Hypertension and Renal Artery Stenosis

I began having high blood pressure readings about 4 weeks ago.  I had gone to the periodontist, and he took my bp before doing an exam, and it was 158/98.  Around January, I started to get slightly higher readings (130's/90's) on my Omron digital bp monitor, and I was concerned.   My cardiologist ordered blood work, a stress echo, a 24  hr holter monitor & 24 hour bp monitor.  My blood work showed just 1 number out of the normal range for
BUN. I've always had that as long as I can remember. My cholesterol was 215 or 245, and dr wanted me to retest my hct and hemoglobin which I never had the chance to do.  While I had the 24hr bp monitor on one arm, I had the Omron nearby & recorded the readings right after the 24 hr one.  They were way off. My omron was higher.  I felt like the bp cuff they had on me was slipping down some of the time.  When I returned it, I handed in a note detailing my own readings against the monitor's.  The report came back with normal readings.  I let it go. I also had a chest xray which indicated I had a fat pad around the heart. The cardio then ordered a CT of the chest which showed a benign fat pad, but also revealed something in my lungs that could either be TB (it wasn't - I was tested) or a past unresolved bronchitis or pneumonia (great)-granulomatous disease? I also had a breast biopsy right around that time, and they inserted a titanium clip.  

Fast forward to now,  my bp has been consistently high for 4 weeks ranging from 146/98-175/111 at various times, but mostly 150's/98-110.  It is beyond frightening!  I called my cardiologist, but he was on vacation, so I saw one of his partners.  The dr & nurse took my bp in the office and both got 130/100.  I tested my digital & it read 162/104.  I assumed my machine was off & bought a brand new one which gave me the same readings as the old one!  Dr prescribed diovan hct .  Thank goodness I'm vigilant about checking out meds before I take them, as I'm severely allergic to sulfa, & hct contains sulfa, so I couldn't take it. Meanwhile, bp continued to climb. I called again, & the nurse told me that since I couldn't take the meds,  I would have to go to the ER. I did. My bp skyrocketed up to around 200 plus (nerves).  They monitored me for about 2 hours. The highest it got was 175/98 and the lowest 146/97.  I asked for blood work as I was feeling flushed in my face and ears, had pressure/pinching in my head & was shaking with chills (this syndrome happens a lot at night). They found nothing in my bloodwork.  They prescribed diovan 80mg.  The ER dr told me to just "take it" but I was too scared knowing I had to drive home with my daughter and didn't want to have any reactions.  Again, I waited and didn't take them.

The bp kept getting higher & higher despite the fact that I was eating healthier than ever (I lost 13lbs in 10 days) & exercising (something i wasn't used to doing since I drive back and forth to school about 3.5 hours a day).  I tried deep breathing (the diastolic numbers rose believe it or not). I tried resperate (it was too fast for me since I don't even take 10 breaths a minute). I tried special vitamins & supplements, 1 acupuncture treatment (the woman told me my liver & spleen meridians indicated that imbalance was causing the hypertension). I even saw a chiropractor (regular and NUCCA - the ones who claim painlessly adjusting the C-1 atlas vertebra will restore normal bp).  Nothing.  I started taking an 81mg aspirin & it helped with the flushing a bit, but I was bruising like crazy.

Finally I asked for more blood work to include some tests never done before (renin, aldosterone, plus lipids, metabolic, & a few others). The cardiologist agreed. My gynecologist got on board as well (I went into menopause 10 years ago without a hot flash - everything just stopped, and I gained 40lbs over the 10 years having never been over 103lbs).  I had read that bioidenticals could possibly help with cholesterol and bp so I thought I'd explore every avenue. I was also tested for heavy metals & amino acids. I'm still awaiting the blood work, as I had it done last week. Finally, I begged my cardio to trust me & know that despite my lack of exercise all these years (save the occasional walk) & sometimes not so healthy eating habits in the past, plus insurmountable stress, I felt there was an underlying issue.  I never smoked & I don't drink (sometimes I wonder if I should start as so many people I know that drink wine don't have high bp).  The dr agreed & understood my fear of meds (I have had several anaphylactic reactions to meds in the past, and had a difficult time coming out of anesthesia during a surgery).  I don't like anything that might cause vivid dreams, hallucinations or violent nightmares. I've had 2 surgeries(19 yrs ago) for malignant melanoma in a nail & a tumor in my submandibular gland, plus a recent biopsy for a fibroadenoma in my breast.

The dr. ordered a renal sonogram.  Within 2 hours he called me & said it was great news. He knew what was causing the hypertension. A preliminary report showed either a partially blocked or fully blocked renal artery. He said I wouldn't have to take bp meds (incidentally, diovan is contraindicated for renal hypertension so I was glad my obstinance paid off).  He told me I would probably just have to do an angioplasty (that's good news?),  but the vascular surgeon would have to determine that.   I was hoping for a minor infection somewhere & I could take antibiotics, not risk my life having a stent put in.  The worst part is that I am allergic to dyes - contrasting, etc.  In the meantime, he told me to take 2.5mg of Norvasc, not drive for 2 days to see how it effected me, and to take .25 mg of xanax to help me relax & sleep (since I average only 4-6 hrs/night). I'm scared to take the norvasc, in fear I'll get dizzy driving or faint or have all the bad reactions I've read on the boards (between 200-600 of them; it's the same for all the bp meds).

I don't want to have a stroke as my 14 year old daughter needs me. It's hard for people to understand my fears, & each day that passes the stress gets worse.  I'm also moody and cry out of the blue. My hormones are all over the place (I was told it is because of the renin).   The nurse told me renal hypertension is very difficult to control, so we would have to take it one day at a time to see if it worked & what side effects I might have (I know everyone reacts differently).

From what I read about RAS, the prognosis doesn't seem good.  I've read that if there is a blockage in the renal artery, it is sometimes secondary to other blockages in the heart or peripheral arteries. Since I'm allergic to the dyes, I don't feel comfortable doing any invasive tests or procedures even if they give me benadryl.  So for me, either way I lose - I could die from the procedure or a stroke.    There is also a probability it might have to be repeated over & over or the other renal artery might also get blocked & my bp might never resolve itself even after the procedure. I also had a carotid doppler in January (showed normal narrowing for someone my age) and a 64 slice ct scan (0 calcium score), so that is why I'm shocked there is a renal blockage.  I was getting mid-back pain however. My father and 2 of his brothers died at age 69 of heart attacks, and 1 survived a triple bypass.

I  just don't know what to do as my fears are real, and I haven't heard  anything I can feel sure and positive about.  Any advice? Many thanks.

[NTB]

many/most people who take norvasc don't have any major bad effects. So they don't end up on discussion boards :)

You can also take your BP every two hours or so for a few days, and identify at which part of the day your BP cycles lowest. Then make sure your don't take any BP med in the 2-3 hours before that, so as not to make the low point even lower.