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Inessential high blood pressure--connecting the dots
I've posted on here numerous times and have had quite a few tests but to no avail. I'll start by listing my symptoms.
High Blood Pressure - I consider this to be inessential high blood pressure because normal BP meds do not work and I can actually feel my heart and my pulse when my BP spikes...I know you can't "feel" high BP, hence the name "silent killer," so I'm assuming that my high BP is being caused by something else as opposed to existing merely because I have high BP. When I say "high," I mean my BP is sometimes 160/100. I've never had blood pressure like this; sometimes my BP would spike to 140/80 because I was nervous and that was giving blood and the fear of needles. Sometimes my BP, when I'm waking up, is around 115/65, and then at the end of the day it could be 160/100. Its usually lower in the morning though, as if sleep is helping me recover a bit. Just on a side note, I feel like my heart is beating right against the lower part of my throat...like I just swallowed my heart and it got stuck.
Low Body Temperature - Ever since I've been feeling sick (since November 2008), my body temp has dropped from an average of 98.6 to 96.7-97. I'm not sure what caused this change, but sometimes I worry because my body temp comes up in the 96's and I'm not feeling cold; I'm actually warm.
Fatigue - Massive amounts of it. My heart actually feels weak because of my fatigue. You ever go a couple of nights without a decent amount of sleep and your body feels like its running on fumes and you get headaches, you're irritable, you feel anxious, tired, and your heart has to keep up? That's what this fatigue feels like. My muscles don't seem to bounce back from exercise like they used to.
Trouble Breathing - This may be from being overweight, but my chest feels heavy sometimes--like I have to stop and actively take in a deep breath. I have a very high chest too for some reason so I'm not sure if that's the cause, but sometimes my chest area bulges like I was eating all day but I haven't even eaten anything yet.
Headaches - Piercing ones that come every few seconds when they're around, and only on the left side of my head. Not sure what this means, but I don't get these kinds of headaches on the right side of my head.
High Triglycerides - I've had high triglycerides for awhile now, and my doctor at the time explained that I have a "fatty liver," which is essentially obesity makes your liver think its being attacked. To defend itself, the liver produces an enzyme which is high in triglycerides. Couple that with already being obese and my triglycerides topped out at around 600 for a few years.
Medications - I currently take 50mg of Atenolol, which seems to be the only thing that helps my heart. I've tried standard BP meds like Micardis, and they did nothing to help my blood pressure, which is why my doctor thinks my high BP is inessential. I've also tried Bystolic, which is supposed to be a higher grade of beta blocker in comparison to Atenolol, but Bystolic did nothing for me. For simply blocking adrenaline to the heart, Atenolol is awesome. I also take 25mg of HCTZ (water pill, basically) and 145mg of Tricor, which is for triglycerides. I also take 1200mg of Fish Oil and Flax Seed Oil pills for my triglycerides and general health, as well as a multi-vitamin.
Doctors - I've been to a Cardiologist and had an EKG and a stress test--nothing wrong with my heart so far. The only thing that was weird about my blood test was my C-Reactive Protein levels were slightly elevated. I've been to a Urologist because when I initially became sick, I was pushing out a kidney stone. A CT scan and ultrasound later--nothing wrong with my kidneys. I went to a Gastroenterologist because when I was initially sick, everything solid that I ate made my blood pressure spike dramatically (170/110) and I had an EDG--nothing wrong with my stomach.
I even went to an endocrinologist, thinking that because both my father and my brother have hypoactive thyroids that I might have some issues with my thyroid. The results from my blood test apparently ruled out anything wrong with my thyroid. My parents also have a history of high blood pressure, so I'm fine with having high blood pressure when I'm older, but not right now when I'm 28. I've never smoked and hardly ever drink. What could possibly be wrong?
High Blood Pressure - I consider this to be inessential high blood pressure because normal BP meds do not work and I can actually feel my heart and my pulse when my BP spikes...I know you can't "feel" high BP, hence the name "silent killer," so I'm assuming that my high BP is being caused by something else as opposed to existing merely because I have high BP. When I say "high," I mean my BP is sometimes 160/100. I've never had blood pressure like this; sometimes my BP would spike to 140/80 because I was nervous and that was giving blood and the fear of needles. Sometimes my BP, when I'm waking up, is around 115/65, and then at the end of the day it could be 160/100. Its usually lower in the morning though, as if sleep is helping me recover a bit. Just on a side note, I feel like my heart is beating right against the lower part of my throat...like I just swallowed my heart and it got stuck.
Low Body Temperature - Ever since I've been feeling sick (since November 2008), my body temp has dropped from an average of 98.6 to 96.7-97. I'm not sure what caused this change, but sometimes I worry because my body temp comes up in the 96's and I'm not feeling cold; I'm actually warm.
Fatigue - Massive amounts of it. My heart actually feels weak because of my fatigue. You ever go a couple of nights without a decent amount of sleep and your body feels like its running on fumes and you get headaches, you're irritable, you feel anxious, tired, and your heart has to keep up? That's what this fatigue feels like. My muscles don't seem to bounce back from exercise like they used to.
Trouble Breathing - This may be from being overweight, but my chest feels heavy sometimes--like I have to stop and actively take in a deep breath. I have a very high chest too for some reason so I'm not sure if that's the cause, but sometimes my chest area bulges like I was eating all day but I haven't even eaten anything yet.
Headaches - Piercing ones that come every few seconds when they're around, and only on the left side of my head. Not sure what this means, but I don't get these kinds of headaches on the right side of my head.
High Triglycerides - I've had high triglycerides for awhile now, and my doctor at the time explained that I have a "fatty liver," which is essentially obesity makes your liver think its being attacked. To defend itself, the liver produces an enzyme which is high in triglycerides. Couple that with already being obese and my triglycerides topped out at around 600 for a few years.
Medications - I currently take 50mg of Atenolol, which seems to be the only thing that helps my heart. I've tried standard BP meds like Micardis, and they did nothing to help my blood pressure, which is why my doctor thinks my high BP is inessential. I've also tried Bystolic, which is supposed to be a higher grade of beta blocker in comparison to Atenolol, but Bystolic did nothing for me. For simply blocking adrenaline to the heart, Atenolol is awesome. I also take 25mg of HCTZ (water pill, basically) and 145mg of Tricor, which is for triglycerides. I also take 1200mg of Fish Oil and Flax Seed Oil pills for my triglycerides and general health, as well as a multi-vitamin.
Doctors - I've been to a Cardiologist and had an EKG and a stress test--nothing wrong with my heart so far. The only thing that was weird about my blood test was my C-Reactive Protein levels were slightly elevated. I've been to a Urologist because when I initially became sick, I was pushing out a kidney stone. A CT scan and ultrasound later--nothing wrong with my kidneys. I went to a Gastroenterologist because when I was initially sick, everything solid that I ate made my blood pressure spike dramatically (170/110) and I had an EDG--nothing wrong with my stomach.
I even went to an endocrinologist, thinking that because both my father and my brother have hypoactive thyroids that I might have some issues with my thyroid. The results from my blood test apparently ruled out anything wrong with my thyroid. My parents also have a history of high blood pressure, so I'm fine with having high blood pressure when I'm older, but not right now when I'm 28. I've never smoked and hardly ever drink. What could possibly be wrong?
Hi,
I'm reading your posts and your signs and symptoms are my own to a tee! Have you figured out what is/are the issues? I was fine on 21 OCT 2012 but on the 22nd and ever since I have been dealing with these doctor defying issues - having been told everything from West Nile Virus to Lymphoma might be the cause only to end back up at square one and the "we're not sure what's wrong with you" diagnosis. Any help with what you've done to relieve the issues or specialists to see are much appreciated. Thanks and God bless - Bert (aoh3)
I'm reading your posts and your signs and symptoms are my own to a tee! Have you figured out what is/are the issues? I was fine on 21 OCT 2012 but on the 22nd and ever since I have been dealing with these doctor defying issues - having been told everything from West Nile Virus to Lymphoma might be the cause only to end back up at square one and the "we're not sure what's wrong with you" diagnosis. Any help with what you've done to relieve the issues or specialists to see are much appreciated. Thanks and God bless - Bert (aoh3)
***extends hand*** I have just met my double. Sorry for the pun, but as I read your post I found myself saying *Yeah, I know what you mean*. My trigs were at 2100 a few months ago. I have a hard time keeping the Tricor around to take. But I am not overweight, Once was about 35 puonds over, but I walked that off and continue to walk to keep my heart pumping. And yes, I do know when my blood pressure spikes. I sometimes wake up with it. Yes, I know what it feels like to be deprived of oxygen. If they ever come out with a universal fix, please let me know. Take care, Ally
Oh, and I was apparently diagnosed with complex sleep apnea, although I went to two sleep studies and they found no signs of sleep apnea, but on the third sleep study they used a CPAP on me, and on pressures of 6 and up, I apparently showed signs of obstructive and central sleep apnea, labeling me as having complex sleep apnea. I tried to use the CPAP that I was given, but it makes me feel like I have the flu.
Also, not sure if this is worth anything, but sometimes in the middle of the night, I shoot up and act out one of my dreams for about 20-30 seconds until I realize what I'm doing and fall back asleep. The nurse who gave me the CPAP said this was from not breathing and my body pumping a crapload of adrenaline into my system to jerk me awake. I'm not sure I believe her now because of how poorly the CPAP is working and based on my sleep study results of an AHI of 4.5 (between 1-5 is normal) and an RDI of 7-8 (some people say 5 is normal while others say 10-15 is normal).
Also, not sure if this is worth anything, but sometimes in the middle of the night, I shoot up and act out one of my dreams for about 20-30 seconds until I realize what I'm doing and fall back asleep. The nurse who gave me the CPAP said this was from not breathing and my body pumping a crapload of adrenaline into my system to jerk me awake. I'm not sure I believe her now because of how poorly the CPAP is working and based on my sleep study results of an AHI of 4.5 (between 1-5 is normal) and an RDI of 7-8 (some people say 5 is normal while others say 10-15 is normal).
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