Chronic High Blood Pressure

[Pelican Bay]

I have been to the emergency room several times in the last few months (one stay was for 6 days)for extremely high BP 220/100+. After MRI/MRAs, brain scans, kidney scans and numerous bloodwork ups there seems to be no answer. After taking various meds that did not work I am now on Avapro, Procardia XL, Quinapril, Potassium, Lasix, Zocor and asprin. And...last night I was back in the emergency room with a high pulse rate and swollen feet and ankles. The doctors are suggesting that this is acute anxiety and sent me home with a prescription for Ativan. Help!

[gumspit]

Yes, I have had ALL your symptoms and they began at age 29 as well at which time I was placed on B/P med. I am now 48 and have had black outs, etc & docs sending me away due to THEIR incompetency. However, I lost my job as a RN due to illness & now have no insurance. I have a pheochromocytoma, & an oncologist who saw me out of pity thinks I also have MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia)....DO NOT DELAY. Get yourself to the BEST clinic you can get to. Mayo, NIH, Vanderbuilt, USC, do your homework. If they are treating Pheochromocytoma I think they can help you. I am afraid I waited too long.

[Barbarella]

I was in the ER three times, once my BP was 255/140, the second time 210/160, the third time 240/130.

I was checked for everything "RCA" mentioned above in his post.  They found NOTHING.  I had the kidney scan, the 24 hr urine test, never ending blood tests, tons of tests for my heart, it showed that I have a very healthy heart.  No damage.  They even checked my eyes for damage from the very high BP spikes, I was checked for thyroid problems, you name it, they checked it, and found NOTHING!.

I used to suffer from severe panic attacks, and still have bouts with mild anxiety.  I was referred to a Cardiologist and to a Hypertension Specialist.  I was put on BP meds, but the Hypertension Specialist told me if the underlying cause is anxiety even SUBCONSCIOUS I still can get spikes of high BP at times even on BP meds.  He also told me that some people who react with very high BP when having severe anger still can get spikes even though they are on BP meds.

Once in a while if I am in suspense about something I still got spikes (150/85) as you can see not as severe as the ones who sent me to the ER before I was put on BP meds .

In case anybody wonders why I am not taking tranquelizers they never done a thing for me.  I also need to mention that I have severe white coat hypertension, and it got worst the older I got.

I was advised by the Cardiologist, as well as the Hypertension Specialist to take my BP at home and bring the readings with me at my appointment which I do, and my BP has been fine ever since,on average below 120/80.

[san_sao]

I'm in a somewhat similar situation to Pelican Bay (above), at least in terms of BP.   My blood pressure jumped in 6 weeks from 120/78 to 238/127.  No one seems to know why, I'm seeing my Primary Care Physician, an endocrinologist, and I've been to the ER for nearly fainting at work and chest pains.  I have a whole barrage of symptoms: Malignant Hypertension,Resistant Hypertension, Fluctuating BP (even w/ meds), Fluctuating Heart Rate, Elevated Renin Levels, Intense Anxiety/Panic, Heart Arrhythmia (speeds up w/ inhalation, have had for 15 yrs), Palpitations, Insomnia, Neuropathy, Paresthesia, Headache (usually right side over eye), Almost Syncope, Recurrent Numbness (left forearm), Chest, Back & Shoulder Pains, Hot Flashes, Eye Irritation... and they all started within the last 2 months except the irregular heartbeat.  So far no sign of Stenosis, but I'm still awaiting MRI's of Kidney/Adrenals and the Brain.  Anyone get any answers about this?  I'm currently on a morning/evening medication regimen: 40mg Benicar w/ 25mg HCT, and 20 mg Celexa in the morning, and the 20mg Benicar & 25mg Toprol XL in the evening, with Ativan "as needed."  I'm 29 years old, not diabetic, and I had just lost 40lb's with diet and exercise (nothing crazy or weird, jogging and 1500 calories per day) when all this happened.  This has nearly wrecked my life.  Just curious if anyone has seen anything like this before?

[rasticle]

I would suggest going to see a Cardiovascular specialist.  I, also, have had problem with high blood pressure and having to go to the ER.  I am 26/male and I had to go to the ER twice for 170/115ish BP readings.  They will probably take some hormone blood studies and if anything, involving the hormones, looks out of place they will probably forward you to an Endocrinologist.  I have been there, but it is important to follow up with a cardiovascular specialist when you have hypertension, to rule out things like pheochromocytomas(Adrenal glad tumor), which are rare.