Doctor Visit

I have had some people ask how my appointment with the cardiologist went this morning and I got LOTS of information while I was there, so I thought it would be easiest to post on my blog instead of typing everything over and over.

Most of you know that I have had extremely high blood pressure for the last 7 years.  I was diagnosed as having it when I was 22 years old.  Since then, it has been hard to control even with medication at times. I have also had several other health issues going on related to it- extreme swelling of my legs, frequent heart palpitations, and just an overall feeling of yuckiness (NO energy, feeling as tired when I wake up as when I go to bed.)  My doctor has tried switching my medications, which helped regulate my blood pressure a little more, but only helped with the swelling minimally and the other symptoms not at all.  I have a wonderful new doctor who immediately referred me to a cardiologist when he saw that nothing he was trying had helped.   He also thought it was very odd that my previous doctor had never referred me to a cardiologist before or had any heart tests run.  Prior to today's visit, I went to the hospital and had 3 tests run in advance so he could look over the results before my visit today. SO, here is what I found out today from the cardiologist:

1)  There is DEFINITELY something wrong that is causing the HBP (neither of my parents have high blood pressure and no one in my family has ever had it at a young age, so he said it was impossible for it to be "just the way my body is" as I have been told before in the past)

2)  Because of my age, the fact that I'm not obsese and strictly watch my fat and sodium intake and am still having so many issues means that it could be difficult to determine exactly what it is right away.  It can sometimes be hard to find the answers.

3) Due to all of my other symptoms, he thinks the HBP may very likely be because I have Sleep Apnea.  Sleep Apnea is when you actually stop breathing in your sleep, causing you to swell, be very lethargic, have depression and headaches and high blood pressure. I have ALL of these symptoms. My stepdad and ex-husband have this and they snore like freight trains so it was obvious that something was going on- I don't.  That is why never in a million years I would have thought my high blood pressure could be caused by something like this. But it sure makes a lot of sense.

4)  Kidney Function-  He said my HBP could also be a result of my kidneys not functioning correctly.  whatever that means!


He wanted me to have a sleep study done and a renal ultrasound done ASAP, so tomorrow night I will be going to the hospital to spend the night and have both of these things done.  Then I see my doctor next week on Thursday to go over the results and proceed from there.  I would LOVE for it to be something as simple as wearing a breathing machine for the rest of my life at night so that I could be off my medication!  For the first time, I feel HOPEFUL that I can find out what has made me feel so terrible during my entire twenties.  So thankful that God has blessed me with 2 great doctors!

Thank you for checking on me and sending prayers my way.  I appreciate it and will let everyone know what I find out next week. Wish me luck at the sleep clinic tomorrow night!!  I may have to take Brian's blankie for comfort :)

Jessica