sudden very high spikes in BP

Canyondweller · 09-23-2006, 01:34 AM

I went from no BP meds to 2 in less than a week due to very bad spikes in BP which landed me in ER and the hospital. Dr. has now ordered an MRA of the artery in the kidney because narrowing of that artery can cause these spikes. Has anyone had a stent put in the kidney artery? Other than that there is no apparant reason for me suddenly to have HBP. It went from 140/80 to 211/110 and then back down. Ifelt it when it happened as my head felt flooded with blood.

Looly · 09-24-2006, 07:07 PM

Hi - sorry to read about your spikes. I too have been having spikes over the last few years. I am wondering did you have any other symptoms along with your spikes, when did they occur, day or in the middle of the night and how long did the spikes last for? My spikes go down with a small amount of Xanax.

Canyondweller · 09-25-2006, 02:28 AM

I didn't have any symptoms prior to the spike but at the time for the first one it was like all the blood from my toes went into the head and had I been standing I would have been knocked down. As it was I just held on to the counter as I had just finished dinner and was watching TV. It passed quickly but my BP machine was there so that is how I knew what it was. They put me in hospital for a couple days for observation and I was fine. Carotid arterys were fine as was CT scan. A week later the same thing happened and I went to ER and it came down but all of a sudden I felt it again and called for a nurse to take my BP and it had risen and was rising fast. They gave me *******ia quick acting and it brought it down fast in about 20 minutes. It is all very scary to me as I live alone. My meds seem to be working now but I keep wondering if and when it is going to happen again. My BP has been really good all day. I am taking Lisonipril 10mg at night and Norvasc in the AM as that seems to work best so far. What about you? What are you taking? How old are you and what has been done for you. Like I said since I did not have HBP before this (moderate) they are looking for a secondary cause. Anxious to hear about you. One was in evening and the rest during the day, always sitting which is strange to me. I was glad that they saw it in ER because they were questioning my BP machine

Looly · 09-25-2006, 11:17 PM

Hi Canyondweller- my spikes usually occur while I am asleep and I am awakened by them with a weird feeling coming over me, bringing me out of my sleep. I head to the bathroom and take my bp which is usually around 110/107 when this happens. I take a 2.5 mg xanax and watch the pressure go down within the hour. Along with this I have elevated heart rate ranging in the 105 area. It's all so scary to me. I don't have any other symptoms except sometimes I get anxious and other times I feel very warm, but upon taking my temperature I don't have a fever. I don't live alone, but when this happens I never wake up my husband. SInce this started I have always been able to bring it down with the Xanax, however there were a few scary nites that I thought I'd end up in the ER, and for me that would be traumatic as I am terrified of doctors, hospitals, etc. I figure if I am going to die I'll do it in my bathroom....LOL. (What a thing to joke about, right?) I don't know why this happens though I am a stressful person, but the ***** thing is this usually happens in the middle of the night when our pressure is supposesed to be at its lowest. I went to my GP and he said panic attacks. I searched on google and came up with other causes, which too, scared me but I am hoping it's anxiety related and nothing more. Like you, this scares me. I am afraid of getting these episodes and wish them no more.

Canyondweller · 09-26-2006, 01:54 AM

you said 110 over 107/ Is that what you meant or did you mean 210. I have never heard of the 2 numbers being so close if it was 110. If it happens at night you must be having some night terrors or something. You really do need to find out why you are having them. I am wondering if you have sleep apnea as that can cause it and if you have done any reading then you know that it can be serious. Please don't be afraid of Doctors. My husband was terrified of doctor, not just didn't like them, really terrified as he watched his brother go thru a lot of medical stuff when he was young. My husband died an early death because he would not get a regular checkup. He finally agreed to one and died 3 weeks before the appt. of a heart attack. Never sick in his life so please see about these. When I get these attacks the heat is on the inside of me not the outside like a hot flash. Now with the BP meds my BP has been down really low but that is OK with me. I have my MRI tomorrow but I don't think it will find anything.