with it!

I immediately started researching how to eat and started on a low carbohydrate

diet. Within 2 weeks I had brought my blood sugars down to normal levels (real

normal levels, not the too-high levels that most diabetes doctors will accept!).

I now have blood sugars that are indistinguishable from a 'normal' person. I

have also lost 75 pounds.

I would like to lose 25 pounds more, which would put me at a very healthy ideal

weight. However my weight loss seems to have stalled.

On top of this, last winter, during a routine blood pressure check, I was told

that I had suddenly developed very high blood pressure. This was during an

appointment with a nutritionist. She took my blood pressure twice, and I had an

elevated systolic and diastolic. I was then sent to my regular doctor (a couple

weeks later) who had a similar result. He suspected white coat syndrome (fear

of doctors/clinical situations causing stress related high blood pressure). I

was then scheduled to be fitted with a 24 hour monitor, so they could see what

my blood pressure did outside of a clinical setting.

When I came to be fitted for the 24 hour monitor, it would not work on me. They

tried several machines, but in the end I was told that I was the one out of a

thousand people whom the machine is unable to read. Something about my

physiology made that impossible. It is nothing obvious...I am only 10 pounds

overweight so that is not the issue! They said it was just a fluke and there

was nothing they could do about it.

I had to buy a wrist monitor and monitor my blood pressure myself. I

consistently get elevated numbers, no matter what time of day it is or if I have

been relaxing or meditating beforehand. By high numbers, I mean 175/118,

156/110, etc.

I have had two normal Ekgs in the past 1.5 years, and my cardiac hormone is

normal. I have, as I said earlier, perfect blood sugars and perfect cholesterol

numbers. They claim that my thyroid is fine (I know that they only test TSH,

though).

I have an appointment with a cardiac specialist next tuesday. My doctor says

that he cannot figure out why my blood pressure is like this, given my massive

weight loss and my perfect blood sugar control. I am of course quite scared of

the possibilities here but I don't think anything is wrong with my heart or

arterial systems, as there have been so many tests taken already that show

nothing (Ekgs, etc).

I am suspecting adrenal issues because a friend of mine suggested it to me...she

is a naturopath, and after hearing some of the symptoms I have, she thought it

might be a cause of the blood pressure readings.

I did a test on myself yesterday. I took blood pressure readings lying down,

then stood and took one immediately. My blood pressure (especially systolic)

falls dramatically (20 points on average) upon standing. It is still high of

course, but there is a significant drop. I have read that this may indicate too

much or too little aldosterone. I am guessing too much, considering my high

blood pressure, if aldosterone is the cause.

I should add that I have frequent muscle pains and stiffness in the neck and

shoulder area, trouble falling asleep at night (I get energy at strange times)

and frequent waking at night. I also have a tendency to retain water.

I know that I can only be diagnosed by a professional, but can anyone tell me if

I am a candidate for hyperaldosteronism?

Thank you for your help and taking the time to read my story!