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New, unusual symptoms with HTN
As background, I have a known asymptomatic mitral valve prolapse; history of preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome during first pregnancy with recurring preeclampsia during second pregnancy; HTN since first pregnancy (1999), but otherwise pretty healthy.
About 4 years ago, I had a full work up to rule out renal stenosis and pheochromocytoma. Endo hear bruits and I had BP which would go from one end of the spectrum to the other in short period of time causing dizziness, light-headedness and near syncope. BP was eventually stabilized but high levels of protein were found in 24 hour urine. Endo rule out pheo and renal stenosis but never accounted for the bruits.
About 2 months ago I had a kindey infection and potassium deficiency which were treated and I have recovered.
My "normal" BP is around 140/90. This is actually my goal BP since when it drops much lower I get dizzy and light headed. On a couple of prior ocassions, I have been to the ER with severe BP, headaches and light sensitivity and each time I was told it was migraines aggravating BP.
Then, a few days ago, I had a very severe headache- worse than any I've ever had- which I initally assumed was a migraine. Despite migraine meds it got worse and worse so I decided to check my BP. It was 256/180. I took an extra dose of BP med (Norvasc) hoping to bring it down. I spent the next 28 hours layed out on the sofa, unable to move because every movement made the pain worse. The pain was also on the right side of my neck and I had pain on my right side near my kidneys. I have had kidney stones in the past and this was nowehre near that severe- more of a dull pain- but definitely the kidney area.
Yesterday, BP was finally coming down (after 2 days of being extremely elevated) but it is still not back to baseline. Now, I am having pain in my mid-upper back (between shoulder blades) which is searing, but comes and goes. When it comes it is severe and then kinda "fades away." Then, it comes back in a few minutes- almost like in waves. It is NOT muscular or spinal pain. It is deeper inside. Through all of this ordeal, I have also been having tingling and numbness in my arms and legs which feels like it is moving down my body.
Right now, headache is gone but back pain is here. Arms and legs still tingling. BP at last check was 172/130.
So, now I need to know if anyone has
About 4 years ago, I had a full work up to rule out renal stenosis and pheochromocytoma. Endo hear bruits and I had BP which would go from one end of the spectrum to the other in short period of time causing dizziness, light-headedness and near syncope. BP was eventually stabilized but high levels of protein were found in 24 hour urine. Endo rule out pheo and renal stenosis but never accounted for the bruits.
About 2 months ago I had a kindey infection and potassium deficiency which were treated and I have recovered.
My "normal" BP is around 140/90. This is actually my goal BP since when it drops much lower I get dizzy and light headed. On a couple of prior ocassions, I have been to the ER with severe BP, headaches and light sensitivity and each time I was told it was migraines aggravating BP.
Then, a few days ago, I had a very severe headache- worse than any I've ever had- which I initally assumed was a migraine. Despite migraine meds it got worse and worse so I decided to check my BP. It was 256/180. I took an extra dose of BP med (Norvasc) hoping to bring it down. I spent the next 28 hours layed out on the sofa, unable to move because every movement made the pain worse. The pain was also on the right side of my neck and I had pain on my right side near my kidneys. I have had kidney stones in the past and this was nowehre near that severe- more of a dull pain- but definitely the kidney area.
Yesterday, BP was finally coming down (after 2 days of being extremely elevated) but it is still not back to baseline. Now, I am having pain in my mid-upper back (between shoulder blades) which is searing, but comes and goes. When it comes it is severe and then kinda "fades away." Then, it comes back in a few minutes- almost like in waves. It is NOT muscular or spinal pain. It is deeper inside. Through all of this ordeal, I have also been having tingling and numbness in my arms and legs which feels like it is moving down my body.
Right now, headache is gone but back pain is here. Arms and legs still tingling. BP at last check was 172/130.
So, now I need to know if anyone has
I did not go to the ER because of the two prior ocassions when I did go. Both times they told me it was "just a migraine" and discounted my concerns. I am not one to run to the doctor (much less the ER) so I was not really interested in going through that same experience again. I KNOW this is not "just a migraine" as I do get migraines and this is a completely different type of headache. The ER docs told me previously that my BP was so elevated because of the headache pain but, considering my BP was elevated for several days after the headache resolved, I have a hard time buying that.
jelly, you poor thing, you're so educated on your condition but you still went all those hours of malignant HTN but didn't get to the ER? They'd give you IV meds to bring you down right away. I hope you're okay, along with your brain, eyes, kidney and heart after that episode. Maybe it was vasculitis, but the underlying cause isn't as important as preventing the acute damage from the malignant BP.
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