Any Advice appreciated. - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Mysticalbrat · 07-03-2008, 04:52 PM

I'm hoping to get some advice on what I can push the doctors to test for and an idea of what is going on with my health.

Background:

31 year old female -- Height 5'7 Weight 140
ADHD -- (Adderall XR 30mgs (1x morning) Adderall 20mg (1x afternoon) Been on this medication for 3 + years)
Asthma -- (Pulmicort (1x mornings) Albuterol (When needed not had to use in over 2 months)

Surgeries:

June/02 -- Emergency Hysterectomy (25 years old) complications in child birth, major blood loss, hemo was at a 4, blood transfusion.
Dec/06 -- 17lb Ovarian Tumor
Oct/07 -- Cyst removed from Urethra - appendix removed - Adhesions removed.
March/08 - 4 Cysts removed from lower right back.

Thyroid blood tests come back normal -

Now for my problem, From the time I can remember my BP ran about 120/65 recently I went to an appointment and my BP was 155/112, so they told me to go to a 5 day BP check to see if I needed to be put on Blood Pressure medication. First day my BP was 138/92 (left arm) 134/91 (right arm), Second day, 120/94 (Left arm) 120/93 (right arm), Third day, 144/98 (left arm) 142/92 (right arm) all taken manually not by a machine I have two more days to go next week. My Pulse laying down stays about 80s to 90s, Sitting up it will jump to about 110 - 122 and standing up it sometimes shoots as high as 144-160. I will go to do normal day to day things (Cleaning House, taking care of my kids so on) And I will begin to sweat uncontrollably, heart feels like it's racing out of control, and I'm exhausted most times before I even begin to do anything.

EKG was done and they said there was to much interference? They tried about 5 different times and said that it could just be Muscle Spasms. I feel like I'm running into a brick wall, I have no idea what tests to push for to see if there is a problem with my heart or not, I'm hoping someone can give me advice on what could be wrong with me, and how I can fix it.

aether4 · 07-03-2008, 07:59 PM

What thyroid tests were run? Did they do free T3, free T4, and test for antibodies?. Has any other hormones or adrenals been tested?

Look up information on autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). POTS in particular can be caused by several things (such as surgery) or even secondary to another disease, such as with one person who posted in this section was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's and POTS.

Also the Adderall is a stimulant. It acts as a vasoconstrictor and can make your blood pressure higher. Your heart rate may be to compensate for another problem - blood pooling, orthostatic hypotension (when you stand up), hypoperfusion, or is from another cause which will need to be further tested for.
Research and please post back if any of this sounds familiar to what you deal with.

Mysticalbrat · 07-04-2008, 12:27 AM

What thyroid tests were run? Did they do free T3, free T4, and test for antibodies?. Has any other hormones or adrenals been tested?

That question I don't know I'll have to check on that most definately, I've actually been having a heck of a time getting an appointment to get anything done. (Military Hospitals grr sometimes hehe)

Look up information on autonomic dysfunction and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Wow, that is definately something I am going to bring up to my doctor a lot of the symptoms I'm having are listed. I will make sure I get those done I can't say thank you enough for your input. I will not go to the doctor empty handed and I'll be able to hopefully get this issue whatever it is gone and over with.

Also the Adderall is a stimulant. It acts as a vasoconstrictor and can make your blood pressure higher.

Maybe I should even ask to be switched to another medication, I just figured that after 3 years of no problems it wouldn't cause problems now but things do change. I'll go for my next two visits without taking it and see how if that brings the pressure down at all.

And again thank you very much it has gave me a new direction to go other then just "Hypertension" I haven't been normal since my hysterectomy and blood loss I am really hoping someday soon I can find some type of "Normal" again.

aether4 · 07-04-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysticalbrat

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Wow, that is definately something I am going to bring up to my doctor a lot of the symptoms I'm having are listed. I will make sure I get those done I can't say thank you enough for your input. I will not go to the doctor empty handed and I'll be able to hopefully get this issue whatever it is gone and over with.

Don't be surprised if your doctor knows absolutely nothing. Vasovagal/neurocardiogenic syncope (what I've been diagnosed with so far) is slightly more well known, but everything else is usually out of most doctors area of specialty or newer (well not new, but POTS was only recently given a name in 1993 and there's still a lot unknown about it).
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Definitely make an effect to get more done - more tests, more answers. The fact that you've had a hysterectomy could likely mean that there are some hormones out of balance. Don't forget to have vitamin D and B12 checked, too. Unfortunately, you're going to have to be your own health advocate and look for answers. Always question your doctor(s) and be involved, and if the doctor isn't helping - look for another who can.

Mysticalbrat · 07-15-2008, 06:39 PM

An update! I was going in for the 5 day blood check well I missed a couple days and had to wait until after the 4th of July, Boy am I glad that happened! When I went in for the last two a regular RN was there that was taking my blood pressure and found that my BP is really tough to hear because my pulse rate is so high. Turns out the RN doing my BP instead of a tech my BP was 117/62 and 107/64 Really low BP instead of really high like they had been getting. So I got an ECG done AGAIN, but this time with the information you provided me me I told them when I lay down, my pulse rate tends to stay the same, when I sit up or stand up my pulse rate will jump in a matter of seconds sometimes minutes. Well, they at first kind of humored me but then they saw it for themselves! I'm going to Cardio my doc believes it maybe POTS so they are going to try to rule out all other and if's or buts, again I can't say thank you enough for your help! I was truely feeling lost and without the knowledge you gave me and when I realized I wasn't going nuts it helped a lot thanks a ton!