Thanks so much for sharing.  I will take your suggestions to my endocrinologist (I actually have not seen one yet - but plan to refer myself soon).  I did have the aldosterone/renin ratio done per my own request by my gyn (who warned me she had no experience with the test).  Aldosterone came back WNL, but the Renin was 49.9 (cut off for normal is 40 by my lab).  So I have no idea what that means, I took the info to my PCP and he said, "Gee, I don't know," and then told me to come back in MAY!  MAy?!! How about a little follow through?  How about a little, "Gee, I don't know, I'll look into that and we'll try to figure out why it's off.  How about a couple more tests?"

Well anyway, that's why I've decided to call an endocrinologist.  

My BP varies a lot even since starting the HCTZ just a few weeks ago.  But has never been over 160/100 (when checked). Most of the time it's 130/80ish.  I still retain lots of water and that seems to increase when I exercise of all things.  When I work out I have to take my wedding ring off because my fingers puff up!

I pray you are not getting too nervous about surgery tomorrow!  I pray for your safety and peace for you in the confindence and competence of the medical professions caring for you in the next few days.  Speedy recovery to you.  Blessings to your family!

Hi - Yes, I saw 2 neuroendocrinologists and I'm still going to see another endocrinologist in APril (post surgery) as part of my workup.  I completely agree w/ you that the ovary thing and HTN are related.  Mine all happened suddenly at exactly the same time and I had low BP my whole life leading in.  I went to an internist first b/c they look at the whole person instead of just each system.  That's one problem in seeing the specialists like the neuroendocrinologists or a GYN, etc:  they just only look at their little specialty system and say all the rest of the stuff going on w/ you is "coincidence" or "incredibly bad luck".  But I got the internist to run rule-out tests ahead of time and then refer me to the specialists.  If you want to look at this angle, you could get blood tests for plasma metanepharines (Mayo or Quest do these - Mayo uses more standard units, so I would have stuff sent there), dopamine, Renin activity, cortisol, aldosterone, glomuler filtration.  Then get 24 hr urine test for fractionated catecholamines (again, if you can - send to Mayo b/c they use more common units used in literature).  I also got CT and MRI of adrenal glands (checking for tumors and looking at renal arteries) and an U/S at Mayo checking again for renal stenosis.    I have lab values that suggest a problem in this area (they were looking for a pheochromocytoma), but they couldn't find the tumor.  I think the only other places it could if there was one would be in my bladder wall or my neck.  90% of the time they are on your adrenal glands.

HCTZ (diuretic I'm taking) lowered my BP, but not enough. I ended up having to take 10mg of Lisinopril too.  But there are not nearly the side effects I had on the other 5 meds I tried and my BP is finally as of this week controlled!  Have they tried adding lisinopril to your diuretic?

I hate when they try to act like this all happened b/c you're not in top shape etc.  One of the endocrines I saw made a big deal of the fact that I didn't work out at a gym. It's so silly - why do I have to wear a leotard and balance on a ball or step on fake plastic stairs to count as exercise? He didn't count that I play w/ my kids and go up and down stairs all day or that I could easily play 3 sets of tennis w/o getting tired out.  They really only know the cause of 5% of HTN cases and the rest they just call "essential" or "polygenetic" (Mayo's new term for "I don't know; leave me alone!").  There's a cause for everything and just b/c they haven't figured it out yet doesn't mean it doesn't exist.  B/c my son has had so many medical problems and he is a complex nad wierd case that never fits any algorhythm, I got used to being brushed off by Drs. I used to start bawling and feel so defeated.  Now I just do my research and go find someone else who may be helpful.  We can't afford to be intimidated or worry about someone's ego.  If my gut tells me something different from what the Dr is telling me, I keep digging.

Hang in there and let's keep in touch to see if we find out anything helpful to one another.  I will let you know whatever I find out in case it may be helpful to you.  I keep hoping that my HTN may improve after the surgery?

This HTN thing has me weirded out.  JG's HTN was really really high and don't believe it's for no reason.  Has to be connected.  Mine has been poorly controlled on my one measly diuretic.  But the highest I ever noted it prior to the med was 154/98.  Used to be well under 120/80.  Never had a probem, even prior to my ovarian cyst removal surgery.  I keep blaming it n weight gain, being in poor shape, etc. But lately I feel so crappy, even with the HTN meds.  

Good to know about the adrenal tumors goose-chase mentioned above. I was researching and actually wondering about it in myself.  That, or Renal astery stenosis.  I'm driving myself batty because I feel like my doc has brushed me off.  Then, I feel like a pushy knows-it-all but really doesn't know squat nurse/patient.    I wonder if an endocrinologist woud be helpful?  Anyone had a workup related to your ovary/HTN issues with one?

My BP was in the most severe range of "malignant hypertension" - 250/160 consistently.  It is pretty controlled now w/ meds, but it still scares me to think it was that high and goes up the minute the meds get near the end of their dosing life.  I keep hoping it is related to the "female problems", so thanks for sharing your history and also telling me about Fancy1972.  Were both of yours and Fancy's cysts benign I hope/pray?

I know it isn't the end of the world if I have high BP, but whether they want to call it "essential hypertension" or (Mayo's new term) "Polygenetic hypertension" - it is still caused by something and all those phrases mean is that they don't know what.  I just can't believe one can go from low BP to such an extremely high BP in a couple of mos for no reason.  

Im still scared of surgery w/ the bad BP problem.  But oh well - I know we are all scared here.

I had very minor increase in my B/P, a few points only,  and as my B/P is usually 120something/70something, then it was never classified as "high" even when it increased into the 130s/80s.  However, Fancy1972, had 'sky high' blood pressure as a result of her cystic masses.    At one point, as she was waiting for her surgery, the doctors became concerned that her B/P would be too high for her to safely have surgery. Between the physical pressure of something in the abdomen, and the affect on the endocrine system caused by the mass and its affect on the body, and the general  mental stress caused by the situation, increased blood pressure is very common.  

And interesting effect of the surgery is that within the first week after my surgery, I began to feel dramatically better than I had felt for months.  That effect was a complete surprise to me as I was still somewhat sore and recovering from the surgery.  I had also picked up an upper respiratory infection.  I should have felt awful but did not.   When I asked my doctor for an explanation, she said that the body can produce prolactins in response to a mass such as mine, and this could affect how I felt as soon as the mass was removed.

Hi - When I read your post, I felt like I was reading my own!  I also stopped having pds back in Sept and developed a fluid-filled cyst.  I also developed high BP - it was very sudden around the time my periods started getting weird and stopped and around the same time I felt like I had something on my ovary (though that was not confirmed til a couple mos after my BP was noted to be up).  I am curious - when did you develop the high BP and how bad did it get?  I swear there is a connection here - moosie and nursept and a maybe a few others also developed high BP and we all wonder if there isn't a connection somewhere.  I'm getting my ovarian cyst removed this Thursday and I hope maybe some of the other symptoms will go away once that happens and I'm recovered.  As a side-note, I was also told that I'm stressed out and in fact for the past few mos, the Drs have been looking for an adrenal tumor (as cause of sudden high BP) because my adrenaline breakdown products (eg normetanapharine and metanepharine) were high.  They couldn't find one and so now I'm on to removing the ovary w/ the cyst on it and crossing fingers that it is benign and removing it will help towards resolving my other sudden health issues.  Good luck to you.

Only a man or a mean-spirited woman would tell a someone that a cyst of that size is too small to cause pain!  They can, and do, cause pain.  Been there, done that.

Additionally, there are connections between stress and most illnesses.  These connections can be difficult to quantify, so statistics are hard to find, but there is a connection.  Been there, done that.

Also, the cyst itself can be affecting the hormone production from that ovary, which can affect your moods, as well as your monthly cycles.   And if the cyst is being treated like an infection by your body, then your body could be producing prolactins in response to the cyst.  Yet another effect on how you feel!   Been there, done that.

Last but not least, yes, simple cysts have only a one to two percent chance of being malignant.  The worrisome information on  a simple cyst that could indicate possible malignancy or pre-cancerous cells  would be thick cyst walls.  Been there, done this too...except the cyst surgically removed from me was large, had thick cyst walls, solid components, and the ovary appeared enlarged on the ultrasound.  The information on the cyst had "cancer" written all over it - and it was still benign.

Hi CM, and welcome.

Be very grateful they were incorrect about the diverticulitis.  And frankly, as bad as the pain has been from these cysts, the diverticulitis was incredibly worse.  I am five months out from having a partial colectomy, losing a little over a foot of my colon.  I don't even know you well yet and I'm very, very glad you don't have diverticulitis.

From what I understand, fluid filled cysts are not as worrisome, but I'm sure others will be along to help you out more.  I'm new on the cysts scene.  Love, hugs and God bless, Barb

Welcome, Cooking woman.  I'm new here too.  But find much peace through these girls.  And maybe more help than my Doc, so far.  I am 43 yrs old, and started menapause just over a yr ago.  The Climara patch and Prometrium the OB put me on, really didn't seem to help much with the night sweats, hot flashes, irreg and very painful menses.  In fact, my GP thinks they may have contributed to the many fibroids we had first found.  So,I do suggest that you ask many questions about Hormone Replacement Therapy prior to using them. It just seems really odd that I only got my 3 complex cysts, and the simple cysts and fibroids AFTER being on HRTs.  And, when I asked my OB on Monday if I should return to that treament for the symptoms are worsening, he stated that BC was probably 10 tmes better at helping the symptoms.  And, as everyone keeps telling me, relax for now and remember that 99% of all cysts benign.  Keep us posted, we'll be praying!!  Julie BB

Thanks Gatsby. Indeed, I do like to cook---HEALTHY! I've been on a healthy food binge for a while now, so feeling this rotten is coming as something of a surprise.

Welcome to the site.  Let me first tell you that 99% of all ovarian cysts are BENIGN!  Please try not to worry.  You seem to have a good dr.  You will find many women here who will be able to give you very good advice.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  I take it by your name you like to cook?!?
~Tascha